A Freeland woman who ran an escrow company with her father is facing a year of jail time for bilking investors out of tens of thousands of dollars using complicated schemes.

Jenny A. Barrett pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court last week to theft in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, engaging in business under the Escrow Agent Registration Act without a license, and three counts of Securities Act violations.

Several of the counts came with a special allegation that she “lulled” investors.

Her father, John A. Barrett, 94, pleaded guilty to a single count of Securities Act violation.

Their sentencing hearing is set for March 31.

Under the terms of the plea bargain, the prosecutor will recommend a one-year sentence for Jenny Barrett and that she be ordered to pay restitution to the 11 victims. In addition, the prosecutor will ask the judge to bar her from engaging in business related to escrows, real property transactions, securities and other activities regulated under the Escrow Agency Registration Act.

The prosecutor and defense attorney will recommend that John Barrett receive a first-time offender waiver without any jail time. In addition, they will recommend that he pay restitution “on a joint and several basis” and that he be barred from engaging in escrow-related business.

The Barretts were principal officers in Barrett Escrow and Northwest Exchange and Trustee Inc., both of which were located in Freeland.