A former United States Department of Agriculture program director was sentenced earlier this week to 24 months in prison in connection with a kickback scheme. Kirk Perry, 62, and his nephew, Jamarea Grant, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, conspired to bill the government nearly $400,000 for work that Grant did not actually perform. “Uncovering fraud requires diligent review and the USDA OIG will relentlessly pursue these illicit schemes ensuring taxpayer dollars are safeguarded. As part of the criminal scheme, Perry transferred approximately $125,000 of the USDA payments from Grant’s account to his own account. This case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General — Sensitive Investigations Office.