EAST ST. LOUIS – A southern Illinois insurance agent and securities broker was sentenced to 17½ years in prison after pleading guilty to an investment scheme that prosecutors said swindled roughly $6 million from dozens of mostly elderly clients.

Victoria McGee-Harris, 59, of St. Louis declined to make a statement during a 6½ -hour sentencing hearing Friday that was packed with former clients. She pleaded guilty last year, admitting that she used client money from Swansea-based Metro East Insurance Group for personal use, including travel and operation of a chain of clothing stores in Missouri.

Insurer MetLife reimbursed more than $7 million to McGee-Harris' clients.