A former Garden City employee has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for theft of public funds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. He also was ordered to pay $51,680 in restitution.

Pedro A. Castro, 35, Garden City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred in 2010 and 2011 while he was working as diversion coordinator for the Garden City prosecutor’s office. The city was a local government that received federal benefits totaling more than $10,000 in 2010 and 2011. During this time, Castro stole more than $5,000 of the money, which was paid to the Garden City prosecutor’s office as diversion funds.