SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - The former owner of a private photography school in western Massachusetts who pleaded guilty to using millions of dollars of the school’s money for personal expenses has been sentenced to five years of probation.
George J. Rosa III, former president of the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, was also ordered Thursday to repay the school and the Internal Revenue Service, and to perform 400 hours of community service.
Prosecutors say Rosa used the money for construction at his home, gambling, and approximately $55,000 on clothing, footwear, and accessories. He claimed the expenses were legitimate business expenses.
The Recorder (https://bit.ly/1wzcBub ) reports that Rosa asked the judge for leniency, and the judge said probation would allow him to work and repay the debt.
Rosa has sold the school.
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Information from: The (Greenfield, Mass.) Recorder, https://www.recorder.com
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