Former USDA Program Director Sentenced in $400,000 Fraud Scheme
Kirk Perry, 62, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a kickback scheme involving his nephew.
4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 20, 2026, 8:49 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 26, 2026, 8:22 a.m. ET
Former USDA Program Director Sentenced to 24 Months in $400,000 Fraud Scheme
Kirk Perry, 62, a former program director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), was sentenced on August 7, 2026, to 24 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme that billed the government nearly $400,000 for work that was not performed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
Perry pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud. His nephew, Jamarea Grant, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the same charge on Nov. 27, 2024. Grant's sentencing is pending.
According to court documents, Perry used his position as a senior director within the USDA's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to secure employment for Grant as an Equal Opportunity Assistant. They billed the office, and Grant received about $399,319 from the government for work that was not performed. Perry also transferred approximately $125,000 of the payments from Grant's bank account to his own.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Perry to serve two years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $399,319. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 33 to 41 months.
The case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General - Sensitive Investigations Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly.
Aug 26, 2026, 7:52 a.m. ET
Former USDA Program Director Sentenced to 24 Months in $400,000 Fraud Scheme
Kirk Perry, 62, a former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program director, was sentenced on August 7, 2026, to 24 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme that billed the government nearly $400,000 for work that was not performed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
Perry, of Lorain, Ohio, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud. His nephew, Jamarea Grant, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty on Nov. 27, 2024, to the same charge. According to court documents, Perry used his position as a senior director within the USDA's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to secure employment for Grant as an Equal Opportunity Assistant. They billed the office, and Grant received about $399,319 from the government for work not performed.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Perry to serve two years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $399,319. Federal prosecutors had requested restitution and a prison term of 33 to 41 months. Grant's sentencing is pending.
The case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General - Sensitive Investigations Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly.
Aug 20, 2026, 8:49 a.m. ETFirst report
Former USDA Program Director Sentenced to 24 Months in $400,000 Fraud Scheme
On August 7, 2026, former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program director Kirk Perry, 62, of Lorain, Ohio, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme, according to official court records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Perry to serve two years of supervised release and pay $399,319 in restitution. Federal prosecutors had requested restitution and a prison term of 33 to 41 months. The case remains open and developing as court proceedings continue for a co-defendant.
According to official records, Perry pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud. Official court records state that from August 2015 through November 2022, Perry used his position as a senior director within the USDA's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to secure employment for his nephew, Jamarea Grant, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, as an Equal Opportunity Assistant under two federal contracts. Grant reported directly to Perry, who approved the invoices billing the government $399,319 for work Grant did not perform. Perry also accessed Grant's bank account and transferred approximately $125,000 of the payments to his own account.
Grant pleaded guilty to the same charge on Nov. 27, 2024, and his sentencing remains pending. Official records also note that Perry engaged in the same scheme with his longtime partner, a cousin by marriage, and a personal acquaintance he previously coached in basketball. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that Perry abused his authority and diverted taxpayer funds for personal gain. Special Agent in Charge Jeldrys Lowry of the USDA Office of Inspector General Sensitive Investigations Office stated that Perry ensured a family member was hired on contracts he oversaw to direct monies to himself. The investigation was conducted by the USDA OIG Sensitive Investigations Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly.
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Sources
- Former Superintendent, Two Others Sentenced in $1M School Fraud Schemetownhall.com
- Woman who scammed federal worker out of $400,000 sentenced to 15 years in prisonbethesdamagazine.com
- Indian-origin former Optum director sentenced to 3 years in prison over $950,000 fraud schemetimesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Woman who scammed federal worker out of $400,000 sentenced to 15 years in prison – WTOP Newswtop.com
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/former-usda-program-director-sentenced-400000-fraud-scheme
Revision history
- Version 231 Aug 2026, 16:23current
Updated to reflect the official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, including the sentencing date and details.
- Version 126 Aug 2026, 11:52current
First published.
- Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:49current
First published.
- Version 126 Aug 2026, 12:22current
First published.
- Version 122 Aug 2026, 20:52
First published.
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