ABINGDON, Va. — A southwest Virginia woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, for being the mastermind of a conspiracy that defrauded the government of $1.5 million.

Farren Ricketts, 31, of Jonesville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court records, she devised a scheme to apply for pandemic-enhanced unemployment benefits for herself and others, even though they weren’t eligible for the payments.

Ricketts admitted to filing fraudulent claims for more than 150 people, often creating fake documents to support the claims. She became so successful at it, she even incorporated a business to provide the service, charging fees to more than 120 people to file false claims.

The court will take up the matter of restitution in March.