Former Kroger buyer sentenced for kickback scheme, drove up produce prices during COVID

Date: June 25, 2026

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

Cincinnati, OH – Mark Disbennett of West Chester was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months plus one day in prison and 36 months of probation after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. In addition to prison time, Disbennett has been ordered to pay $99,282 in restitution to the IRS as well as a $200,000 judgement.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

According to court documents, Disbennett, a former Kroger head replenishment buyer, pleaded guilty to charges related to a kickback scheme that caused consumers to pay higher prices for produce. Disbennett disclosed to co-conspirator produce vendors Chris Farley of Happy Valley Oregon, and Craig Sono of Portland, Oregon, the highest price Kroger was willing to pay for certain produce. During the height of the pandemic, Disbennett received more than $147,000 in gratuities and bribes from the co-conspirators.

“Mark Disbennett took advantage of his position for his own benefit when the country, and specifically his neighbors, were feeling the financial squeeze of the pandemic quite strongly,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski, Detroit Field Office, IRS-CI. “Not only did his actions raise costs for the community, but he also didn’t pay taxes on his ill-gotten gains. Every time someone in America cheats on their taxes, there are more than 300 million victims. IRS-CI remains determined and vigilant in ferreting out fraud and holding those accountable who cheat honest taxpayers.”

There is no parole in the federal system. 

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo prosecuted the case.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.