A 75-year-old CPA from East Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty in a federal fraud probe of Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services.
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Thomas Unsworth entered his plea on January 27 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric Rice to two counts of conspiracy for “blindly signing” and certifying federal documents, as reported by Gulfshore Business. From May 2020 to May 2024, Unsworth conspired with farmers and others in obtaining at least $2 million in federal funding, including through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
Unsworth is the eighth defendant to cooperate in the ongoing fraud investigation of Oakes Farms, its suppliers, harvesters and employees.
Two co-conspirators were also mentioned in court records. Francis “Alfie” Oakes III, founder of Oakes Farm, is referenced as “co-conspirator 1” — a client and friend of Unsworth who owned businesses in or around Southwest Florida. Unnamed “co-conspirator 2” owned a farming operation and a large produce wholesale and distribution company in New Jersey.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or twice the gross loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater, and up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell will sentence Unsworth at a later date.
Unsworth and his attorney declined to comment following the hearing, according to local reports.
