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A former Lookout Moutain insurance salesman received the maximum sentence in federal court after he provided false information to his probation officer regarding his income, expenses and travel, according to a statement issued by the Department of Justice.

Matthew Brock, 46, was sentenced Thursday and received a 36-month prison sentence by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee Chief Judge Curtis L. Collier.

Brock, a former insurance salesman previously served a 37-month sentence after he was convicted of bank fraud. As part of his sentence Brock was ordered to pay almost $1.4 million in restitution to his victims.

Prosecutors argued that Brock made these false statements to the probation officer to avoid paying more money back to the victims. Over a four-year period, Brock has only paid approximately $25,000 toward his restitution debt.

When Brock was released from prison he was required to provide information about his income and expenses on a monthly basis so that appropriate payments could be made to satisfy his court-ordered restitution.

Collier told Brock he would serve as an example to other white collar defendants that restitution was an important part of their sentence and an obligation that had to be taken seriously.

In reaction to the 3-year sentence, U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said "Our Financial Litigation Unit works tirelessly to collect money that is owed to the victims. Their substantial efforts to collect restitution from Mr. Brock was continually frustrated by his efforts to avoid his responsibility. This sentence is a welcome message to all victims that defendants will be forced to pay what they owe, or suffer the consequences."