GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: The owners of Keystone Biofuels Inc. are facing a federal indictment for their alleged role in a scheme that bilked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) out of over $10 million in renewable fuels credits (RINs).
Ben Wootton, 52, and Race Miner, 48, along with the company they co-owned, have been charged with conspiracy and false statements for their part in a scheme that involved fraudulent claims on non-qualifying renewable fuel.
Wootton, the President of Keystone Biofuels, and Miner, its CEO, are accused of manipulating fuel samples and producing false documentation to meet RIN standards despite the biofuel failing to meet these requirements. The pair also allegedly made false entries into the EPA’s tracking system in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Both Wootton and Miner, along with the company, were indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, announced officials including Bruce D. Brandler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation was a joint effort by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section is handling the prosecution.
Despite the serious charges, defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, Wootton and Miner could face up to five years in prison on each charge, along with fines of $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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