Duo Guilty of Stealing Nearly $13,000,000 in Embezzlement Scheme

DONNA WHITE, age 46, a resident of Avondale, Louisiana and DANIEL KINNEY, age 44, a resident of Whitesville, Kentucky, pled guilty today to one-count of mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, WHITE was employed by John W. Stone Oil Distributor, L.L.C., which operated a midstream and dock fueling business in the Port of New Orleans, and throughout Louisiana. WHITE’s duties included reviewing payments received and matching them with invoices, as well as reconciling overpayments by these customers. DANIEL KINNEY is the long time boyfriend of WHITE’s sister. From August 1995, and continuing until October 29, 2007, DONNA WHITE and DANIEL KINNEY devised a scheme to defraud J.W. Stone, by stealing checks and funds belonging to J.W. Stone, and depositing them into their personal accounts at Mississippi River Bank, Regions Bank, Kentucky Trust Bank, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.

The factual basis indicates that WHITE and KINNEY embezzled approximately $12,700,000. The stolen funds were used to pay personal expenses, gambling and to fund a racing company, Premier Motorsports, which was run by KINNEY. Premier Motorsports, who owned race cars and competed in the NASCAR Busch Series, ARCA Re/Max Series, NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series as well as WKA Kart Racing events for the past 10 years.

The defendants face a possible maximum sentence of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000.00, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 11, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

The case was investigated by the Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.