Woman Sentenced for Aiding in Seattle Investment Firm Fraud

SEATTLE (AP) — A former employee of a Seattle investment firm who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting investor fraud has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $4 million in restitution.

The Seattle Times reports that 68-year-old Luann Renfrow was sentenced Thursday.

Renfrow did secretarial and operational work for The Spangler Group, which was run by her ex-husband, Mark Spangler.

Spangler is serving a 16-year prison sentence on fraud and money laundering charges for defrauding investors of nearly $50 million.

Prosecutors say Renfrow aided and abetted the scheme.

They had asked the court as part of her plea deal to impose only a one-year sentence, noting that Renfrow admitted responsibility and is remorseful.

But the judge said a two-year term would be more appropriate.