MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Four people have been sentenced in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Education and several universities.
Prosecutors have said Bobbie Jean and Sara Chilsom and Shawn and Sharon Johnson were sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court. The four were accused of defrauding colleges and universities of more than $1.1 million in financial aid.
Authorities say they applied for assistance despite not having high school diplomas or GED certificates. Investigators have said the conspirators and people they recruited used fraudulent documents to apply for assistance.
Bobbie Chisolm was sentenced to two years in prison. Shawn and Sharon Johnson were sentenced to five years of probation. Sara Chilsom was sentenced to three years of probation.
The Montgomery Advertiser (https://on.mgmadv.com/1dqAMPD ) reports that 13 people have now been sentenced in the scheme.
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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
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