United States (Illinois) - A former southwest suburban firefighter was sentenced to 3 years of probation after he pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing $193,000 from the Orland Fire Protection District by falsely claiming to be on active military duty overseas. The district continued to pay Larry Masa's salary, health benefits and other costs for three years, but in reality, the fire lieutenant was working overseas for a private security firm hired by the State Department to teach a crisis-response course in South Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and elsewhere. Masa pleaded guilty to felony theft and official misconduct and faced up to 15 years in prison, but Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas Hennelly sentenced him to probation and 120 hours of community service.

The judge cited Masa's clean criminal record in giving him probation. "I don't deprecate the seriousness of what he did," Hennelly said. "I find it outrageous."

Written by Chicago Tribune