May 23, 2013
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
ATLANTA (AP) -- Authorities say a former Verizon Wireless employee has been sentenced to prison after federal officials say he ordered nearly $2.8 million in equipment for the firm and then sold it out of his Georgia home.
Prosecutors say 62-year-old Michael W. Baxter of Ball Ground used the proceeds to buy cars, jewelry and cosmetic surgeries for his girlfriend.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Baxter was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of wire fraud.
Authorities say Baxter ordered the communications equipment from Cisco Systems over a decade when he was employed as a Verizon network engineer. U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Baxter then funded a lavish lifestyle.
Baxter was also ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to Cisco Systems and $462,828 to Verizon.
(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)
