SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A former technician charged with stealing nearly $117,000 worth of computers from Gateway Inc. has to repay most of it but avoided prison.

Matthew Zinn pleaded guilty in federal court in Sioux Falls to wire fraud and was sentenced to six months of home confinement, five years of probation and ordered to pay more than $94,000 in restitution.

According to the indictment, between 2004 and 2007 he was a technician for The Answer Group in Florida, which provided customer support to Gateway. That gave Zinn access to a Gateway computer system in North Sioux City used to process customer orders, returns and credits.

By changing customer records, he had computers sent directly to buyers or to himself or friends and then sold the units to acquaintances or on eBay.