BUCKS COUNTY. Almost a year to the day after her abduction hoax drew national headlines, Bonnie Sweeten was indicted Thursday by federal prosecutors for stealing more than $700,000 from her former employer and its clients over a period of four years.

Sweeten, who is still serving a nine to 23-month sentence after pleading guilty to the fake kidnapping, is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and related offenses. If convicted of the new charges, she faces up to 375 years in prison.

In the indictment, authorities claim Sweeten, of Bucks County, used the money to pay for jewelry, restaurants, tanning salons, a trip to Atlantic City, mortgage payments and other personal expenses.

“As the indictment alleges, this defendant went to great lengths to defraud people who trusted her,” said United States Attorney Zane Memeger. “She betrayed family members, her employer, her friends, and the general public.”

Speculation arose immediately after she faked her own kidnapping that she wanted to disappear because she became worried about a potential federal investigation.

Starting around November 2005, authorities claim, Sweeten began diverting money from the law office where she worked as officer manager into her husband’s business account. She also allegedly took out loans in her employer’s name and took money from an elderly relative of her husband.

Louis Busico, Sweeten’s attorney, could not be reached for comment.