Student Loan Fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A 36-year-old former state prison inmate from Florence has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for using the names of 23 fellow inmates to falsely secure financial aid for online college courses. Prosecutors say Michelle Owens was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to federal student financial aid fraud and mail fraud. She was sentenced to 51 months in prison and must also pay back nearly $129,000. Authorities say Owens used the names of inmates at Leath Correctional Institution to fraudulently apply to Webster University and ask for $467,500 in federal student loans. She worked in the prison’s education department and had access to inmates’ personal records. Prosecutors say Owens received $125,000 in excess financial aid in debit cards she cashed for personal use.