DTN writer Todd Neeley reported late last month that, “The former owners/operators of a biodiesel plant in Utah have reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in a biodiesel tax and renewable identification numbers, or RINs, fraud case, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah in Salt Lake City on July 18.
“Washakie Renewable Energy Chief Executive Officer Jacob O. Kingston, Washakie Chief Financial Officer Isaiah Kingston, Special Projects Manager Rachel Kingston, Jacob Kingston’s wife and Compliance Manager Sally Kingston, pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
“According to the indictment in the case, the Kingstons conducted an illegal scheme that led to the company receiving $511 million from the federal government.”
Mr. Neeley indicated that, “According to court documents, Washakie Renewable Energy produced little or no actual biodiesel. Instead, the plea agreement outlines a scheme that involved buying biodiesel and other commodities from other companies and misrepresenting the biofuel as its own.
“Jacob O. Kingston admitted in the plea agreement to conducting such a scheme. He could be imprisoned for a maximum of 30 years. His brother, Isaiah, could face up to 20 years in prison.”
