Attorney General's News Release

October 1, 2009

Attorney General Koster says Cathy Gieseker ordered to stand trial

--charged with 12 counts for fraudulent grain deals, cover-up--

Jefferson City, Mo. -- Attorney General Chris Koster said today that Cathy Gieseker has been bound over for trial on 12 felony counts for deceiving farmers and misleading state authorities to cover up approximately $30 million owed to farmers. Warren County Judge Wesley Dalton ordered Gieseker to stand trial following a preliminary hearing where the Attorney General's office presented evidence related to the charges.

Koster said Gieseker sold grain for farmers through her two companies, T.J. Gieseker Farms and T.J. Trucking and T.J. Gieseker Trucking LLC, both of Martinsburg. He said the allegations are that Gieseker told farmers she could sell their grain at an amount higher than the daily market price, that the grain would be stored until the farmer decided to sell, or that it was delivered under a "hedge to arrive" or "delayed pricing contract" with Archer Daniels Midland.
Koster said that it is alleged that Gieseker actually sold the farmers' grain at the daily market price on the day of delivery, and did not give the money from the sales to the farmers.

Gieseker faces six counts of stealing by deceit for stealing at least $25,000 from individual farmers, a Class B felony; two counts of stealing by deceit for stealing at least $500 from individual farmers, a Class C felony; three counts of making false records and withholding records from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, a Class C felony; and one count of filing a false financial statement with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, a Class C felony. Her arraignment is set for November 3, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.

The charges against Gieseker are merely accusations. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.