Hanford man pleads guilty to stealing over $100,000 from auto center at Navy base

A Hanford resident pleaded guilty Mondayin Fresno federal court to stealing about $111,900 from an auto service center at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore.

Christopher Whitacre, 50, who worked as a supervisor at the auto service center, stole the money incrementally over 2  1/2 years from Jan. 1, 2011 and July 31, 2013, according to court documents.

Whitacre stole money by accepting cash from customers who purchased gasoline but then entering a lower amount for the transaction, pocketing the difference.

By changing the dates or amounts of gasoline delivered to the center, Whitacre was able to cover the discrepancy between the amount of gasoline sold and the amount purported through cash register transaction records.

Whitacre is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd on May 16. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 10:06 PM with the headline "Hanford man pleads guilty to stealing over $100,000 from auto center at Navy base."