Fort Pierce man pleads guilty to $7M biofuel fraud conspiracy, faces $250K fine
A Fort Pierce man pled guilty to his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that generated over $7 million in fake renewable fuels credits.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) thegeneral manager of a biofuel company in Fort Pierce— Royce Gillham— pleaded guilty on Thursday tocharges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and filing false claims.
The DOJ saidGillham admitted his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that generated over $7 million in fake Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought more than $6 million in fraudulent tax credits related to the supposed production of biodiesel.
Gillham faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count, according to the DOJ. The sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, but a federal district court judge will decide whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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