An Indian-American has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from the company, the DuPage County State’s Attorney announced in a news release.

Santhosh Thomas, 51, who worked from March 2006 till January 2007 as Westmont-based Collaborative Learning Inc’s chief financial officer, stole the amount by illegally withdrawing money from the firm’s bank account and writing checks payable to himself and others without authorisation, Daily Herald reported.

Santhosh Thomas, 51, was sentenced for stealing $513,765 from Collaborative Learning Inc. in Westmont. Thomas pleaded guilty to theft in excess of $100,000 on Jan. 7, 2008, and failed to appear in court six months later. He had been on the run until April, when he was arrested in Houston, Texas.

Thomas was sentenced to eight years in prison for the arrest and three years for fleeing the state. Thomas was ordered to pay full restitution to Collaborative Learning.

Thomas will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.