Boise, Idaho — The previous owner of a fuel truck supply business has received a 12-month prison sentence and a $20,000 fine for masterminding a lengthy bid-rigging and market allocation scheme related to federal wildfire-fighting contracts throughout the Mountain West.
Ike Tomlinson, who provided fuel trucks utilized by the U.S. Forest Service during wildfire response efforts, admitted guilt in May 2024 for his role in anticompetitive conspiracies alongside Kris Bird, the proprietor of a rival fuel truck company. These schemes, which spanned from 2015 to 2023, were designed to manipulate bidding processes, inflate contract costs, and eliminate competition.
This case is part of a larger federal antitrust investigation into unethical practices within the fuel truck services sector that supports essential government initiatives to manage wildfires.
Scheme Targeted Taxpayer-Funded Emergency Services
As stated by the Department of Justice, Tomlinson and Bird conspired to coordinate their bids, creating a facade of competition while secretly pre-selecting which company would secure contracts in designated regions. Additionally, the conspirators took measures to penalize and eliminate potential rivals, thereby solidifying their dominance in the market and compromising the integrity of the government procurement system.
“This sentence sends a message that bid rigging—particularly bid rigging affecting federal agencies—will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the DOJ Antitrust Division. “These conspiracies damaged essential taxpayer-funded services vital to protecting the public from wildfires.”
Broader Legal Fallout and Civil Settlement
In addition to the criminal conviction, the U.S. government announced that Tomlinson and related parties agreed in July 2024 to pay $1.1 million to resolve civil claims. These included allegations of:
- Fraudulent SAM certifications
- False claims related to helicopter operations support trailers
- Improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans
The civil case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.“Antitrust violations harm consumers, distort markets, and erode trust in our economy,” said Jose A. Perez, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue working with our partners to investigate and disrupt corporate fraud.”
