A Mansfield resident is facing federal indictment for allegedly submitting false inspection reports in exchange for bribes, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Federal produce inspector indicted for fraud and bribery

MYTEXASDAILY.com
Mathew Richards
December 21, 2023

68-year-old Timothy Peppel, of Mansfield, Texas, a federal produce inspector with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), was indicted by a federal grand jury last week. Peppel was responsible for conducting produce inspections and providing inspection reports to companies buying and selling produce.

Prosecutors allege that Peppel began soliciting and receiving weekly bribes ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 from the owner of American Fresh Produce (AFP), a wholesale produce company, shortly after he started inspecting their produce. In return, Peppel allegedly created false inspection reports that downgraded AFP's produce, enabling the company to negotiate lower prices for their purchases.

Peppel has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and receiving a bribe by a public officer; five counts of honest services wire fraud; and one count of receiving a bribe by a public official. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison on the count of conspiracy; 20 years in prison on each count of honest services wire fraud; and 15 years in prison on the count of receiving a bribe by a public official, plus restitution.

The FBI Dallas Office and U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marty Basu and Joshua Detzky are prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch assisting in the investigation.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.