Feds Say They Put Brakes On Man's Fuel Tax Scam
DECATUR, Mich. (AP) - A southwestern Michigan man has been accused of collecting tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury by illegally claiming a refund for high-octane racing fuel.
Evan Knoll of Decatur in Van Buren County was charged Wednesday with false claims and bank fraud. The government says he received more than $80 million over a 10-year period, and most refunds were not legitimate.
A message seeking comment was left with his attorney, Paul Vlachos.
The criminal complaint filed in federal court in Grand Rapids says Knoll had a small business that made racing fuel. But the Internal Revenue Service says Knoll's claims of buying hundreds of millions of gallons from refiners for a "private label" brand were false.
His first appearance in court is June 16.
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