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Florida bunker supplier indicted over alleged USD 5 mil SEA Card fuel purchase fraud

Owner of Independent Marine Oil Services, allegedly submitted fake invoices to US Navy ships and other vessels through the SEA Card Program, which allows US vessels to purchase fuel from suppliers at ports.

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RESIZED Pepi Stojanovski from Unsplash

The US Department of Justice recently said a federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment recently charging a Florida business owner with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery for his alleged role in orchestrating a scheme to defraud the US Department of Defense and other federal agencies. 

He allegedly did so by submitting altered and fake invoices to US Navy ships and other vessels through the SEA Card Program, which allows US vessels to purchase critical fuel from suppliers at ports around the world.

According to court documents filed in the Southern District of Florida, between August 2022 and January 2024, Jasen Butler, 37, of Jupiter, Florida, the owner of Independent Marine Oil Services LLC, submitted dozens of falsified documents to multiple U.S. warships — including the USS Patriot — demanding and receiving over USD 5 million dollars in payments for phony expenses that Butler had not incurred. 

These ships were attempting to purchase fuel in international ports such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia, among others. Butler also concealed his identity from government officials by using a false name and feigning employment by a fictitious fuel division of a different company. As alleged in the indictment, Butler used the millions in fraud proceeds to personally enrich himself and purchase multiple properties, including in Florida and Colorado. 

“This indictment sends a clear, public message: the Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force under President Trump will not rest until all who defraud the brave men and women of the U.S. military and the American taxpayers receive swift justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail A. Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.

“Our office is steadfast in its commitment to prosecute individuals that seek to unjustly profit at the expense of the U.S. military,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Such fraud undermines military readiness and jeopardizes the dedicated service members who selflessly defend our country.”

“Mr. Butler’s alleged involvement in unlawfully submitting fraudulent invoices related to U.S. naval ships receiving fuel during port visits is an affront to the warfighter and taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to thoroughly investigating those who commit fraud impacting the Department of Navy.”

“Those who exploit the Department of Defense for personal gain — by inflating costs, falsifying bids, or manipulating the contracting process — will be relentlessly pursued and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. 

“DCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our mission to protect taxpayer dollars and preserve the integrity of DoD contracts that directly support our nation’s warfighters.”

If convicted, Butler faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years for each count of forgery, and up to 10 years for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

 

Photo credit: Pepi Stojanovski from Unsplash
Published: 20 June, 2025

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Winding up

Singapore: Court to hear Bunker Partner’s winding-up bid against Victory Shipping on 12 June

Estonia-based marine fuels and commodities trading company Bunker Partner filed an application for the winding up of Victory Shipping on 13 April.

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June 8, 2026

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Singapore: Estonian firm Bunker Partner files bid to wind up of Victory Shipping

An application for the winding up of Victory Shipping Pte Ltd was filed by Estonia-based marine fuels and commodities trading company Bunker Partner is directed to be heard in the General Division of Singapore’s High Court at 10am on 12 June.

Manifold Times previously reported that the winding up application, filed on 13 April, was initially scheduled to be heard on 15 May. 

Victory Shipping, with representations in Malaysia, India and the U.A.E., operates dry bulk shipping contracts around the globe with voyages performed mainly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Ming Law Asia, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Liivalaia 36, 10132 Tallinn, Estonia.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Ming Law Asia of 28 Maxwell Road, #02-15 Maxwell Chambers Suites, Singapore 069120.

The notice said any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the winding up application must serve on or send by post to the Claimant’s solicitors, M/S MING LAW ASIA LLC of 28 Maxwell Road, #02-15 Maxwell Chambers Suites, Singapore 069120, a notice in writing of his intention to do so. 

The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person, firm, or his or their solicitors (if any) and must be served, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the Claimant’s solicitors at least three clear working days before the day appointed for the hearing of the winding up application.

Manifold Times previously reported a virtual hearing between Victory Shipping and Integr8 Fuels Pte Ltd, organised by the High Court of the Republic of Singapore.

The event was to set aside a statutory demand served on 3 October 2025 by Integr8 Fuels lawyers under Section 125(2)(c) and Section 10 of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (IRDA) against Victory Shipping, according to court documents obtained by the bunkering publication.

Integr8 Fuels provides bunker trading and brokerage services to shipowners and operators that enables them to optimise fuel procurement.

Related: Singapore: Estonian firm Bunker Partner files bid to wind up Victory Shipping
Related: Singapore: Victory Shipping aiming to set aside bankruptcy court process from Integr8 Fuels

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 8 June, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: COSCO Petroleum Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

A liquidator has been appointed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 29 May for the purpose of winding up company’s affair, according to Government Gazette notice.
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5 hours ago

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June 8, 2026

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for COSCO Petroleum Pte Ltd Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held via electronic means on 29 May, according to a post in the Government Gazette on Friday (5 June).

The duly passed resolutions were:

AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

  • That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the “Act”)
  • That the Liquidator(s) be and is hereby authorised to exercise any or all of the powers given by Section 144 (1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and 144 (2) of the Act.
  • That the Liquidator(s) be authorised to distribute either in cash or in specie any part or all of the surplus assets of the Company to the contributories.

AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

  • That Ms. Muk Siew Peng of c/o ClearView Associates Pte Ltd 133 New Bridge Road #08-01 Chinatown Point Singapore 059413 be and hereby appointed as liquidator for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Company.
  • That the renumeration and winding up disbursements of the Liquidator be fixed on a time basis at the rates normally charged by such an assignment.
  • That the Liquidator be authorized to destroy all the books and records/papers of the Company and of the Liquidator five years after the date of dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 195(2) of the Act.

In another notice, the liquidators of COSCO Petroleum said creditors for the company are required on or before the 6 July to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the liquidators. 

Liquidators may also require creditors to, “come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.”

The liquidators can be contacted at the following address:

Muk Siew Peng
Liquidator
c/o ClearView Associates Pte Ltd
133 New Bridge Road
#08-01 Chinatown Point
Singapore 059413

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 8 June, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Xihe Capital issues notice of dividend

Xihe Capital Pte Ltd and its subsidiaries are owned by the Lim family, who are also the owners of the embattled Hin Leong Trading.
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5 hours ago

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June 8, 2026

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Resized benjamin child

A notice of dividend for Xihe Capital (Pte.) Ltd., which is currently in liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Friday (5 June). 

Xihe Capital Pte Ltd and its subsidiaries are owned by the Lim family, who are also the owners of the embattled Hin Leong Trading.

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Xihe Capital (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201727410K
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Amount per centum : 10.00 Per Centum of all admitted unsecured claims
First and Final or Otherwise : Third Interim
When Payable : 8 June 2026
Where Payable : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 8 June, 2026

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