Man Gets Prison Time In GM Machinery, Metals Thefts

HOWELL (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan man convicted of embezzling more than $100,000 in machinery, tools and precious metals from General Motors has been sentenced to prison.

The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus of Howell reports Jeffrey Michael Eastom was sentenced Thursday to 30 months to 30 years in prison.

The 38-year-old Marion Township man apologized in court "for not doing a good job" managing multiple facilities and asked for leniency.

According to trial testimony, Eastom was the ringleader behind a group of then-employees from Ideal Setech in Howell who from 2008 to 2010 were stealing metals including copper and selling them to a recycling center. The company housed GM property.

Defense attorney Edwin Literski said during the trial that two of Eastom's co-defendants didn't initially implicate Eastom, but changed their stories ahead of reaching plea agreements.

All four co-defendants entered plea deals in their cases and have been sentenced.

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