A former USDA Program Director has pleaded guilty to swindling the government out of nearly $400,000, as reported by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Kirk Perry, the 60-year-old from Lorain, Ohio, admitted his role in a kickback scheme that involved his nephew and false billing for work that was never completed.
Alongside Perry's confession, his nephew, Jamarea Grant, had already entered a guilty plea in November 2024 for his involvement in the fraudulent activity, which saw nearly $400,000 of taxpayers’ money funneled for non-existent services, and Perry himself transferred around $125,000 into his personal bank account—a scam that lasted from August 2015 until November 2022—culminating in an investigation by the USDA Office of Inspector General's Sensitive Investigations Office and bringing to light a betrayal of public trust that was enabled by Perry in his role as a program director within the USDA.
According to the DOJ’s announcement, the pair's criminal activities were centered around the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, where Grant was purportedly employed by two companies that were contractors for the USDA under Perry's direct supervision. A judge will soon decide the punishment for the two men, who worked together in a fake partnership to take money from the government.
The case is currently being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Kelly and Maeghan Mikorski. While Perry awaits his sentencing, scheduled for December 4, 2025, the legal system continues to deliberate on the appropriate consequences for their actions, which have undermined public trust.
