BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts accountant was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1/2 years in prison for embezzling almost $1.3 million from his clients.
Jeffrey Kellem, 49, of Newton, was also ordered to pay restitution and fined $250,000, according to federal prosecutors in Boston. He pleaded guilty in September to wire fraud and filing a false tax return for failing to pay taxes on the stolen money.
Kellem used his position as an accountant for an elderly client, and the estate of a deceased client, to transfer the money to bank accounts he opened and controlled. He then used the money for personal use. He did so without the authorization of his clients, authorities said.
As a result, Kellem avoided paying taxes totaling more than $150,000 in 2017.
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