An unemployed woman who purported to be the operator of a legitimate overseas job-placement agency was sentenced to prison in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Admarie Ashman, 44, unemployed of no fixed address, was sentenced to a total of four years for numerous offences.

The defendant was charged with conspiracy to deceive, forgery, uttering forged documents, obtaining money by means of false pretence and operating an employment agency without a licence.

The offences reportedly transpired between August 29, 2012 and February 8, 2013.

According to the prosecution, the defendant operated a roving employment agency using the name Marlene Henry.

She subsequently sought clients through word of mouth. As a result, interested persons learnt of her agency through dialogue.

Since last year, several interested persons called Ashman to enquire about the requirements to be considered for employment in one of the many advertised vacancies in the US.

The complainants were reportedly advised to pay $27,000 each to cover visa applications, medical examinations and police records.

Between August 29 of last year and February 8 this year, numerous persons paid money through remittance agencies and bank accounts totalling $638,021 to cover the cost for the items.

However, information eventually surfaced that the defendant was not licensed with the Ministry of Labour to offer overseas employment and that she was a convicted fraudster.

The complainants attempted to receive refunds but the defendant was reluctant.

The defendant was pointed out in downtown Kingston by a complainant and was accosted by police.