Missouri couple sentenced in $1 million scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Kansas City couple will serve nine years in federal prison without parole for a scheme that targeted financially struggling clients.

Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that 43-year-old John Lee Norris and 39-year-old Julie Tina Hatcher defrauded 81 clients. They were each ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution.

Norris and Hatcher pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to defraud debtors, the victims' lenders and the federal government between August 2010 and June 2013. They also each pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and Hatcher pleaded guilty to disability fraud.

Norris and Hatcher promised to help homeowners and others keep their homes and resolve their financial difficulties for monthly payments. They instead spent the payments on personal expenses.

Victims were from several states including Missouri and Kansas.