For nearly seven years, former Morgan Stanley Dean Witter stockbroker Ryan Kimura concealed from his in-laws in Japan that he was stealing money from their investment accounts, lying to them and presenting them fake financial statements.

His victims include his then-wife’s parents, grandmother, sister and his sister-in-law.

Kimura forged more than 200 checks and drained $1.5 million from their accounts.

In the end it was his wife who uncovered her husband’s crimes.

“It came to light because he allowed his wife to drive the car in which he had secreted the true Morgan Stanley statements,” said federal prosecutor Les Osborne Jr.

A federal judge sentenced Kimura Monday to four years and nine months in prison for wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering and filing a false income tax return.

In addition, U.S. District Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway ordered Kimura, 42, to repay his former employer the $1.5 million it refunded his former in-laws and to pay the Internal Revenue Service $505,429 in taxes he owes for underreporting his income from 2002 to 2007.

Kimura also agreed to pay the state $129,770 in back taxes, according to his plea agreement.

The government says Kimura lost $360,000 of the money he stole on unauthorized stock trades for which he collected commissions.

Osborne said Kimura spent the rest on frequent trips to Las Vegas, gambling, dinners costing $100 to $1,000 and gifts for people who accompanied him.

He also obtained a new mortgage on his home without telling his wife, Osborne said.

Kimura apologized to Morgan Stanley and his former wife’s family.

“Everything I’ve done I accept and it was my own doing,” Kimura said.

His wife filed for divorce in July 2007. A state judge granted her an uncontested divorce the following year. The former couple has a son.