An iThief with a long criminal record has been sent to the state penitentiary for five years for shoplifting thousands of dollars worth of iPads from Walmart.The man, Michael J. Phillips, 33, of Maryville, entered a guilty plea before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to the charge of grand theft. His sentence will be served concurrently with time he owes Blount County. He will also be liable to pay $9,591 restitution to Walmart.Phillips is a professional thief, investigators believe, with the brazen shoplifter having 27 prior convictions on his record, most for thefts in Knox County.