A federal jury convicted Jason Butler, 37, of Jupiter, Florida, on 34 felony counts related to a multi-million-dollar fraud involving the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Butler was found guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery for submitting falsified invoices and financial documents that resulted in more than $4.5 million in losses to the U.S. government, according to a Office of Public Affairs release.
Prosecutors said Butler exploited the government’s SEA Card Program, which allows U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels to purchase fuel worldwide. Evidence presented at trial showed that between August 2022 and January 2024, Butler submitted fraudulent documents to U.S. warships, including the USS Patriot, while the vessels were refueling in ports such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia. Authorities said Butler used a false identity and claimed employment with a fictitious fuel division to carry out the scheme.
The trial was held in West Palm Beach. Federal officials stated that Butler used the proceeds from the fraud to purchase properties in Florida and Colorado. He was taken into custody immediately following the jury’s verdict.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the importance of the SEA Card Program to U.S. military operations and stated that the fraud undermined a critical logistics system. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as part of the Department of Justice’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 8. Butler faces potential maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for each forgery and money laundering count.
