Nicholasville residents James Minton, 70, Joyce Minton, 65, and Aaron B. Warren, 43, were sentenced last week for defrauding their employer, Clark Machine Tool and Die of Nicholasville.

The sentences bestowed were 18 months, 97 months and 46 months respectively, as well as an order to forfeit all proceeds from their crimes and pay restitution to the victims.

Evidence presented to the jury in the trial suggested that the three subjects conspired to defraud their Nicholasville employer over the span of February 2000 to May 2016.

During that time, $1.5 million was stolen form the company by the conspirators via usage of company checks and credit cards for personal purchases and the unauthorized issuing of paychecks for inflated figures.

In addition, prosecution showed that some funds that customers had paid to the company for services rendered were kept by the conspirators.

The crimes were committed due in large part to Joyce Minton’s role as office manager and bookkeeper for the company.

Her husband, James Minton, was a contractor and son, Aaron Warren, was the company’s shop supervisor.

When the jury returned its verdict, James Minton was convicted of seven counts of conspiracy and mail fraud; Joyce Minton of 46 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering; and Aaron Warren of 34 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, eighty-five percent of the sentences must be served.