A federal judge has denied a request by a Mississippi man to reduce his prison sentence after he was convicted of stealing over $6 million in COVID relief funds.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Christopher Paul Lick, 48, of Columbus, who used the stolen funds to purchase a million-dollar home in Starkville and other luxuries, sought to shorten his sentence by more than two years under updated sentencing guidelines.

Lick pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2022 and was sentenced to 78 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson. In December 2023, Lick filed a motion arguing that revised sentencing guidelines for wire fraud involving individuals without criminal histories would place his sentence between 51 and 63 months, rather than the 63-78 months range under previous guidelines.

While federal prosecutors acknowledged Lick’s clean criminal history, they emphasized the seriousness of his crime, citing the 16-count indictment and the fact that he stole more than $6 million in federal pandemic funds. U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner also noted that Lick did not appeal his original sentence.

Nearly two years after the original sentencing, Judge Davidson denied Lick’s motion in a brief order filed on August 27, offering no additional comments.

Lick is currently serving his sentence at a minimum-security federal prison in Montgomery, Alabama, with a projected release date of May 1, 2026. The government has seized Lick’s luxury purchases, but the total restitution remains incomplete.