ABINGDON, Va. — The ringleader of a scheme to defraud the unemployment system of nearly half a million dollars has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Leelyn Danielle Chytka, 31, of Lebanon, Va., pleaded guilty back in March to conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempt and conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud with identification documents, and distributing a controlled substance.

She admitted to filing for unemployment benefits for herself and 38 other people, including friends, family members and at least 15 inmates in local jails — none of whom were eligible for the payments.

Federal records indicate Chytka kept most of the money paid to inmates, occasionally placing money in some of their commissary accounts, or buying them vehicles or drugs. She got drugs into the jail by hiding Suboxone strips behind stamps on letters mailed to the inmates.

Some of the inmates were not paid at all.

The scheme resulted in more than $499,000 in fraudulent benefits being paid. Authorities have recovered more than $43,000, leaving Chytka and any others found guilty responsible for repaying the government nearly $456,000.