Prison Sentence for Kansas Man Who Embezzled From Company

A 42-year-old Kansas accountant faces nine years in prison for defrauding clients of more than $4 million.

Thomas Hauk, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City. He pleaded guilty earlier to federal fraud charges, stemming from thefts from a financial services company. The Kansas City Star reports the thefts took place for nearly a decade and were discovered in 2015.

Hauk used some of the money to buy expensive cars and motorcycles, which federal authorities seized and auctioned off, raising more than $1.4 million for restitution.

At Wednesday's hearing, defense attorney Erin Thompson asked the judge to deviate from sentencing guidelines and impose a less severe sentence.

But Senior U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs said nine years "is well-justified in this case."