NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Lanaire White, 38, of Hampton, Va., was sentenced Sept. 27 to 84 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release for stealing more than $300,000 of fuel from U.S. General Services Administration through fleet credit cards, according to a release from the Office of Inspector General for the GSA.

White was convicted for participation in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, theft of government property, use of an unauthorized access device, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $299,000.

According to the evidence introduced at trial, the defendant convinced his former wife, Coleen Newton-White, to systematically steal GSA fleet credit cards from the Fort Monroe (Va.) Motor Pool. He then found numerous customers from the Newport News and Hampton area to purchase gasoline and sometimes diesel fuel for $1.50 per gallon and pay White in currency or checks. The credit card bills were paid by the government and amounted to losses in excess of $300,000, the release stated. The defendant belongs to the Moors, a separatist group which does not recognize federal jurisdiction.

Newton-White pled guilty to her participation in the wire fraud conspiracy in May and was sentenced on August 12 to 41 months in prison, according to the release.

This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, GSA, and the FBI.