A Hudson Valley man who was facing up to 23 years in prison for stealing over $1 million from a local fire department was jailed on a much shorter sentence.

In New York Southern District of New York Court, Albert Melin, the former treasurer of the Patterson Fire Department, was sentenced to prison for 33 months in prison for fraud and tax charges.

According to court document, Melin, 46, formally of Patterson, was elected treasurer of the Patterson Fire Department in 2013. From 2013 until October 2015, he embezzled funds from the fire department by writing checks to two businesses he owned.

Melin embezzled more than $1.1 million by writing more than 130 fraudulent checks, officials say. He used the money to make payments on his home mortgage loan and pay personal expenses, including the costs of family vacations.

When Melin pleaded guilty in November, he faced up to 23 years in prison.

Melin was ordered pay $1,349,318.76 in restitution.

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