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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A former employee of a St. Louis County steakhouse has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Matthew Braasch, 48, pleaded guilty in April to misusing the company credit card to make personal purchases. He was an employee of Sam's Steakhouse at the time of the crimes, and allegedly embezzled just over $1 million.

Prosecutors said he spent $81,965 at Target, $29,801 at the Vineyard Vines clothing store, $39,634 at Amazon and over $10,000 on local hotel stays for an acquaintance.

According to investigators, Braasch posed as the restaurant's owner to conceal his crimes. The embezzlement left the restaurant short of funds to buy food and pay state taxes.

Braasch was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to repay the money he embezzled.

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