NEW ORLEANS — A LaPlace woman fraudulently acquired $200,000 in falsified federal student loan money for her own personal use, authorities said.

That scheme, which federal prosecutors say took place from early 2014 through 2016, led to 31-year-old Kendra Graves’ indictment last week for theft of government funds and identity theft.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser said Graves is facing 35 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

Court documents from the two-count bill say Graves recruited 15 individuals under the guise of assisting them with applying for attendance at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

Prosecutors say Graves accepted the grants and student loans awarded to more than a dozen people and created online banking accounts with Bank Mobile for each individual’s financial aid refund to be deposited.

Graves also designated bank accounts belonging to herself and family members for depositing these individuals’ financial aid refunds.

Strasser praised the work of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating the matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.