Palm Springs Man Admits Guilt in 10-Million-Gallon Oil Theft
A Palm Springs man accused of having helped his father and elder brother steal 10 million gallons of crude oil by tapping into an oil company pipeline pleaded guilty to theft and conspiracy charges in federal court Tuesday.
Christopher Geter, 23, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima, who scheduled sentencing for May 12. Geter faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Still under indictment and awaiting trial are his father, Mose Allen Geter, 44, of Morongo Valley, and brother Mose Allen Geter Jr., 25, of Palm Desert. Konrad Prager, 35, of Morongo Valley pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft from interstate shipment in February and is to be sentenced by Tashima on April 15.
Prosecutors charged the four with installing an illegal tap on an Arco pipeline in the desert north of Palm Springs, which they used to transfer the oil to a leased tank truck for resale to refineries where they posed as legitimate businessmen.
The FBI estimated their profits at $4 million over a three-year period.
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