A Microsoft employee has been charged with pilfering and selling
$9m (£5.6m) worth of high-end server software.
Daniel Feussner, a mid-level Microsoft engineer who led one of
Microsoft's .net voice recognition technology projects, was
arrested after an FBI probe uncovered a scheme in which he
allegedly ordered products through Microsoft's internal purchasing
programme and sold them on the street.
According to court papers, Feussner used his earnings to acquire a
lavish car collection, a yacht, expensive watches and diamond
jewellery.
He is being charged with 15 counts of wire, mail and computer fraud
and could face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000
fine for each charge.
Microsoft said, "We take employee theft very seriously and realise
the effects it can have on the value we provide our customers and
shareholders.
"We have a number of internal measures in place to identify theft
and work very closely with the appropriate authorities on these
matters."
Feussner used internal purchase orders to buy high-end server
software, which he then sold for cut-rate prices while keeping the
proceeds, the complaint alleges.
The FBI said Feussner's arrest was part of a larger probe into
illegal use of Microsoft's internal purchasing programme.