Many employers have a fun program that helps college students feel better about taking courses by offering a reimbursement program of some kind.

Jay Allsman 27, of Lincoln sent in reimbursement requests to his employer with false statements about classes completed, class costs, and even a forged signature of a supervisor.

Allsman is an employee of a sister company owned by U.S. Cellular who offers a reimbursement program for employees’ undergraduate college expenses.

Federal prosecutors say Allsman is convicted of mail fraud for using the U.S. Postal Service to submit the requests; Allsman was sentenced to 16 months in prison and must serve three years of supervised release. Allsman must also pay nearly $162,000 in restitution.