Former Mayor of Lawrence Pleads Guilty to Transporting Stolen Funds

TOPEKA, KAN.  - A former mayor of Lawrence admitted Wednesday  that he embezzled thousands of dollars from a food bank in Douglas County, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Jeremy James Farmer, 33, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds. Farmer admitted the crimes took place while he was executive director of Just Food, a food bank in Douglas County. Just Food serves more than 40 partner agencies with frozen meat and fresh produce as well as bread and food donated from community drives. The organization and its partners play a key role in fighting hunger in Douglas County.

From 2013 until Farmer resiged from Just Food and from his position as mayor of Lawrence in August 2015 he used his access to Just Foods’ bank accounts and accounting systems to steal more than $5,000 from the organization.

Sentencing will be set at a later date. He faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and restitution to be determined by the judge. Beall commended the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.