NATION

NATION

Appeals court: Resentence
ex-Wal-Mart executive

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A federal appeals court said Tuesday that despite his poor health and good works, former Wal-Mart executive Thomas Coughlin got off too easy after admitting he had cheated his company and the IRS.

If anything, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said, Coughlin’s standing in his community made his crimes appear worse. It directed an Arkansas federal judge to resentence Coughlin — rejecting a term that included only home detention and probation.

Coughlin pleaded guilty in January 2006 to felony wire fraud and tax evasion charges after embezzling cash, gift cards and merchandise from Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The former No. 2 Wal-Mart executive faced more than 28 years in prison and fines of $1.35 million, but U.S. District Judge Robert T. Dawson handed down 27 months of home detention and 33 months of probation. Coughlin was fined $50,000 and ordered to make $411,218 in restitution.

Fromer Staples VP
convicted of embezzling

BOSTON — A former vice president of Staples Inc. has been convicted of embezzling more than $500,000 from the Framingham-based office products company. James Dorman, 40, formerly of Westborough, pleaded guilty Monday to eight counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering.

Prosecutors said Dorman embezzled at least $584,826 from the company during the two years before he was fired by submitting invoices for nonexistent vendors. He also misused corporate travel funds to pay for personal travel and travel-related expenses for friends.

Associated Press