The tobacco cooperative is suing a former employee and a consultant who, according to court documents, both worked as A.T.F. Because so much of the case remains sealed, Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Small are prohibited from answering questions about nearly every aspect of the case. Almost immediately, the farmers say, Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Small began defrauding them. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Small would then buy the tobacco at a slight markup through a private bank account. The profit, about $519,000, went into what was known as a “management account.” That account, while controlled by Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Small, helped pay for A.T.F.

Source: New York Times February 22, 2017 10:00 UTC