Jasen Butler, Defrauding US Military, Florida 2024

A fuel executive from Florida has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for defrauding the US military in a contract bid scam, according to a recent sentencing in West Palm Beach. Jasen Butler, 38, of Jupiter, Florida was found guilty of 34 counts of wire fraud, forgery, and money laundering in January.

Butler, the owner of Independent Marine Oil Services LLC, corrupted the competitive bidding process for military fuel contracts and submitted dozens of falsified documents, including wire transfer memos and invoices, to multiple US warships between August 2022 and January 2024. These ships were attempting to purchase fuel in international ports in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia to defend strategic American interests around the globe.

Butler received over $4.5 million in payments for phony expenses that he had not incurred. After coming under scrutiny by Navy officials, he continued his scheme by concealing his identity from government officials. Butler adopted a false name and feigned employment by a fictitious fuel division of a different company.

Butler used the millions in the proceeds of his crimes to personally enrich himself and purchase multiple multi-million-dollar properties in Florida and Colorado. Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks has entered a preliminary order of forfeiture for those properties.

‘The defendant stole millions of dollars from our military with a fake job, fake identity, and fake invoices,’ said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. ‘This administration takes defrauding the American military seriously with a prison sentence reflecting the seriousness of the crime.’

The sentencing of Jasen Butler sends a clear message that those who defraud the US military will be held accountable. The case is a result of an investigation by the US Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Mandatory facts: Defendant/Respondent: Jasen Butler, Exact Criminal Charges: 34 counts of wire fraud, forgery, and money laundering, City and State: Jupiter, Florida, Exact Date: January, Sentence or Outcome: 5 years in prison, Dollar Amounts: $4.5 million.

Related Federal Cases