BENNINGTON — A Vermont man who used false labels saying the meat he sold from his New York poultry farm was “free range” and “farm raised” when it was bought from wholesalers has been sentenced to two years of probation.

Craig Acton of Bennington pleaded guilty to fraudulently using a USDA legend on meat he sold through his Buskirk, N.Y., farm.

He was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court Northern District of New York.

The Bennington Banner reports (http://bit.ly/YtnWsm) prosecutor Daniel Hanlon said Acton would buy meat from other legitimate suppliers. He would use false USDA labels saying it was from his farm and qualifying as organic so it could be sold at a higher price.

Acton said a flood killed 1,000 of his chickens and forced him into dire financial straits.