ST. LOUIS (AP) - The former chief financial officer for a suburban St. Louis company was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for embezzling nearly $4 million from the firm.
Bryan G. Vonderahe, 45, of Kirkwood, Missouri, also must pay restitution. He pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud.
Vonderahe was indicted in May. Court documents show that from January 2012 through January 2019, Vanderahe defrauded The Boyd Group, a company that owns real estate and operates stores that include The Bedroom Store, Boyd Sleep and Accent Furniture.
According to the documents, Vonderahe set himself up as a sham vendor and issued about 500 company checks to himself, totaling about $3.8 million. The U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis said Vonderahe falsified company records and issued financial statements to outside auditors as part of his scheme.
Authorities said Vonderahe used the money on personal expenses, travel and gambling.