Aug. 18--The former chief financial officer of a west suburban education software company who pleaded guilty to embezzling a half-million dollars and then disappeared for seven years was sentenced Monday to an 11-year prison sentence.
Santhosh Thomas, 51, formerly of Bensenville, was given an eight-year prison term for theft over $100,000 and a consecutive three-year term for skipping out on bail by DuPage County Judge Daniel Guerin, according to prosecutors.
In January 2008, Thomas had pleaded guilty to stealing from Collaborative Learning, a Westmont-based education software company. He remained free on a $500,000 bond and then failed to appear for his sentencing in June 2008.
Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, but Thomas remained on the lam until he was taken into custody in April near Houston. He was then taken back to DuPage County.
While acting as the chief financial officer at his company, Thomas stole $513,000, prosecutors alleged. They say Thomas withdrew money from company accounts without authorization and wrote unauthorized checks to himself and others. He then covered up the thefts in the company's accounting software.
Two other company employee were also charged along with Thomas, and they both were later convicted and served prison sentences, prosecutors said.
The firm's chief operating officer, Emmanuel Reyes in August 2007 was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of theft in excess of $10,000. Bookkeeper Nenita H. Lindecker, 68, of Plainfield, in October 2009 was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing $7,000 from the company and for an August 2004 crime of theft by deception in Oak Brook, according to court and state prison records.
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin credited police perseverance with bringing Thomas into custody.
"You cannot outrun the law," he said. "You will be caught and you will serve your sentence."
Thomas is eligible for day-for-day credit. He was also ordered to make restitution.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
