Marston man given four years in prison

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A former Marston man was sentenced in U.S. District Court for an embezzelment scheme which cost his former employer more than $1 million.

Abe B. Evans, 36, was found guilty on all eight counts of an indictment following a jury trial on May 12. Evans was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry.

The judge sentenced Evans to 48 months on each of the eight counts to run concurrently followed by three years of supervised release. Also he was ordered to pay a special assessment of $800 and restitution of the full amount of the embezzled funds.

Evans and accomplice produced and cashed false vacation payroll checks payable to actual employees of Plastene Supply Co. in Portageville. The embezzlement scheme took place between January 1998 through December 2001 and resulted in loses to Plastene in excess of $1,800,000. Evidence at the trial revealed that over $800,000 of the embezzled proceeds were deposited directly into bank accounts controlled by Evans.

Evans' accomplice cooperated with the government and testified against Evans at the trial.