FORT PIERCE, Florida — A Florida biofuel company owner has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme involving over $7 million in fraudulent EPA renewable fuel credits.
Christopher Burdett, the owner of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, was also ordered to pay $2,857,029 in restitution and a $150,000 fine, followed by two years of supervised release, according to court documents. Burdett and General Manager Royce Gillham reportedly overstated their production volume to generate more credits when reporting to the IRS and EPA. When auditors requested additional information, Burdett and Gillham provided false data about their fuel production and customers.
Burdett had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims. Gillham was sentenced to 37 months in prison for his involvement in the scheme…