TOPKEA, Kan. (AP) — The former treasurer of a northeast Kansas fire district has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for embezzling funds from the district.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom’s office announced Monday that 68-year-old Richard P. Bontrager of Holton was sentenced after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $427,000 from the Mayetta Rural Fire district between 2008 and 2012.

Prosecutors say Bontrager wrote checks payable to R&S Services, a fictitious entity he created to deposit the checks in his personal account at a bank. Bontrager said he began writing the checks in 2008 with forged signatures of fire district board members.

In addition, Bontrager falsified loan documents to arrange payments from the district for a utility vehicle and pickup truck.

Bontrager was ordered to pay $427,000 in restitution.