Duo Charged with Stealing Nearly $13,000,000 in Embezzlement Scheme

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DONNA WHITE, age 46, a resident of Avondale, Louisiana, and DANIEL KINNEY, age 44, a resident of Whitesville, Kentucky, were charged in a one-count bill of information with mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, DONNA WHITE was employed by John W. Stone Oil Distributor, L.L.C., a midstream and dock fueling business in the Port of New Orleans, from 1995 until October 29, 2007. WHITE’s duties including reviewing payments received by customers, including the companies Vastar, Apex, Harper, and Kiesel, and to match them with invoices for work performed. WHITE also was tasked to reconcile overpayments by these customers. DANIEL KINNEY is the long time boyfriend of WHITE’S sister.

The bill of information alleges that from approximately August 1995 until approximately October 29, 2007, WHITE and KINNEY entered into a scheme to steal checks and funds belonging to J.W. Stone, and depositing the funds into their personal accounts at Mississippi River Bank, Regions Bank, Kentucky Trust Bank, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, in order to divert to their personal benefit the stolen funds. The bill alleges that the defendants stole nearly $13,000,000.

If convicted, WHITE and KINNEY face a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000.00, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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.

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