Former CFO who pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $1.9 million sentenced to 3 years, 5 months

Bought luxury goods, other items with stolen cash

The former chief financial officer of a car dealership who embezzled $1.9 million was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Sacramento today.

Christopher Firle, 53, of Fairfield, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for a four-year embezzlement scheme of over $1.9 million from his employer. Firle pleaded guilty in July 2021.

The evidence showed that Firle, the chief financial officer of Price Simms Holdings, a company that owned several vehicle dealerships, misappropriated over $1.9 million from the company between January 2016 and September 2019. Firle was able to carry out the scheme in multiple ways, including by using company credit cards to pay for over $750,000 in personal expenses.

The unauthorized charges included tickets to sporting events and purchases at several retail stores, including Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Hermès, Nordstrom, and Tiffany & Co. Firle also initiated over 30 unauthorized wire transfers from the company to a family member that totaled over $500,000.

Additionally, Firle issued over 30 unauthorized company checks to himself that totaled over $165,000, and he withdrew more than $50,000 from a company account without authorization. Finally, Firle issued himself excess bonus payments totaling almost $160,000.

Firle was also ordered to pay $1,937,706 in restitution to his former employer and to forfeit $1,652,269 to the United States.