NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The former chairman of the tribe that owns Foxwoods Resort Casino has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for embezzling more than $100,000 from the tribe.
U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton said Tuesday that former Mashantucket Pequots chairman Michael Thomas committed a serious offence. She says he used tribal money for luxuries he couldn’t afford.
But Arterton also cited Thomas’ good deeds in imposing a sentence below guidelines that called for about two years.
Thomas says he accepts responsibility for his actions.
He was convicted in July of theft from the tribe to pay for limousine service trips for his mother’s medical appointments and personal expenses for himself.
Defence lawyer Paul Thomas says Thomas intended to reimburse the tribe.
