SEATTLE (AP) — A 54-year-old Shoreline, Wash., accountant has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from Microsoft Corp. when he worked there.
Federal prosecutors say Randal Ray Seal was an analyst in Microsoft’s accounts payable department when he exploited features in the company’s system for paying vendors and stole the money. Court records show the theft was discovered some time after he left Microsoft.
At his federal court sentencing Tuesday, Seal repaid more than $515,000. Judge James Robart ordered him to repay an additional $550,000. The judge told Seal he wanted to send a message that such money laundering and fraud won’t be tolerated and “the accountants of the world can end up going to jail because of it.”
When confronted by FBI agents in November 2009, prosecutors say Seal admitted taking the money. Indicted last December, he pleaded guilty in May.
