A Decorah, Iowa farmer is accused of stealing enough corn and soybeans to fill nearly 25 tractor-trailer rigs — grain valued at more than $175,000 — and hiding the proceeds during a pending bankruptcy case ongoing, according to Winneshiek County authorities.

According to reports from Gazeta Cedar Rapids newspaperman Kurt Krauskopf, 47, turned himself into the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office on Monday after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Court records show he was released without posting bail. Krauskopf faces charges including criminal conduct in progress, a Class B felony; two counts of first-degree theft, Class C felonies; and one count of second-degree theft, a Class D felony.

The case focuses on the 2022 harvest season. Multiple news sources reports that K&B Farms officials reported to law enforcement that Krauskopf, who had a partnership agreement with them to process corn and soybeans, removed a large amount of grain without their consent.

Investigators analyzed data from Krauskopf’s harvesting equipment, executed a search warrant at his property on Oct. 30 and reviewed grain sales records. They said they discovered Krauskopf likely sold much more grain from the K&B operation than he disclosed.

In 2021, Krauskopf filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy, a program that allows family farmers to reorganize their debts. His filing listed nearly $971,000 in assets and more than $3.7 million in liabilities. Several pieces of farm equipment had already been sold or repossessed, according to court documents.

Authorities said the investigation showed Krauskopf failed to report income from unauthorized grain sales in financial statements he submitted as part of his bankruptcy plan.

The criminal complaint alleges that Krauskopf intentionally excluded proceeds from those sales in his bankruptcy filings, showing he knew the grain wasn’t his. He also claims he took corn and soybeans from storage containers without permission and sold them at grain elevators.

Authorities estimate Krauskopf sold about 19.73 semi-truck loads of corn and 4.5 semi-truck loads of soybeans, generating more than $175,000. Investigators also followed up on checks deposited related to the sales, according to the complaint.

Although the arrest warrant required a bond of $50,000, the court allowed Krauskopf to sign a release promising to appear at future hearings.