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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Couple Pleads Guilty to Jet-Fuel Theft Charges

OKLAHOMA CITY (CN) - An Oklahoma couple pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal military jet fuel that their company was under contract to deliver to the Air Force and using it in their fleet of trucks, federal prosecutors said in a written statement.

Doyle Latimer, 55, owned Latimer Trucking LLC, which was subcontracted to deliver the fuel from supply depots in Oklahoma City and Wynnewood to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and Altus and Tinker Air Force bases in Oklahoma. His wife, Cynthia Latimer, 57, was a company bookkeeper.

The Latimers each pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Each faces up to five years in federal prison, mandatory restitution and a fine of $250,000.

Doyle Latimer admitted that from 2001 through 2007, he stole the fuel by draining it from the tankers and using it to operate his trucks, according to court records. He admitted that he knew his wife was creating false fuel receipts to cover it up.

Cynthia Latimer admitted to preparing the false fuel receipts, which appeared to document legitimate diesel fuel purchases for company trucks when, in fact, there had been no purchase of diesel fuel.

Prosecutors say the Latimers were able to reduce the costs of their daily trucking operation with the thefts.

A sentencing hearing will be set by the court in approximately 90 days.

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