Microsoft employees steal software

Finn W. Contini, 37, a former Microsoft employee will have to sit behind bars for four years on charges of abuse of his position, smuggling the company's software outside. The money he pocketed amounted to $ 2.3 million.

In front of the court, Contini confessed to ordering 2,700 software packages worth about $ 7 million through Microsoft's internal ordering program, then sneaking out of personal gain.

However, prosecutors say Contini cannot do this alone. "We think he is just a mastermind. Other names are needed to help in this case." Along with Contini, three other former Microsoft employees were also convicted. It was Robert Howdeshell, 40 years old, sentenced to 2 years, 3 months in prison; Alyson Clark, 38, and Christine Hendrickson, 34, both received a five-month prison sentence and five months of house arrest.

According to the indictment made by prosecutors, offenders have used an Internet system to allow Microsoft employees to order software for business purposes (individuals who order without paying). . After that, they manipulated this system, controlling for confirmation emails about their software orders to not reach the manager's mailbox.

In an agreement reached with the court earlier this year, Contini accepted a reimbursement of more than $ 1.7 million worth of assets he bought with nefarious money, including four houses in Washington and Oregon, one Toyota Highlander 2003, a Honda Civic 2002, with many gold and silver coins, and USD 188,000 in cash and accounts.

In addition to the four-year sentence, Judge John Coughenour also ordered Contini to take three years of probation and a fine of $ 7.1 million.

Thien Y ( According to AP )