Oysterman Turner Squeezed for $300K BP Fraud

PORT SULPHUR, LA – A 73-year-old Port Sulphur oysterman is facing the consequences after attempting to line his pockets with $300,000 in fraudulent claims related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. STEVE COLLINS TURNER, SR. was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, marking the latest chapter in the ongoing fallout from the Gulf Coast oil spill.

TURNER pleaded guilty to mail fraud after investigators uncovered a scheme to fabricate lost income. The Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), established to provide assistance to those impacted by the explosion on April 20, 2010, demanded verification of financial losses. TURNER allegedly bypassed this requirement with falsified documents claiming sales to oyster buying businesses that never actually happened.

Court records reveal TURNER submitted these false documents as part of an Emergency Advance Payment request, seeking the full $300,000. The scheme aimed to exploit the GCCF’s efforts to quickly distribute funds to legitimate claimants, preying on the chaos and hardship caused by the massive oil spill. It’s a familiar story: disaster creates opportunity for the unscrupulous.

While TURNER avoided prison time, the sentence isn’t exactly a slap on the wrist. Judge Morgan handed down five years of probation, coupled with six months of home detention. More significantly, TURNER is now on the hook for $300,000 in restitution – every penny of the fraudulently obtained funds must be repaid. A $100 special assessment was also levied.

Federal authorities aren’t letting up on those who attempted to profit from the disaster. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana praised the U.S. Secret Service Special Agents for their diligent investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. led the prosecution, ensuring TURNER was held accountable for his actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder that even years after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the long arm of the law continues to reach those who sought to exploit it. The GCCF distributed billions in claims, making it a prime target for fraud, and authorities remain vigilant in pursuing these cases. The Gulf Coast is still recovering, and those who preyed on the misfortune of others will face justice.