An Albany man on Friday pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $1 million in federal funds from a program that helped struggling farmers pay off their loans.

Asjid Parvez, 37, admitted in U.S. District Court that he received a $972,564.61 check to pay off a farm loan on which he defaulted. He had taken the loan to purchase a Maryland chicken farm in 2014. However, prosecutors said he used those funds to pay personal expenses and fund real estate investments.

Parvez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2.