EPA seeks fuel tax fugitive

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EPA seeks fuel tax fugitive
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- The Environmental Protection Agency says it is searching for a Houston man who pleaded guilty to conspiring to impede collection of federal fuel excise taxes.

In a news release Tuesday, the federal agency said Yousef Ishaq Abuteir failed to appear for scheduled court proceedings in the case, which began with an investigation into potential violations of the Clean Air Act.

Abuteir purchased kerosene and jet fuel and then blended it with other materials before selling it as diesel fuel in the Houston area, the EPA said.

"Those who are charged with violating the law must have their guilt or innocence determined in a court of law," Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said.

Abuteir and two other defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS of millions of dollars in federal fuel excise taxes. Sidney Berle Baldon II, owner-operator of Mid-Coast International, and Tracey Dale Diamond, an officer of the company, purchased more than $10 million of jet fuel from Calcasieu Refining Co. between July 2002 and November 2003, the EPA said.

Baldon falsely represented in correspondence to Calcasieu that the fuel was intended for export to Mexico, allowing Mid-Coast to avoid paying taxes on it. Mid-Coast then transported the fuel from Louisiana to locations Abuteir owned in Houston and Channelview, Texas, where the illegal blending occurred.

From there, the EPA said, the fuel was delivered to Houston area gas stations and sold as taxable motor fuel.
 
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