Alberta man linked to multi-million dollar hay ‘scam’ in U.S. faces trial in province for similar allegations

An Alberta man who officers say is related to multi-million greenback hay fraud “scams” in the US has had a trial set in Canada for related allegations. 

Attorneys for the Crown and Scott James Piggott appeared in court docket Monday to set a trial date in Lethbridge on the person’s Alberta fees, which embody fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000. 

Piggott additionally faces fees associated to failure to adjust to launch circumstances — an Alberta RCMP spokesperson mentioned that breach is expounded to buying hay or different crops.

Piggott will go to trial Might 1, 2023, in Lethbridge on two fees of theft over $5,000 and one depend of fraud over $5,000. 

A court docket examine for Piggott exhibits he additionally faces related fees out of Drumheller and Taber.

Trial dates for these instances haven’t but been set. 

A lawyer from the Crown’s specialised prosecution unit has been showing in court docket on Piggott’s present fees. That department of the Crown’s workplace ordinarily handles information that contain fees alleging frauds and thefts over $500,000. 

The Crown declined to provide a press release to CBC Information. 

Piggott’s lawyer, Pat Fagan, didn’t reply to a request for remark.

In the meantime within the U.S., Montana Legal professional Common Austin Knudsen issued a release warning the state’s ranchers of “cattle feed scams” that is likely to be focusing on them, together with one firm referred to as New Manner Ag. Knudsen alleges that the corporate “stole” as a lot as $5 million US from Montana ranchers when it did not ship feed it took cost for. 

In an e-mail to CBC Information, Kyler Nerison, communications director for the Montana Division of Justice, mentioned investigators consider Piggott is linked to New Manner Ag, although the main points nonetheless stay unclear. 

CBC Information filed a company registration and commerce title seek for New Manner Ag. The paperwork supplied say the corporate was operated out of Okotoks and is registered underneath a girl’s title. That individual, says a supply near the investigation, is a member of the family of Piggott. 

CBC reached out to the e-mail tackle related to the enterprise registration, however didn’t obtain a response. 

“It is distressing to see folks reap the benefits of others in that method.”  ​​​– Kyler Nerison, Montana Division of Justice

Nerison mentioned the corporate was delivered to their consideration by means of ideas from throughout the state. He mentioned the corporate remains to be underneath investigation and they are going to be watching the result of what occurs in Lethbridge.

Montana’s Division of Justice supplied CBC Information with a New Manner Ag advert, touting grain hay, barley straw and wheat straw, which Nerison mentioned was used to lure ranchers in Montana, and one in Wyoming. Nerison mentioned adverts had been run in commerce publications and on radio. 

The advert lists a 587-area code for Alberta and says the corporate is “right here to assist livestock producers afford to maintain their herds.” 

“They took the cash and ran, primarily. It is unhealthy information. It is distressing to see folks reap the benefits of others in that method,” Nerison mentioned. 

One Montana rancher misplaced $100,000 US, Nerison mentioned, and for the reason that division put out the warning they’ve obtained quite a few calls from different individuals who declare to have had the identical expertise. 

Farmer compelled to resort to meals banks 

A northeastern Alberta farmer, whose identification CBC has agreed to withhold, mentioned he handled Piggott three years in the past. Although at the moment he was going by Scott Perry, the farmer mentioned he turned conscious of Piggott’s identification after going to the police.  

The farmer, who’s in his 70s, mentioned he despatched an Alberta grain firm vans of barley for a complete quantity of $255,000. He claims he was solely paid $25,000 for the grain by the corporate, and was given excuses as to why the cash by no means got here. 

None of those claims have been confirmed in court docket. 

“At my age, I will by no means recuperate it. And it simply crumbled. Crumbled every part … crumbled our basis. We’ve to borrow cash,” he mentioned. 

He mentioned the loss made him have to resort to borrowing cash and utilizing a meals financial institution. 

“We offered good furnishings simply to have cash and pay our utilities and offered a brand new car or a more moderen car and obtained an previous one going. Massive turmoil.”