Raymond L Webber was sentenced to 12 months' probation and ordered to pay USD6,500 in restitution and USD740 for fines and costs for embezzling HP Forklift Inc property.

Webber, 48, of Flint, Michigan entered a plea of no contest to one misdemeanor count of embezzlement from the forklift dealership in unincorporated Buena Vista near Saginaw, Michigan.

Initially, Bay County charged Webber with a felony charge of embezzlement that would involve a jail term. Webber entered his plea in a hearing before Judge Dawn Klida in the court in Bay City, and a scheduled trial was cancelled.

Assistant prosecutor Jordan Case represented Bay County, and Jeffrey M Day, a partner with Gorte & Day PC in Bay City, represented Webber.

Webber is required to pay the negotiated restitution to HP Forklift principals not later than 16 December.

John Hazinski is owner and president of the dealership, and his wife, Beverly, is secretary and treasurer.

During 2009, Webber worked as a sales manager for HP Forklift, was accused of brokering a fraudulent deal in April and was terminated in November {statlink|1|(Forkliftaction.com News #522).