Christopher Colby Ingram appeared for sentencing in the Tenth Judicial District Court on Tuesday, January 4, before Judge Thomas Stockard. Ingram previously pled guilty to Embezzlement of $3,500 or more, a Catagory B Felony, punishable by 1-10 years in prison, and Theft by Controlling the Property of Another Person, a Catagory C Felony that carries 1-5 years in prison.
According to Assistant District Attorney Priscilla Baker, Colby Ingram opened and operated I7 Meats from 2019 to 2020, offering butchering services and meat sales. The criminal complaint against Ingram alleges that he took advantage of customers by not providing the promised amount of meat from butchered animals, and at times, I7 lost the meat entirely.
Baker claimed Ingram skimmed meat off the top of livestock brought in for processing to fill other orders for meat. And Ingram did this amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
During her arguments, Baker discussed customers like Zelma Allen, who in her 70s fell prey to Ingram's illegal business practices. Allen brought in her 3 1/2-year-old heifer for processing but never received any meat, which she valued at about $800. Robert Morrow similarly brought in a steer for butchering that weighed approximately 1,400 pounds and was valued at roughly $2,000 and about $5,000 finished - the value of the meat after processing. With the same result, Alex Riddle brought in his Angus steer, valued at $2,000. None of these customers, and others, received their meat - it just went missing.
"Mr. McIntosh received a chance of a lifetime when he got the opportunity to hunt a bighorn sheep - which he killed and brought in for processing," continued Baker. "He never got the meat back - which is irreplaceable, as there is no market for bighorn sheep meat."
Baker explained that Ingram eventually procured outside livestock for meat processing when he purchased 4 or 5 animals from students raising Churchill County 4-H animals, valued at $4,080. However, he never paid for the animals either.
While meat went "missing," at I7 Meats, Ingram set up Clover, an online meat market. The State's investigation of Clover's records revealed that between March and June 2020, when he closed the business, Ingram had grossed $181,000 in online meat sales.
"There is a line between a bad business and criminal activity," stated Baker. "This defendant crossed that line."
At the end of her arguments, Baker asked Judge Stockard to consider Ingram's criminal history, in which he has received several chances. She requested that Ingram not get another break, be held accountable for his actions, and be sentenced to prison. "He took the trust of this community and stole," said Baker, "This behavior is not acceptable and should not be tolerated in our community."
Jacob Sommer, Churchill County Public Defender, representing Ingram, said, "Mr. Ingram agrees with the State in many respects." He agrees that he should be held accountable, and this behavior should not be tolerated. "This argument is difficult," continued Sommer, "because money has been taken, and we need to make some victims whole, but there is the possiblity of sending him prison." According to Sommer, his client has had a difficult past, including issues with substance abuse.
Regarding the opening of 17 Meats, Sommer said, "By all accounts, his efforts and his intentions were honorable." He was trying to provide for his family by opening his own business. After some very rudimentary planning, he opened I7 Meats, but with no experience in business administration or formal training. "But Colby realized he was simply in over his head," continued Sommer. "Colby was overwhelmed with the responsibility of the business, the administration, and slowly the darkness of depression snuck into his life. Obligations to employees and COVID-19 demand on his business brought unexpected administration problems. He was disorganized in his business practices and didn't keep good records. Combine that with a relapse into substance abuse issues and depression, Coby started to over-promise and under-deliver on his business obligations. This quickly turned into 'over-promise and never deliver.'"
Sommer closed his arguments, stating, "Colby made some terrible decisions. It was wrong, it was illegal, and Colby is here to take responsibility for that." According to Sommer, Colby deeply regrets what he did. He asked the Court for probation for his client, believing it would better benefit victims as they would get compensated much more quickly. Further, Ingram has already remitted $3,000 toward the total restitution owed and thinks he can continue to pay about $1,000 per month.
Addressing the Court, the victims, and his family, Ingram stated, "I apologize for us all being here today. First and foremost, I want to take responsibility for my actions. I have impacted victims that at one point in time, didn't consider me a criminal. They trusted me to be a professional in this business. I failed as a business owner, but I have taken steps to ensure I don't fail as a community member and make sure that these mistakes are not repeated." Ingram expressed how sorry he was for the pain he caused and how sincerely remorseful he was. "I am ashamed of my actions," said Ingram, tearfully.
Ingram reported that he was actively enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program and is seeing a counselor. "I am determined to repair what I have done to you so that you are made whole."
Ingram received probation (not more than three years) on a suspended sentence of 38-96 months in prison for the embezzlement charge and probation (not more than three years) on a suspended sentence of 22-56 months for the theft, with the terms to run consecutively. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $11,690.74, a fine of $1,000, and six months of house arrest.
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