FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Pierce biofuel company owner was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $3 million for a $7 million renewable fuel credit fraud scheme.
Christopher Burdett, who owned a biodiesel company in Fort Pierce, was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release, pay about $2.86 million in restitution, and pay a $150,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors say Burdett and his general manager, Royce Gillham, overstated how much biodiesel the company actually produced, allowing them to falsely collect more than $7 million in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuel credits and seek over $6 million in tax credits.
See also: One of Florida’s wealthiest communities battling critical erosion, according to report
Authorities say that when regulators and auditors requested records, the pair provided false information about their production levels and customers to cover up the scheme.
Prosecutors say their scheme exploited federal programs designed to support cleaner fuel production and misled regulators and taxpayers.
Burdett previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and filing false claims. His co-defendant was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison.
Officials with the EPA and IRS Criminal Investigation Division say the case highlights efforts to crack down on fraudsters taking advantage of federal incentive programs.