Former Kansas pharmacy operator sentenced

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- A Wichita man has been sentenced to six months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release for embezzling more than $335,000 from the pharmacy he managed.

U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch announced Friday that 58-year-old Michael L. Halfman will spend six months of his supervised release in home detention.

The former chief operating officer of Gessler Drug Company pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of making a false statement on a tax return.

Prosecutors said in a news release that he admitted to embezzling from cash deductibles on the sale of pharmaceuticals and general merchandise. He used health care benefit program checks to cover up the theft. The thefts totaled $335,532.