Port Sulphur Oysterman Sentenced for $300,000 B.P. Fraud

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that STEVE COLLINS TURNER, SR., age 73, of Port Sulphur, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to mail fraud in connection with a false claim of $300,000 related to the BP Oil Spill.

U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced TURNER to five years probation, six months home detention, $300,000 in restitution, and $100 special assessment.

The Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) made disaster assistance money available to individuals and businesses affected by the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater Horizon explosion that occurred on April 20, 2010. The GCCF required individuals to verify loss of income. According to court records, TURNER applied for an Emergency Advance Payment seeking $300,000 in damages for lost money because of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster by submitting false documentation. TURNER submitted false documents regarding oyster buying businesses showing he sold oysters to the businesses when he really did not.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. was in charge of the prosecution.