A contractor has been sentenced to eight years in prison and agreed to repay $53,000 to the victims of his home repair fraud scheme.

Victor Kendall King, 51, was sentenced Monday in Harrison County Circuit Court.

King faced four criminal counts but prosecutors agreed to drop two counts if King agreed to pay back all four victims, said Assistant District Attorney Jenny Tyler. Tyler said the victims were in Harrison and Hancock counties.

King had claimed he was robbed of money that one victim paid him and took money from other clients and tried to win his losses back gambling at a casino, according to court records.

“I believe he really did want to make it up to the clients, but in the climate of home repair problems, it was a little too late,” his attorney, Philip Wittmann said.

Circuit Judge Jerry O. Terry imposed the maximum 20 years but suspended 12, giving King eight to serve, followed by five years of probation.

King had pleaded guilty in April.