(U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of California) Ray Brewer, 66, of Porterville, and Sheridan, Montana, was sentenced today to six years
Department of Justice
Back TO HOMECalifornia Man Admits to Fraud Scheme Involving Renewable Fuel Credits
(U.S. Department of Justice) Ijomah Oputa, 54, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge
May 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Founder and Former CEO of Sustainable Fuel Company Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Embezzlement Scheme
(U.S. Department of Justice) A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned an indictment yesterday charging the founder and former CEO
May 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Tesoro to Pay $27.5 Million for Violating Previous Court Order Requiring It to Reduce Air Pollution at Its Martinez, Calif. Refinery
(U.S. Department of Justice) Settlement Will Result in Cleaner Air Due to Tesoro’s Forfeiture of Air Emission Credits -- The Department
April 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Pearl Man Pleads Guilty as Feds Tackle Biofuel Business for Illegal Dumping
by Alex Rozier (Mississippi Today) A Pearl man pleaded guilty this week for his role in allowing a Brandon company to
October 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels, EPA Agree to Pause Litigation on Separated Food Waste Recordkeeping
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Following discussions with Clean Fuels members, EPA hopes to resolve dispute without litigation -- Today (September 8,
September 14, 2022 Read Full Article
US Government Urges Supreme Court to Deny Review of E15 Case
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Justice on Dec. 8 filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme
December 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Supreme Court Picks Date for Ethanol Case
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) An ethanol court case over Small Refinery Exemptions will be heard by the U.S. Supreme
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Can This Unlikely Duo Revive Rural America and Help the Planet? Joe Biden and Tom Vilsack Plan to Take Swift Action on Climate Change Proposals.
by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times/New York Times) ... Few took carbon sequestration seriously during his previous tenure, a time
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
DOJ Asks SCOTUS to Pass on Refinery Exemption Case
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politco's Morning Energy) The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court not to review the 10th Circuit Court
December 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden's Energy Future
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Joe Biden put some space between his clean energy plan and that of the
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
DOJ Asks Court to Block Automakers from Suit
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration on Thursday asked a court to block Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and
July 10, 2020 Read Full Article
L.A. Petroleum Magnate Convicted in Sprawling Biofuel Tax Scheme
by Matthew Ormseth (Los Angeles Times) ... The verdict — guilty on 10 felony counts — was not just a
March 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Pulled Back into Oil-Ethanol Fight
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Poltico's Morning Energy) JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS OUT:The president is once again caught in the
March 16, 2020 Read Full Article
California Wins First Round of Cap-and-Trade Fight
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) A federal judge ruled against the Justice Department on Thursday in the first round
March 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Colorado Man Sentenced to 83 Months in Prison for Role in $7.2 Million Biodiesel Tax Credit Scheme
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado resident was sentenced to 83 months in prison on Friday for his role in a
March 03, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Consulting White House over Biofuel Waiver Program: Source
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking White House guidance on the future of its controversial biofuel
February 17, 2020 Read Full Article
DOJ Drops Probe of Carmakers that Aligned with California on Pollution
by Zack Coleman and Alex Guillén (Politico) DOJ was investigating whether Ford, Volkswagen, Honda and BMW illegally coordinated last year.
February 11, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Chief Denies Coordinating with DOJ on Investigation of Automakers Siding with California
by Josh Siegel and Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) Environmental Protection Agency head Andrew Wheeler said he was not involved with the
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Investors Ask GM to Join in
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) A group of large investors is calling on GM to join a voluntary emissions
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Trump Can’t Erase a Decade of Clean Air Progress with a Sharpie
by Arnold Schwarzenegger (Washington Post) California has been a leader in the fight to clean our air since one of my
September 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Justice Dept. Launches Antitrust Probe of Automakers over Their Fuel Efficiency Deal with California
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (Washington Post) The Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation of four leading automakers over
September 06, 2019 Read Full Article
San Joaquin County Biodiesel Firm Sentenced To Probation, Fines For Clean Water Act Violations
(U.S. Department of Justice) On July 8, 2019, United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller sentenced the corporation known as
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Green Energy Fraudster Convicted at Trial for Scamming Multiple Federal Agencies and His Customers
(U.S. Department of Justice) Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)
May 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Biodiesel Tax Conspiracy
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of conspiring to defraud
October 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Ohio Man Gets Five Years for His Role in $47 Million Biofuel Fraud Scheme
by Tim Pearce (Daily Caller) The owner of a New York-based renewable fuels trading company was sentenced to over five years
August 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Colorado Business Owner Pleads Guilty to $7 Million Biodiesel Tax Credit Fraud Scheme
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado business owner pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to impair and impede the Internal Revenue Service
