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United States of America v. John “Jack†Griffin
Date: 06-26-2025
Case Number:
Judge: Chad F. Kenney
Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Philadelphia
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Philadelphia Vertical Farmer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion
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– United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that John "Jack†Griffin, 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney on Wednesday to wire fraud and tax evasion charges.
As detailed in court documents and statements made in court, Griffin was the principal and founder of Second Story Farming Inc., which did business as Metropolis Farms. Second Story Farming had several lines of business, including growing crops in vertical farms to sell to customers, developing sustainable vertical farming technologies, and selling vertical farming systems to customers.
In 2017, Griffin, through Second Story Farming, sold vertical farming systems, along with the equipment, supplies, materials, and operational instructions necessary to operate them, to two companies. Before entering into the contracts, Griffin provided financial projections to them that grossly overstated the anticipated revenues that could be generated by the vertical farms and grossly understated the anticipated expenses necessary to operate the vertical farms.
In reliance on the financial projections, the companies each paid Second Story Farming to set up vertical farms for them. Rather than use those funds to provide them with vertical farms, Griffin used most of the money to pay his own personal expenses and operate Second Story Farming's research and development line of business.
In 2017, Griffin earned income from his work at Second Story Farming. Despite being legally required to file a tax return for that year, Griffin did not do so. Griffin tried to conceal that he received any income in 2017 by, among other things, withdrawing cash and paying personal expense from his business's bank accounts and transferring funds from his business to his wife, and withdrawing cash from Second Story Farming's business bank account.
Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22 and faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and five years in prison on the tax evasion charge.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Weber and Trial Attorney Catriona Coppler of the Department of Justice's Tax Division.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion
Philadelphia Vertical Farmer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion
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624 South Denver, Suite 300
One Block South of the Courthouse
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– United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that John "Jack†Griffin, 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney on Wednesday to wire fraud and tax evasion charges.
As detailed in court documents and statements made in court, Griffin was the principal and founder of Second Story Farming Inc., which did business as Metropolis Farms. Second Story Farming had several lines of business, including growing crops in vertical farms to sell to customers, developing sustainable vertical farming technologies, and selling vertical farming systems to customers.
In 2017, Griffin, through Second Story Farming, sold vertical farming systems, along with the equipment, supplies, materials, and operational instructions necessary to operate them, to two companies. Before entering into the contracts, Griffin provided financial projections to them that grossly overstated the anticipated revenues that could be generated by the vertical farms and grossly understated the anticipated expenses necessary to operate the vertical farms.
In reliance on the financial projections, the companies each paid Second Story Farming to set up vertical farms for them. Rather than use those funds to provide them with vertical farms, Griffin used most of the money to pay his own personal expenses and operate Second Story Farming's research and development line of business.
In 2017, Griffin earned income from his work at Second Story Farming. Despite being legally required to file a tax return for that year, Griffin did not do so. Griffin tried to conceal that he received any income in 2017 by, among other things, withdrawing cash and paying personal expense from his business's bank accounts and transferring funds from his business to his wife, and withdrawing cash from Second Story Farming's business bank account.
Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22 and faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and five years in prison on the tax evasion charge.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Weber and Trial Attorney Catriona Coppler of the Department of Justice's Tax Division.
Outcome:
Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22 and faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and five years in prison on the tax evasion charge.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. John “Jack†Griffin?
The outcome was: Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22 and faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and five years in prison on the tax evasion charge.
Which court heard United States of America v. John “Jack†Griffin?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, PA. The presiding judge was Chad F. Kenney.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. John “Jack†Griffin?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Philadelphia.
When was United States of America v. John “Jack†Griffin decided?
This case was decided on June 26, 2025.