HARRISBURG – In a shocking case of theft, Christopher Gontaryk, a 47-year-old resident of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing $9,919.61 worth of construction materials from the site of the U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on October 11, 2021.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gontaryk, a brazen thief, stole copper and brass construction materials that he then sold at a metal scrapyard located in Pottsville, PA the following day.
As part of his sentence, Gontaryk was ordered to pay $9,919.61 in restitution, a significant amount that is sure to burden the defendant.
Gontaryk faces an additional pending charge for stealing and retaining construction materials from the courthouse construction site in March 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to that offense and is awaiting trial.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.
It’s clear that Gontaryk’s actions were a blatant disregard for the law and a betrayal of the trust placed in him. His sentence serves as a reminder that those who commit crimes will face the consequences.
Gontaryk’s case is a sobering reminder of the importance of security measures in place to prevent theft and other crimes from occurring in construction sites and other public areas.
The U.S. Courthouse construction site in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is a high-profile project that has been ongoing for several years. The theft of construction materials is a significant setback for the project and a loss for the taxpayers of the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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