Former Ossian business owner convicted of fraud commits suicide

A Missouri man sentenced Friday on a fraud conviction for the dealings of his Ossian-based business has committed suicide.

The body of 61-year-old Randy Constant was found in his garage in Chillicothe, Missouri, around 5:20 p.m. Monday.  A coroner has ruled Constant died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams on Friday sentenced Constant to 10 years in prison for selling over $142 million in grain which Constant said was organic, but wasn't.  Following the sentencing, Constant was released from custody, pending word on where the prison sentence would be served.

The release is common in white collar crimes, where non-violent offenders are given the choice to immediately report to prison or report at a later time.