Kansas man defrauds ranchers

Two Crook County ranchers fell victim to the scams of a Kansas man who was sentenced for wire fraud last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.

Jory Parks will serve five years of probation and has been ordered to pay back over $100,000 to his victims from a scheme in which he sold – but never delivered – large quantities of hay.

“The victims’ desperation in this case was central to the success of Parks’ fraud scheme,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove in a sentencing memorandum.

Parks’ scheme took place in the summer of 2021, when ranchers across the region were suffering “significant drought” that led to hardships including loss of livestock and crops.

“The drought was so severe, and the hardships faced by ranchers so intense, that the federal government initiated a program to reimburse ranchers who were forced to import hay that year from out of state to feed their livestock,” Hargrove wrote.

“Jory Parks knew about this program and these hardships. He knew livestock was going to die and peoples’ livelihoods hung in the balance.”

According to Hargrove, Parks contracted with ranchers to sell them hay, demanded downpayments and then either never delivered or only delivered a fraction of what was promised.

“Parks deceived his victims by lying about the size and success of his company, about the hay he had and – crucially – about his intention to deliver it,” Hargrove wrote.

In June, Parks entered into a plea agreement in which he agreed to plead guilty to the charge of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $1200 special assessment.

He also agreed to be responsible for complete restitution.

In return, additional charges would not be brought related to the same conduct, the offense level would be decreased and the United States would recommend a sentence of probation rather than custody.

As part of his sentence, he will be required to pay full restitution of $103,721.05 to the five victims of his fraud within 20 years.

Katalina Pfeil, one of the two local victims, has mixed feelings about the verdict. While it means the trial is over and she will begin receiving payments, she says, “I told everyone I wanted him to go to prison, not only for the crimes against me, but for the countless other victims I’ve discovered in the three years since. I want nothing more than to prevent Jory Parks from stealing from others ever again.”

According to Pfeil, there have been several civil suits against Parks since 2021 and a new one was filed in Kansas last week in the amount of $3135.27 for a Ready Mix company. Pfeil is concerned, she says, that he will continue to take advantage of other people.

“I feel that he should have been charged with five counts for the five ranchers who lost money, plus additional counts for the hay he stole from me and resold as part of his scam. I am hoping the Wyoming FBI will take up my case for additional justice, but I do not know if I have any recourse,” she says.

“As it stands, we were able officially make him a felon with one count of wire fraud, which was a definite victory. But, he has his freedom and the next 20 years to pay his debt.”

Pfeil, who is owed $38,000 in restitution, says she expects to receive a maximum of $100 per month.

“Despite reassurances from the court, I highly doubt I will ever gain back a fraction of the cost, and if I do, how much of that money will be from other victims he will find along the way?” she says.