A federal judge Monday sentenced a Meriden man to serve 15 months in federal prison for his role in helping a former Jefferson County bank president embezzle funds.

U.S. District Judge Julie A. Robinson handed down the sentence to Michael R. Wurm after Wurm pleaded guilty in January to one count of aiding and abetting a theft by a bank officer.

In his plea, Wurm admitted that in 2001 and 2002 he helped Scott Becker, former president of Meriden State Bank. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Becker convinced the bank’s board to construct a branch in Topeka, but he and Wurm concealed the fact, including from the FDIC, that Becker would serve as the general contractor.

Prosecutors said Wurm inflated bills from Louis Droge Construction to cover draw requests to the bank on the branch. Becker approved a total of $383,355 in draw requests, and Wurm collected $115,000 more from the bank than what he paid to Louis Droge Construction. That money went to Becker, prosecutors said.

Becker has been sentenced to serve five years in prison, and co-defendant Stephanie R. Smith has been sentenced to serve two years probation.

According to federal court records, Wurm must surrender to federal authorities within two months, and the judge recommended he be placed at a camp in Leavenworth.