Judge sentences second attorney for defrauding Johnson Controls out of $4.5M (UPDATE)

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A federal judge has sentenced a second attorney for defrauding Johnson Controls out of $4.5 million.

U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller on Thursday sentenced 55-year-old Craig Hilborn, of Birmingham, Michigan, to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release and imposed a $60,000 fine.

Hilborn was represented by Steven Biskupic of Mequon-based Biskupic & Jacobs and Steven Fishman of Detroit-based Steven Fishman Law Offices. Hilborn must report to prison on or after July 25, according to court documents.

He and 54-year-old Scott Hess, of Menomonee Falls, had pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud earlier this year.

Stadtmueller on June 15 sentenced Hess to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release and imposed a $90,000 fine.

Hess worked as an in-house attorney for Johnson Controls in Milwaukee until late 2015, according to prosecutors. Hilborn ran his own law firm in Michigan.

For 15 years, Hess invoiced Johnson Controls for legal work Hilborn’s firm never did. The two stole about $4.5 million from the company.

Hess was represented by Paul Bucher of Delafield-based Bucher Law Group. Bucher has told the court that Hess will not be appealing his case. Hess is set to report to prison as early as July 10, according to court documents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @erikastrebel