The last defendant in an identity theft ring that victimized more than 500 people was sentenced Friday to 4 ½ years in prison for masterminding the crime.

Roxanne K. Deflorin, 50, of St. Paul, was sentenced in Ramsey County District Court and also required to pay more than $300,000 in restitution.

A jury convicted Deflorin in January of one count of identity theft.

Deflorin used her former status as a state employee at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to access confidential information and at least 11 identities, according to testimony. Most of the stolen identities were taken from the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota. The bulk of those victims were former or current employees of the Wayzata School District.

Deflorin traded the identities for methamphetamine, and her co-conspirators then used the identities to buy large quantities of goods that they pawned for cash.

CHAO XIONG