Public Safety

Gainesville produce company owner pleads guilty in federal food-program fraud

William Brittenham, president of the now-dissolved Rainbow Produce of Gainesville, has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated a scheme to defraud a government fresh food program by making false claims about where produce was grown and deliberately overcharging the government for snack packs supplied to military and school kitchens. Brittenham is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

Sources: WCJB TV20