August 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Former DuPont Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Trade Secrets and Lying to the FBI
(U.S. Department of Justice) Took Trade Secrets and Proprietary Information When He Accepted a Job with a Competitor -- Josh Harry Isler,
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Colorado Business Owners Indicted For $7 Million Biodiesel Tax Credit Fraud Scheme
(U.S. Department of Justice) A federal grand jury for the District of Colorado has returned an indictment, which was unsealed today,
June 21, 2018 Read Full Article
How EPA Is Destroying Demand for Ethanol and Corn
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Recent actions by EPA have effectively reduced the Renewable Fuel Standard conventional renewable volume obligation (RVO) for
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
BIO Comments on Proposed Settlement Agreement Between EPA and Philadelphia Energy Solutions on RFS Obligations
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) BIO is greatly concerned by the Department of Justice's and Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Settlement Agreement to
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Duckworth Asks FBI to Investigate Trump Ally Carl Icahn
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is calling on the FBI to investigate whether Carl Icahn, a
September 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Acton Couple Arrested for Defrauding the Treasury Department of Over $50 Million in Tax Free Energy Grants
(U.S. Department of Justice) An Acton couple was arrested today and charged with defrauding the U.S. Treasury Department of more
August 15, 2017 Read Full Article
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Biodiesel Fraud Scheme
(Department of Justice) Andre Bernard, of Mount Kisco, New York, pleaded guilty today for his participation in a multi-state scheme
August 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Owners of Biofuel Company Indicted on Conspiracy and False Statement Charges
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Pennsylvania biofuel producer and two of its officers have been indicted on conspiracy and false
May 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Employee of Biofuel Feedstock Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy
(U.S. Department of Justice) An employee of a New Jersey feedstock collector and processor pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Owners of Biofuel Company Plead Guilty to Conspiracy and Fraud Charges
(U.S. Department of Justice) The owners of an Indiana biofuel producer pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and false statements for
October 13, 2016 Read Full Article
U.S. Files Complaint, Announces Settlement to Address Alleged Renewable Fuel Standard Violations by NGL Crude Logistics and Western Dubuque Biodiesel
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced the filing of
October 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Chemoil Must Pay Largest Settlement in History of EPA's Fuel Programs
(Farm Futures) EPA and DOJ allege Chemoil exported biodiesel, but failed to retire RINs. -- Chemoil Corporation is required to
September 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Present Solution to Harmful Airborne Chemicals
by David Vandergriend (Sacramento Bee) ... But the day-to-day threat facing many communities doesn’t come from carbon. It comes from
September 11, 2016 Read Full Article
A $2.7 Billion Missed Opportunity
(Diesel Technology Forum) For any level of funding, more near-zero NOx technologies may find their way on the road and
July 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Multi-State Biodiesel Fraud Scheme
(U.S. Department of Justice) Thomas Davanzo, of Estero, Florida, and Robert Fedyna, of Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty today for their
June 27, 2016 Read Full Article
US Files Civil Complaint against VW for Clean Air Act Violations
(Biodiesel Magazine/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. EPA, filed a civil complaint
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
United States Files Complaint Against Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations
(U.S. Department of Justice) The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today filed a civil
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Bernie Sanders Calls For Federal Investigation Of Exxon
by Emily Atkin (Think Progress) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wants ExxonMobil investigated by the Department of Justice.
October 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Climate Scientist Faces Backlash for Urging Investigation of Fossil Fuel Companies
by Katherine Bagley (Inside Climate News) A climate scientist who was the lead signatory on a letter urging President Obama to
October 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Scientists Ask Obama For RICO Investigation To End Climate Debate
by Thomas Richard (Examiner.com/Climate Change Dispatch) According to Politico's Morning Energy report published today, twenty climate scientists have sent a
September 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Fuel Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Clean Air Act Crimes Connected to Renewable Fuels Scheme
(Environmental Protection Agency) Philip J. Rivkin faces more than 10 years imprisonment and $51 million in restitution -- Philip Joseph Rivkin,
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Three Brothers Plead Guilty to $145 Million Biofuels Fraud Scheme in Indiana
(Department of Justice) Chad Ducey, 39, of Fishers, Indiana, pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a multi-state scheme to
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Court Upholds Upper Peninsula Ethanol Plant Review but Project Likely Dropped
by Eric Freedman (Great Lakes Echo) A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to an environmental assessment of a $100
June 09, 2014 Read Full Article
It's Proper Oversight, Not Bullying
by Senator Charles Grassley (The Wall Street Journal) Letter to editor: In response to you editorial "The Ethanol Enforcers" (Oct. 8): It's
October 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Run, Rufus, Run: Congress, 2013 and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Today, we look at 2013-14, should Congress elect not to act — but leave the
September 06, 2013 Read Full Article
FTC Examines Allegations That Oil Industry Blocks Greater Ethanol Use
by Tennille Tracy (The Wall Street Journal) The Federal Trade Commission said it was looking into assertions by some members
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Lawmakers Seek Review Whether Oil Companies Have Stifled Use of Ethanol
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Senators Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar asked the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission