Dallas Man Pleads Guilty in $1.3 Million Oil and Gas Embezzlement Scheme

A Dallas man pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of mail fraud in a $1.3 million oil and gas embezzlement scheme, U.S. Attorney John Parker said in a written statement. Kristopher Brian Anderson, 32, faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and could be ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing is set for Jan. 11.Anderson was hired in May 2014 by Pivotal Petroleum Services as the company's corporate controller. He was responsible for the accounting operations of both that company and Pivotal Petroleum Partners II LP.Anderson created Empery Resource Consultants, LLC, through which he claimed fictitious petroleum “landmen” services in order to embezzle money from his employers, the statement said.Between August 2014 through March 2017, Anderson submitted fraudulent invoices to receive payment of $1,389,991. The funds supported a “lavish lifestyle,” the statement said, with Anderson collecting an average of more than $86,000 per month. The case was investigated by the United State Postal Inspection Service.   Continue reading...