EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois insurance agent and securities broker has been sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to an investment scheme that swindled roughly $6 million from clients. Victoria McGee-Harris of St. Louis declined to make a statement during her 6 1/2 -hour sentencing hearing Friday. She pleaded guilty in March to one count each of mail fraud and engaging in a monetary transaction with property derived from illegal activity. She admitted using client money from Swansea-based Metro East Insurance Group for personal use, including travel and operation of a chain of clothing stores in Missouri. Authorities say McGee-Harris was doing business as a licensed insurance agent and securities broker between 2003 and 2010 when she got clients to buy investment and insurance products she never purchased. full story
