Finn W. Contini, a 37-year-old former Microsoft employee, has been sentenced to four years in prison for abusing his position by illegally distributing the company’s software. He pocketed a staggering $2.3 million.
In court, Contini confessed to ordering 2,700 software units valued at approximately $7 million through Microsoft’s internal ordering program, only to secretly sell them for personal profit.
However, prosecutors argue that Contini could not have orchestrated this scheme alone. “We believe he is merely the mastermind. There are others involved in this case,” they stated. Alongside Contini, three other former Microsoft employees have also been convicted. They are Robert Howdeshell, 40, who received a sentence of 2 years and 3 months in prison; Alyson Clark, 38, and Christine Hendrickson, 34, who both received sentences of 5 months in prison and 5 months of house arrest.
According to the indictment presented by prosecutors, the defendants utilized an Internet system that allowed Microsoft employees to order software for business purposes at no cost to the individual placing the order. They then manipulated the system to ensure that confirmation emails regarding their software orders did not reach the inbox of the managers.
As part of a plea agreement reached with the court earlier this year, Contini agreed to forfeit assets worth over $1.7 million that he acquired through illegal means. This includes four houses located in Washington and Oregon, a 2003 Toyota Highlander, a 2002 Honda Civic, numerous gold and silver coins, as well as $188,000 in cash and in accounts.
In addition to the four-year prison sentence, Judge John Coughenour also imposed an additional three years of supervised release and ordered Contini to pay a fine of $7.1 million.
Thiên Ý (According to AP)
