By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – A former chief financial officer pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling more than $844,000.
Tam Tariah was the former CFO of Foundation Technology Incorporated, operating as Fasteel Systems. U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway says he embezzled the money from the company from January 2000 to July 2003 to pay personal debts, creditors, gambling expenses.
Tariah, of St. Louis, then manipulated the accounting records to cover-up his schemes.
The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to one felony count of mail fraud.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution is mandatory.
Tariah could not be reached for comment.