A high-flying management accountant who stole almost $2 million in the biggest ever fraud against the Bermuda government was sentenced to more than four and a half years in jail in America yesterday.

Harrison Isaac Jr. looted a Bank of New York account set up by Government to pay vendors in US dollars under post-9/11 financial regulations.

Isaac, 35, a Bermudian national, was employed in the Accountant General's Department, where he was given sole responsibility for the online account in question.

He exploited a loophole in safety checks to siphon off $1,899,888 through internet transfers over an eight-month period from May 2003.

The offences were deemed to have taken place in New York, and addressing the US District Court that dealt with Isaac yesterday, Bermuda's Attorney General Larry Mussenden said he had let the Island down.

"It's my view that Mr. Isaac has stolen from every single person in Bermuda ? every single Bermudian," he said.

Isaac, who is said to have blamed himself for the death of his son while incarcerated, also addressed the court.

"I'm a Bermudian and I appreciate my country and love my country ? I'm sorry to my people for what happened and also to my family," he said.

The former Berkeley Institute student from Crawl Point Lane West, Hamilton Parish, was caught red-handed by Police at Bermuda International Airport in April 2004.

He had an outbound ticket to Atlanta, Georgia and was found with five access cards for the Bank of New York account in the names of staff from the Accountant General's Department plus handwritten notes saying, "sell everything," "liquidate," and "reset password".

He was arrested, and in November 2004 extradited to the United States where he remained in custody up until yesterday's hearing at the US District Court in Manhattan.

Isaac pleaded guilty to 15 fraud-related charges during a previous court session, with the charges against him outlining how he committed the crime by using secure access cards for others in the Accountant General's department authorised to view the Bank of New York account.

Over a period of more than eight months from May 2003 he transferred a total of $1,899,888 out of the account.

Sen. Mussenden told the court Isaac had been in a position of trust and that a very high standard is expected of those in charge of Bermuda's public purse, bearing in mind its reputation as an international business jurisdiction. He said the Island takes pride in its young people and wishes them to rise to the top of their careers.

"There was nothing stopping Mr. Isaac becoming Accountant General, and he was not that far off that position. For him to use his skills for gain strikes at the heart of every Bermudian," he said.

He added: "While he is serving his sentence he will be able to consider what he can do to assist people in Bermuda having learned from his experiences here, and return to Bermuda society as a person who has been rehabilitated and who will work for the young people of Bermuda."

Isaac's defence lawyer Alexander Eisemann thanked Senator Mussenden for his "eloquent and gracious" comments. He told Judge Laura Taylor Swain that his client committed the fraud during an "an isolated period" in his life and had previously been a respectful child, a good student, and a talented member of the Accountant General's staff.

He said Isaac experienced a "difficult environment" in that department and had become angry at perceived wrongs as well as over custody issues relating to his daughter. These factors, said Mr. Eisemann, came together to motivate Isaac to commit the crime that now meant he would find it hard to every gain employment in future.

"This is devastating. He's finished," he said.

He explained that Isaac's family were not present at his client's request and that his fianc?e in Atlanta ? who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina ? did not have the means to attend.

He added that during the time Isaac has spent in custody in New York, his son had died. "Whether it's right or wrong, he blames himself for being in jail and not being able to rush down to Louisiana to give his son a blood transfusion," said Mr. Eisemann who did not give details of the circumstances of the death.

He added that Isaac had not spent the cash on a lavish lifestyle but on investing in a concert promotion business he wanted to set up.

Isaac, who sat impassively next to his lawyer throughout the proceedings, then took to his feet to speak in his own defence. "I want to make sure that everyone understands that I do apologise for the crimes I committed and the conduct that resulted in all of this," he said. He added that he appreciated Senator Mussenden's words, and that he fully accepted what had been said and was trying to better himself while in jail.

Judge Swain ordered that Isaac forfeit the full amount of money stolen. Taking into account an amount that has already been recovered, she also made an order that he make restitution to the Bermuda government to the tune of $1,278,327. Sen. Mussenden said during the hearing that the Government was determined Isaac should return "every single cent" that he stole. understands the government plans action in the Island's civil courts to achieve this.

Isaac faced a maximum of five years and three months in prison under a plea agreement in which he made various admissions relating to his guilt. Sentencing him to a period of four years and seven months, Judge Swain told him she hoped he would use the time to reflect on the bad choices he had made.

"Please bear in mind that you are a role model for your children," she warned, adding that he faced the high expectations of both the people and the government of Bermuda upon his eventual return.

The judge recommended that Isaac spend his sentence at a federal prison camp in Florida and be enrolled in a programme to address his use of marijuana.

Former Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser was present at the court hearing, along with Senator Mussenden and Accountant General Joyce Hayward.

Ms Hayward said after the case: "We are glad that justice has been served."

Mr. Ratneser said Isaac had everything going for him. "But I guess he gave in to temptation," he said.

The US Government alleges that Isaac had an accomplice in the crime named Teketa Thompkins. Thompkins, a US national, has denied fraud and money laundering charges and will go on trial in the States on November 6.

Isaac is the second Bermudian to be jailed this year for committing large-scale fraud against the government. In May, former Bermuda Housing Corporation property officer Terrence Smith was sentenced to eight years for swindling that organisation out of more than $1.2 million.