Thomas John Muza, 57, of Hightstown, was sentenced to state prison Friday for embezzling $240,000 from the Princeton University Triangle Club over a period of five years, 2008-2013. He was the Triangle Club’s accountant from 1993 to 2013.

According to the Attorney General’s office, Mr. Muza pleaded guilty on March 27 to a charge of second degree theft by unlawful taking. In addition to his sentence, he must pay a restitution of $240,000. At the sentencing hearing he had already paid $200,000 of that sum.

Mr. Muza was dismissed from his post as accountant for the historic musical comedy troupe in May 2013 after discrepancies and suspicious expenditures were discovered in the Triangle Club financial records. He had been paid a $4,000 annual salary and had been a signatory on the club’s bank account. Mr. Muza, who also served as general manager of McCarter Theatre Center, was removed from that post as a result of the theft investigation.

Mr. Muza admitted that he used his position as accountant for the Triangle Club to embezzle approximately $240,000 by writing club checks to himself and cashing them or depositing them directly into his personal bank account.

The former accountant, who was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Timothy P. Lydon, was initially charged by the Division of Criminal Justice on November 27, 2013 and was indicted on June 2, 2014. The case was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice by the law firm employed by the Triangle Club.

“Muza corruptly repaid the trust of the members of this illustrious musical comedy troupe by stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars from them,” stated Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman. “What’s more, this was not a one-time lapse; he had his hand in the till over and over again in the course of five years.”

“With this prison sentence,” Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice added, “we send a strong deterrent message that white collar crime does not pay. Muza must pay back every dollar he stole from the Triangle Club, and he will always bear the stigma of being a convicted felon.”

Robin K. Lord, Mr. Muza’s lawyer, said that the former accountant would apply for early release from prison in accordance with the Intensive Supervision Program, through which he could possibly be released in several months.