Ex-Microsoft manager ordered to prison

SEATTLE, July 19 (UPI) -- A former Microsoft program manager who admitted to embezzling nearly $1 million should serve 22 months in prison, a Washington judge has ruled.

While U.S. attorneys wanted Carolyn M. Gudmundson to serve 27 months in prison for her crimes, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced the 44-year-old to 22 months and ordered her to repay her former employer nearly $923,000, The Seattle Times reported Saturday.

Gudmundson pleaded guilty in January to using her position at Microsoft's MSN division to collect higher reimbursements from the software company for payments made on her personal credit card.

The U.S. attorney said during Gudmundson's trial that she filed incorrect invoices and claims with her employer to collect additional money.

After being caught, Gudmundson reached a plea deal with prosecutors that resulted in 17 counts of wire and mail fraud against her being dropped.

The Times said Gudmundson will be allowed to delay the start of her prison sentence until Sept. 15 so she can help her daughters adjust to their upcoming school year.