Ex-Hennessey's CFO Gets 5 Years in Jail

The ex-chief financial officer of Hennessey's Inc. was sentenced Monday to five years in the Los Angeles County Jail, according to the Easy Reader.

James Cram, 54, of Rancho Palos Verdes, pleaded guilty last year to one felony count each of grand theft and filing a false tax return in connection with the disappearance of about $1.14 million from the restaurant chain during his time as the CFO.

As part of the plea agreement, Cram was to receive a 2-year sentence in county jail as well as make full restitution to Paul and Jennifer Hennessey, the owners of the restaurant chain, Deputy District Attorney John Harlan told Patch last year after the agreement was announced. Cram had already repaid $610,000 when he pleaded guilty.

If he paid the additional $536,752.28 by Nov. 15 of this year, he would have been freed from jail and placed on probation for three years, Harlan said. If Cram did not make restitution, he would face up to five years in prison.

A call to the District Attorney's Office in Torrance about the status of the plea agreement and the sentencing was not immediately returned.

Cram also owes the California Franchise Tax Board $201,404 in taxes on the embezzled money. According to the Easy Reader, a restitution hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 20.

Paul Hennessey, who attended Monday's sentencing hearing, told the Easy Reader that the company would try to get its money back.

"We’ll probably be trying to seize his house and any other properties he has through the courts," Hennessey told the Easy Reader. "The problem is the government will probably get him before I do. He’s got another shoe to drop yet."

Cram, who worked for Hennessey's Inc. from 2006 until 2010, was arrested Oct. 6, 2012 on 19 felony charges—including grand theft, money laundering and tax evasion—after a yearlong investigation by the Redondo Beach Police Department.

Hennessey's Inc. operates Hennessey's Tavern, Mickie Finnz and HT Grill in Redondo Beach; Hennessey's Tavern in Hermosa Beach and Hennessey's Tavern in Manhattan Beach.