Florida City Man Pleads Guilty To BP Claims Fraud
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - A Florida City man who filed for reimbursement from BP claiming last years oil spill in the Gulf cost his commercial fishing business more than $100,000 in business has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
On Wednesday, 37-year old Eliu Gonzalez admitted in court he faked the claims.
In October last year, prosecutors say Gonzalez submitted a claim of more than $110,000. Part of the claimed losses included a series of receipts from a Miami fish market for yellowtail snapper that Gonzalez admitted in court were false.
BP created its $20 billion claims fund to compensate losses stemming from the April 2010 oil rig explosion and spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gonzalez faces a maximum 20-year prison term when sentenced in January.
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