A Stamford, Connecticut man has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for stealing more than $28 million from Mars, Inc., the global food and confectionery giant.

The defendant used his position within the company to create fictitious vendor accounts and divert company funds into accounts he controlled over the course of several years.

The stolen funds were reportedly used for luxury purchases and personal investments. The scheme was uncovered during an internal audit that flagged irregular payment patterns.

In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay full restitution of $28 million.

Credit: IRS Criminal Investigation