White County, Tennessee Business Owner Charged In $43 Million Investment Scheme

White County, Tennessee Business Owner Charged In $43 Million Investment Scheme

Topics: Jeffery Lynn Gentry, Gentry Auto

White County, Tennessee Business Owner Charged In $43 Million Investment Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Middle District of Tennessee
11 July 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investors Bilked Out Of More Than $10 Million

Jeffery Lynn Gentry, 40, of White County, Tenn., was charged in a criminal information filed on July 5, 2017, with wire fraud and money laundering, announced Jack Smith, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Gentry owned and operated Gentry Brothers Tractor Supply and Gentry Auto, both located in Sparta, Tenn.

The charging document contains the following allegations: beginning in 2012 and continuing to mid-December of 2016, Gentry devised and executed a scheme to defraud and obtain money and property from investors, promising high rates of return on investments, purportedly used to purchase farm-related equipment to satisfy state contracts and producing significant profits.

Gentry falsely represented to investors, including customers, friends, acquaintances, and family members, many of whom lived in White County, Tennessee, that he was bidding on and winning contracts from various states, including Tennessee, to supply equipment, including tractors, lawn mowers, and other farm-related equipment through his tractor supply company.

Through this scheme, Gentry convinced more than 50 individuals to invest funds totaling approximately $43 million and caused financial loss to investors of more than $10 million.

Despite his assurances to investors of significant returns, Gentry never intended to invest the funds as promised but instead, used the money to subsidize his lifestyle, amassing assets worth a substantial amount of money, including numerous tracts of real estate and vehicles.

In March 2016, Gentry also used investor funds to start up and support a new business venture, Gentry Auto, a used car lot, transferring more than $365,000 of investor funds from the Gentry Brothers Tractor Supply company to the Gentry Auto business between March 24, 2016 and December 6, 2016.

The charging document also contains a forfeiture allegation which seeks a monetary judgement of at least $10 million.

If convicted, Gentry faces up to 20 years in prison on each count and monetary fines.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the IRS-Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Marshal’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Risinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Phillips is handling the asset forfeiture.

The charges brought by this information are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Contact:
David Boling
Public Information Officer
615-736-5956