A disbarred Denver attorney who pleaded guilty earlier this year to defrauding a friend and investor has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Denver District Judge Eric Johnson on Monday also ordered that Steven Bachar pay $182,000 in restitution, according to a news release from the office of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. Bachar, who founded the Denver-based Empowerment Capital LLC, pleaded guilty in September to one count of felony theft.

In 2017, an investor wired $75,000 to Empowerment Law — a subsidiary of Empowerment Capital — on the promise he would receive interest from Empowerment’s profits, according to the district attorney’s office. Two months later, Bachar asked the investor for an additional $50,000 investment in exchange for interest in Empowerment Capital’s profits.

Bachar did not invest the funds, did not repay the investor and used most of the money for personal use, according to the district attorney’s office.

“I am pleased with Judge Johnson’s sentence, which should send a very clear message that those who violate the trust of their investors will be held accountable regardless of their station in life and perceived privilege,” McCann said in a news release. “Steven Bachar will now pay a serious price for defrauding and abusing the trust of an investor. I want to thank the prosecutors and investigators in my office whose hard work has resulted in today’s sentence.”

Bachar faced a sentencing range of up to six years in prison, although he also could have received probation.

Bachar and his public defender asked the judge to sentence him to probation and argued he was a changed man, according to published reports. Bachar told the judge he was in therapy and that probation would allow him to earn money and pay the restitution.

Johnson was critical of the criminal justice system for being too lenient on white-collar crime and people with wealth, reports said, adding that three years is a more appropriate consequence for stealing $125,000.