Former NJ UCO collector pleads guilty to RIN fraud

In Washington, owner and manager of a New Jersey feedstock collector and processor pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction for his role in a scheme that generated over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits (RIN credits) connected to the purported production of biodiesel fuel.

Malek Jalal, 52, pleaded guilty before United States District Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King for the Southern District of Ohio, announced Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Acting United States Attorney Benjamin C.

 Jalal, who owned Unity Fuels, bought fuel from a New York-based company that arranged for tax credits and RIN credits to be claimed on it.  Unity Fuels then blended the fuel with other material and sold it back to the New York company in order to claim tax credits and RIN credits again.  Jalal also admitted to obstruction of justice for providing a federal grand jury with altered and falsified documents and to destroying other documents in connection with the subpoena.