Former Bensenville man sentenced to 11 years for theft

A former Bensenville man who had been on the lam was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison for stealing from a former employer and then skipping bail.

Santhosh Thomas, 51, pleaded guilty in January 2008 to stealing more than $100,000 from Westmont-based Collaborative Learning Inc. He then skipped a June 2008 court date and a no-bond arrest warrant was issued.

Thomas was arrested in April near Houston, Texas, and was brought to the DuPage County jail on April 27.

He was sentenced to eight years for the theft conviction and a consecutive three-year sentence for jumping bail.

He also was ordered to pay full restitution to Collaborative Learning Inc.

Prosecutors said from March 2006 through January 2007, Thomas, the former chief financial officer at Collaborative Learning Inc., stole $513,765 through a number of schemes, including withdrawing money without authorization from the firm's bank account and writing checks payable to himself and others without authorization.

Thomas and employees working at his direction then falsified records to hide the theft from his employer.

Thomas also received unauthorized pay and made unauthorized purchases with the company's credit card. The theft was uncovered by company officials who immediately contacted the Westmont Police Department.

"Thanks to the perseverance of law enforcement, (Thomas') illegal activities have finally caught up with him," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "Today's sentencing sends a strong message that if you are found guilty of a crime in DuPage County you will be held responsible. You cannot outrun the law."

Thomas must serve half his sentence before being eligible for parole.