Garcia pleads guilty in $2.4 million crude oil theft case
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
A change of plea and sentencing hearing was held on Thursday, Dec. 1, for Michael Jason Garcia. Garcia was originally charged with count one, a Class A Felony - Conspiracy to commit theft-take exceeds $50,000; count two, a Class B Felony - Leading a criminal association-organization; and count three, a Class B Felony - Dealing in stolen property.
As part of a plea deal, Garcia pled guilty to counts one and two, the third count was dismissed with prejudice. According to the plea agreement, Garcia would serve 7 years in the Department of Corrections with credit for 2 days. He will have five years of supervised probation, and is required to pay $200,000 in restitution to Crestwood. Garcia is also to have no contact with Crestwood or its facilities.
In addition to those terms, the agreement dictated that Elizabeth Garcia (Garcia’s Wife) could not be charged with any crimes related to the case. According to court documents filed with the Northwest Judicial District in June 2022, Elizabeth Garcia was aware and had knowledge of her husband’s dealings with assets that were available to them as a result of the process of stealing oil and directed Garcia on how to distribute funds from their account.
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