Federal judge raises questions over “dated” plea agreements in Oakes Farms-linked cases

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A federal judge raised concerns Monday about what she described as “dated” plea agreements involving six defendants whose cases WINK Investigates has confirmed to be connected to a broader federal investigation involving Oakes Farms.

The six defendants who have yet to be sentenced are linked to Oakes Farms through former employment, business relationships or other associations of the company.

Judge Sheri Polster Chappell called the defendants' attorneys and federal prosecutors into a last-minute status conference hearing. Judge Chappell is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

She explained she called the hearing following prosecutors and all-six counsel filing yet again, 120-day continuances for the sentencing hearings, further delaying the defendants' cases. 

Three of the defendants pleaded guilty more than a year ago. Another defendant is nearing a year, and two others pleaded guilty in January and May of this year. 

During the hearing via Zoom, Chappell went through all six cases and questioned the parties why they had yet to be sentenced, calling the cases "dated."

The six defendants discussed during the hearing were Christopher Manzanares, Steven Veneziano, Christopher Lee, Kirk Henderson, Thomas Unsworth and William Brittenham. The defendants themselves were not at the hearing. 

The cases are part of a broader federal investigation that became public when federal agents raided properties belonging to Oakes Farms founder Alfie Oakes and Oakes Farms in Collier County on November 7, 2024.

The Secret Service, the IRS, and the Department of Defense's Criminal Investigative Service were on scene.

Since then, several former employees of Oakes Farms or its affiliated businesses and associates have pleaded guilty to federal crimes.

Oakes, also the founder of prominent grocery store Seed to Table, and his companies have not been charged with any wrongdoing. Oakes and his attorneys have not commented on the federal investigation. 

The defendants 

Manzanares, a former Oakes Farms manager, pleaded guilty to federal charges related to conspiracy and falsifying audit records in July 2025. He admitted to staging warehouses and creating fake documents. He declined to comment when WINK Investigates Reporter Olivia Jean approached him for a statement at his court appearance last year. 

Veneziano, a former vice president of Oakes Farms, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in federal court in August 2025. Court records accused him of helping submit fraudulent applications for federal assistance.  Since pleading guilty, Oakes Farms filed a civil lawsuit against him, accusing him of embezzling company money. Veneziano's attorney has told WINK Investigates, "Mr. Veneziano did not steal from Oakes Farms; he stole for Oakes Farms.” 

Lee, another former Oakes Farms manager, pleaded guilty in federal court in August 2025 to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, specifically crop insurance fraud. He admitted to submitting fraudulent applications to receive federal assistance, which are taxpayer dollars. He and his attorney declined to comment outside of court last year.

Henderson, a former Oakes Farms plant nursery manager, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false, fictitious and fraudulent claim in September 2025. He admitted to signing "false and fraudulent documents that he knew would be submitted to the federal government in support of various government claims." WINK Investigates called and emailed Henderson's attorney for a comment when he pleaded guilty, but never heard back. 

Unsworth, a Naples accountant, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States in January 2026. His plea agreement says he admitted to signing false certifications that were used to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. In the courtroom, prosecutors said Unsworth's actions enabled farmers and others to obtain over $2 million in government funding. Unsworth and his attorney declined to comment. 

Brittenham, a former vice president of Oakes Farms Food Distribution & Services, pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States. He admitted he was involved in a price-gouging scheme that defrauded a federal program providing fresh fruit and vegetables to military bases and schools. Outside of court, Brittenham and his attorney did not make a comment. 

The defendants' plea agreements include cooperation provisions requiring them to assist the government's ongoing investigation and potentially testify against co-conspirators.

The status conference hearing

During Monday's status conference, after the judge questioned the delayed sentencing hearings, she also addressed a government motion to seal.

Judge Chappell said she had received a motion to seal but initially did not have the memorandum that was supposed to accompany it. Prosecutors told the judge that was a mistake and that they intended to file the memorandum with the motion.

The judge then asked whether the parties wanted to discuss the sealed issues during the hearing. They agreed.

WINK Investigates Reporter Olivia Jean was the only member of the public who attended the hearing. She was placed into the Zoom waiting room while the judge heard arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys behind closed doors. About 15 minutes later, the public portion of the Zoom hearing resumed.

The judge said she had heard the sealed arguments on why the sentencing hearings should be continued. 

She ultimately decided to continue all six sentencings until January 11, 2027, finding the argument for further pushing back the cases was justified. 

The status conference comes as another defendant connected to the broader on-going investigation prepares to enter a plea.

Mark Frisbie, a Southwest Florida farmer, has agreed to plead guilty to making a false statement on a federal crop-insurance claim. His plea agreement says he concealed more than $6.7 million in bell pepper sales and caused the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to overpay $1,660,938. 

His attorney in a statement to WINK Investigates said, "Mark has accepted responsibility for the conduct related to this charge, is cooperating fully with the government, and looks forward to closing this chapter of his life."

Frisbie is scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday to enter his guilty plea before a judge.