NEW YORK - Former Long Island banana importer Thomas Hoey Jr. was convicted of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from employees Friday, March 18th.

Prosecutors charged Hoey of stealing upwards of $750,000 from the retirement accounts of those who worked for his company, according to CBS New York and  the Associated Press, for his own personal uses, including travel, luxury meals, and other lavish expenses.

Hoey’s defense attorney argued that the former executive had used the money to attempt to rescue the company, according to the New York  Daily News, promising to appeal the verdict that was delivered in Manhattan's U.S. District Court.

The conviction means another 45 years in prison for Hoey, who is already serving time for charges in an unrelated drug case, which names him for illegal distribution and carries a potential 11 to 13 years in prison. Prior to those events, Hoey was heir and owner of Long Island Banana Corp.

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