NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a former Mashantucket Pequot chairman who was found guilty of embezzling more than $100,000 from the tribe.

Michael Thomas began serving an 18-month prison sentence in January. His tribe owns and operates the Foxwoods Resort Casino in southeastern Connecticut.

Thomas had argued to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that his trial was not fair because he was blocked from preventing certain evidence. For instance, Thomas could not argue he had a history of reimbursing personal expenses that he charged to a tribe-issued credit card.

But the appeals court on Friday said the contested evidence was not relevant and introducing it could have led to confusion for the jury.

Thomas was convicted of running up more than $100,000 in illegal charges.