Florida man pleads guilty to biodiesel-fraud conspiracy

A Florida man pleaded guilty Nov. 7 for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent U.S. EPA renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel. 

According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel.  

When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits.  

When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his coconspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers. 

Gillham pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to filing false claims.  

A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.  

He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count.  

A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-14046.