GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) – On Tuesday, the federal court judge sentenced a funeral home operator based in Colorado to 20 years in prison as the accused illegally sold body parts and gave clients fake ashes.

Megan Hess earned 20 years of harsh imprisonment after admitting guilt to mail fraud in November, according to a petition agreement in which the other counts were dropped, according to a story from The Daily Sentinel.

The U.S. authorities confirmed that her mother, Shirley Koch, along with Hess, pleaded guilty to mail fraud. On several occasions, bodies and body parts were transferred to third parties for research without informing families.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello in Grand Junction sentenced Koch to 15 years of imprisonment. Judge Arguello sentenced the accused after the accused testified about the pain they suffered while carrying out these nefarious deeds.

The Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in the western city of Montrose was owned by Hess, 48, and Koch,69. The duo was arrested in 2020 on three counts of unauthorized shipment of dangerous items and six counts of mail fraud.

As per the grand jury’s accusation, the duo Hess and Koch offered crematory services from 2010 to 2018, providing remains to families for $1,000 or more. But unfortunately, many were not cremated.

In 2009, the authorities stated that Hess created a nonprofit organization Sunset Mesa Funeral Foundation, offering body-broker services doing business under Donor Services.

On many occasions, without informing the deceased families, the bodies or body parts were transferred by Hess and Koch to the Donor Services for research. The transfers were carried out through Sunset Mesa Funeral Foundation and Donor Services. As per the U.S. Justice Department, families were not given their beloved’s ashes.

Regardless of whether the body to be cremated carried infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B and C, bodies and body parts were shipped under false “disease-free certificates,” the authorities stated.

On Tuesday, Ashley Petrey, attorney of Hess, told the court that a desire to advance medical research prompted her to carry out these deeds.

Tim Neff, Assistant U.S. Attorney, ridiculed the argument.

“Eight years of repeated conduct of this nature is all the court needs to know about her history and character,” Neff stated.

During the sentencing hearing, Koch stated, “I acknowledge my guilt and take responsibility for my actions. I’m very sorry for harm I caused you and your families.”

Hess refrained from addressing the court.

March was scheduled for a victim’s restitution.