The Halls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2005, 11:20 a.m. CDT

CONTACT:
Regan Anson, 402-471-2067

Bruning Announces Sentence in Atlanta Grain Elevator Case

(Lincoln, Neb.) Attorney General Jon Bruning and Phelps County Attorney Tim Hoeft today announced that William White, former owner of the Atlanta Grain Elevator in Atlanta, Neb., has been sentenced to 6-10 years in prison on each of eight counts of felony theft.

White’s sentence for each count, which was imposed by Phelps County District Court Judge Terri S. Harder, will be served concurrently. White was found guilty of the Class III felonies on July 14, 2005.

Bruning said, “This case was about bringing justice to the 50-plus farmers who were betrayed by one man’s greed. White collar crime is financially devastating not only for those directly involved, but also for communities as a whole.”

The Nebraska State Patrol began an investigation in March 2001 at the request of Hoeft who was concerned about possible criminal misconduct by White at the elevator, which is located in Atlanta, six miles southwest of Holdrege. At that time, search warrants were served on the elevator and the home of White, near Funk, Neb., by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office. Three computers and numerous receipts, scale tickets and other paperwork detailing the daily operations of the elevator were seized.

The Attorney General’s Office and the Phelps County Attorney’s Office pursued charges against White after discovering he had unlawfully transferred the titles of farmers’ grain (which was in open storage) to the Atlanta Grain Elevator and sold it to third parties.

White operated the elevator from 1998 until he voluntarily surrendered his Nebraska Public Service Commission’s (PSC) license in March 2002 when federal and state audits at the elevator revealed a major shortage of grain and soybeans. Originally, the PSC received claims of more than $4.5 million against the elevator.

The case was handled by Hoeft and Assistant Attorney General George Love.

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Start a New Search DCS ID: 65058 -- WILLIAM WHITE Demographics Inmate Committed Name Last: WHITE First: WILLIAM Middle: Suffix:    Inmate Legal Name Last: First: Middle: Suffix:    Details Gender: MALE Race: WHITE Date of Birth: 10/01/1967 Current Age: 39    Facility: TECUMSEH STATE COR INSTITUTION     Sentence Information Sentence Dates Facility: TECUMSEH STATE COR INSTITUTION Total Sentence: 6 Years   0 Months   0 Days   To 10 Years   0 Months   0 Days   Sentence Begin Date: 11/24/2006 Good Time Law: 364 Projected Release Date: 11/21/2011   Parole Information Parole Eligibility Date: 11/21/2009 Parole Hearing Date: Next Parole Board Review Date: 05/2007 Parole Discharge Date: Parole Discharge Type:       Release Information Release Date: Reason for Release:       Offense Information     Offense Term   Description Run Code Minimum Maximum County of Commitment THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -         THEFT CC 6 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  10 Yr   0 Mo   0 Da  PHELPS Felony - -

So I guess I know a honest-to-God white collar criminal. The part that really blows me away is that when we started playing racquetball, he had already  been convicted, yet never mentioned anything. Of course, if it was me, I don't know if I would have either.