A Hammonton man who stole more than $1.1 million from his own construction company was sentenced to five years’ probation.
Pat Christopher, now 69, was president and co-owner of Christopher Construction Company LLC, when he doctored the company account to make his personal credit card charges appear to be business expenses, according to the investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit.
This went on for a decade without his brothers and co-owners, Dennis and Robert Christopher, aware of the move. His brothers maintain control of the company.
Pat Christopher was sentenced on one count of second-degree theft and one count of third-degree tax evasion, Atlantic County Prosecutor Will Reynolds said.
A review of his tax returns showed that he was not reporting this additional compensation on his 1040 tax form for a period of five years.
He is ordered to have no contact with the victims.
Christopher must also pay restitution to the company conditioned upon a stock buyback transaction handled civilly between the defendant and the victims
Dennis Christopher spoke at the sentencing, addressing the harm his brother caused to their business as well as their family.
