Utah Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Stealing $700K from Montana Employer

HELENA, Mont. – A Utah man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for defrauding his Montana employer out of $700,000, with a judge ordering him to pay $700,000 in restitution.

Thomas Lynn Syddall, 50, of American Fork, Utah, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and money laundering-concealment as charged in an indictment. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said Syddall used fictitious purchasing orders and invoices to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing hearing. Laslovich said Syddall’s conduct was a breach of trust and that his office would continue to hold white collar criminals accountable.

The investigation found that Syddall worked for Information Technology Corporation, which was owned by Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co. From March 2020 to August 2021, Syddall embezzled money through multiple means, including creating bogus purchase orders and invoices, stealing inventory and directing payments to fictitious companies and unauthorized vendors.

Syddall then sold the inventory on eBay and KSL Classifieds, concealing financial transactions by laundering proceeds from the wire fraud into third-party accounts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case, with the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation conducting the investigation.

The IRS said it would continue to work with law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for their actions. Syddall’s sentence serves as a reminder that white collar crime will not be tolerated and that those who commit it will face consequences.

U.S. Attorney Laslovich praised the work of law enforcement in bringing Syddall to justice, saying, “Our office, working with our law enforcement partners, will remain committed to holding white collar criminals accountable.” The case is a testament to the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and the need for continued efforts to prevent and investigate white collar crime.