Former business owner in Suffolk sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme
Suffolk, Virginia – A Suffolk man has been sentenced to nine years and two months in federal prison for orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that deceived investors, employees, and financial institutions out of approximately $1.5 million. While on pretrial release, he also attempted to defraud a Virginia state agency out of $1.1 million, further deepening the scale of his financial crimes.
Fraudulent Business Ventures and Deceptive Practices
According to court records, 36-year-old Breon Clemons founded a series of businesses under the name GoGreen Farms and Greenhouses, Inc. Using these entities, he lured unsuspecting individuals into his fraudulent schemes by exploiting personal and financial trust.
Clemons initially convinced a colleague, identified as P.C., to join his business and provided him with employment. However, without P.C.’s knowledge, Clemons used his personal information to secure a $25,000 line of credit from Bluevine Inc. He then forged P.C.’s signature on financial agreements to access additional funds, ultimately receiving around $30,390.
In 2020, Clemons persuaded his neighbor, C.F., to invest $10,000 in GoGreen Farms. Shortly after, he manipulated her into becoming an unpaid officer of the company and convinced her to provide copies of her driver’s license and Social Security number. Clemons later assured her that he would secure a loan from a professional basketball player, eliminating the need for her financial involvement. However, in March 2022, C.F. received an unexpected call from Capital One regarding late payments. This led to the discovery that Clemons had fraudulently opened multiple lines of credit in her name, including an American Express account and a $100,000 loan from TVT Capital.
Illegal Financial Maneuvers and Fraudulent Loans
Investigations revealed that Clemons had forged C.F.’s signature on state business documents and had falsely claimed that they were equal partners in GoGreen Farms. When confronted, he denied any wrongdoing but later handed over two credit cards—both with balances exceeding $100,000.
Despite being on pretrial release, Clemons continued his fraudulent activities. He conned two individuals, H.H. and J.B., out of $5,000 each by promising them large financial returns within a week. Additionally, from behind bars, he attempted to secure a $1.1 million Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He submitted the fraudulent grant application with assistance from a family member, further demonstrating his persistent criminal behavior.
Massive Financial Impact and Legal Consequences
Clemons’ fraudulent activities resulted in a total loss of approximately $1.5 million. The amount of money he laundered during these crimes totaled $218,442. None of the individuals whose identities were used in the fraudulent schemes had given consent for their personal or financial information to be used.
On sentencing day last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen handed down a prison term of nine years and two months. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mack Coleman and Brian J. Samuels led the prosecution.
