Man Sentenced For Involvement With Oilfield Theft Ring
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: November 23, 2010
MIDLAND -- A Midland man who was indicted for his role in an oilfield theft ring will spend the next five years on probation.
Cody Eckel was sentenced after he testified for the government in the case. He faced up to 20 years in federal prison for each of his seven charges, but the theft ring's main victim asked the judge to be lenient with Eckel's sentence. Eckel was indicted for his involvement with a fake business that was allegedly set up by Gary and Jerrod Gardenhire.
Their fake business stole more than $2,000,000 in equipment from the Hose Connection Inc. in re-sold merchandise. The group would write fraudulent invoices, ship the stolen goods from the company and then keep the profits.
The Gardenhires and defendant Fred Foster have been convicted, but are still waiting to be sentenced.
Cody Eckel was sentenced after he testified for the government in the case. He faced up to 20 years in federal prison for each of his seven charges, but the theft ring's main victim asked the judge to be lenient with Eckel's sentence. Eckel was indicted for his involvement with a fake business that was allegedly set up by Gary and Jerrod Gardenhire.
Their fake business stole more than $2,000,000 in equipment from the Hose Connection Inc. in re-sold merchandise. The group would write fraudulent invoices, ship the stolen goods from the company and then keep the profits.
The Gardenhires and defendant Fred Foster have been convicted, but are still waiting to be sentenced.
