LEXINGTON, Ky., April 22 (UPI) -- Former Kentucky Agriculture Secretary Richie Farmer was indicted by a federal grand jury on counts of misappropriation, court documents released Monday said.
The indictment, filed Friday and unsealed Monday, charges Farmer with four counts of misappropriation of funds and property and one count of soliciting property in exchange for intending to be influenced in governmental matters.
Last month Farmer was charged with 42 ethics violations dating back to 2008, WKYT-TV, Lexington, Ky., reported Monday. Seven pages in the 14-page indictment were solely counts against Farmer.
The allegations include misuse of state funds in purchasing gifts for wives of agriculture commissioners visiting Kentucky for a convention, keeping some of the gifts for himself, using state employees to chauffeur him and his family on personal trips and his dog to doctors' appointments, and using state funds for landscaping and installation of a basketball court at his home.
Farmer is currently a car salesman in Manchester, Ky., the television station said.
