FUEL TAX EVASION HIGHLIGHTSA Report on the Activities of theJoint Federal/State Motor Fuel Tax Compliance ProjectU.S. Department
of TransportationFederal Highway AdministrationVolume 6, Number July 1997IN THE NEWS
Four men and 1 woman have been indicted in a Federal investigation into a 3-state fuel tax scam. Arrested and charged are John Doherty, with conspiracy and falsifying tax records; James Gaudet, with conspiracy; Douglas Hatter, with 2 counts of perjury; and James Lee, with conspiracy. Ann Gaudet Young is a fugitive. The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, 1/13/97David H. Werdine of Schmock Oil Corporation, Michigan City, IN, was arrested on charges of failing to remit fuel taxes. The Indiana Department of Revenue's Criminal Investigation Division uncovered Werdine's blending scheme where he mixed kerosene with diesel fuel, charged the customers the fuel tax, but did not report or remit the taxes on the kerosene. The alleged acts took place in 1993, 1994, and 1995. He is charged with 28 counts of failing to remit special fuel tax, failure to pay taxes on blended fuel, and theft. If convicted, he could face from 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison and a possible fine of $10,000 on each count. Indiana Department of Revenue, 1/15/97; Oil Price Information Service, 2/28/97
Dana P. Brewer, president of Petroglobe Inc., was sentenced to 2 years in prison for failure to pay approximately $1 million in fuel taxes. He was convicted on May 13, 1996, of conspiracy to defraud the Treasury during 1993. Brewer admitted to falsely representing Petroglobe as being registered with the IRS so he could buy diesel without paying the tax up front. He then purchased nearly 5 million gallons of fuel which Petroglobe and a second company, Hiway Enterprises, sold tax paid. Youssef Kamel Keroles, owner of Hiway, was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to 27 months in prison and 3 years supervised release, and to pay a $45,000 fine and $864,315 in restitution. Peter J. Nudo, CFO for Petroglobe, was convicted of corruptly obstructing and impeding the IRS. Business Wire, 1/14/97Carroll R. Moore, former owner and operator of Moore's Waste Oil Service in Chesapeake, VA, was sentenced to 180 days home detention, 3 years probation, $2,700 restitution to the IRS and a $100 special assessment. Moore pled guilty to charges that he knowingly marketed "off-specification" oil and failed to report income derived from the sales. The off-spec oil was sold through Domestics Industries Corporation of Virginia, a home heating oil business, as heating oil from August 1990 through July 1992. William "Buddy" Jones (Father of Elizabeth Jones Dudley Bank of America SVP) and 3 others were convicted on various charges relating to the theft of oil and a scheme to fraudulently supply contaminated and off-grade fuel. The investigation was conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (OIG, DOD), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI and IRS. Audit assistance was provided by Defense Contract Audit Agency. Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense, 1/15/97 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/hl97jul.htm |
