Prison conditions in the U.S. are such that I wouldn't fault someone facing down a life sentence from considering a quicker option out.
Honestly, I don't even know what the point of prison in this situation is. It won't get anyone their money back, and he's unlikely to be in a position where he can reoffend in the future.
I suppose there's the deterrent angle, but I'm not convinced that there's a meaningful difference between a 10 year sentence and a life sentence as a deterrent.
Fair, but it remains to be seen if he was stealing for personal gain (embezzlement), or because he had a gambling addiction and was trying to keep his companies solvent.
"I'll just borrow these customer assets until I make it back" probably isn't a thing that someone would be deterred from whether it was 10 years or life. People make crazy gambles all the time for a lot less, and end up indebted to bookies who kill them.
He'll obviously never be in a position where he can make this mistake again, and I think life in prison doesn't fit the crime, especially for a first-time offender.
If he was stealing for personal gain, then sure, throw the book at him. But the available information doesn't make it clear if that's the case yet.
And that’s why we have such long sentences in the US. A few years of prison is quite a strong deterrent already. But voters say that they deserve more than that.
Honestly, I don't even know what the point of prison in this situation is. It won't get anyone their money back, and he's unlikely to be in a position where he can reoffend in the future.
I suppose there's the deterrent angle, but I'm not convinced that there's a meaningful difference between a 10 year sentence and a life sentence as a deterrent.