A Whatcom County woman who impersonated her dead mom in order to receive her mother's pension benefits has been sentenced to four years in prison.

60-year-old Loewen Craft collected more than $3,000 per month from the pension after her mother died in 2007.

She admitted her mother into the hospital shortly before her death, using a different name and birth date so she could collect her mother's social security and pension checks.

Craft pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, first-degree identity theft and six counts of forgery. She must pay nearly $400,000 in restitution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report