DETROIT -- A federal judge didn’t believe the apology given by a Michigan woman convicted of fraud after she misled more than a dozen couples regarding potential adoptions. However, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman was unable to hand down the sentence he wanted due to sentencing guidelines, according to the Associated Press. That meant Tara Lee, the 36-year-old woman convicted in the scheme has the chance to walk free one day.

“Unfortunately I can’t give it to you. It would be a no-brainer," U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said regarding her preferred sentence. “You deserve life. You’ve ruined people’s lives for generations.”

Friedman eventually handed out a 10-year and one month prison sentence to Lee. The sentence came after Friedman listened to several victims share their stories on how Lee deceived them, stole their money and gave them false hope about adopting a child.

An estimated 17 families were schemed by Lee who told the families she could help them adopt and even went so far as to share progress updates with the families. Lee also encouraged different families to buy things for their soon-to-arrive children such as car seats, cribs and clothes.

Eventually, Lee would tell the families the expectant birth mother backed out and the couples were no longer going to adopt the child they were promised. Lee would make up names of potential birth mothers and went so far as to share an ultrasound photo with one couple.

Prosecutors alleged Lee collected more than $2.1 million from the families between 2014 and 2018. Lee cried as she spoke in court, asking the judge for mercy in the process.

“I would swim any ocean, I would climb any mountain to undo the hurt that I did," Lee said while addressing the court. “I pray every night for the forgiveness of everyone on that indictment and everyone not on that indictment.”

Friedman shrugged off the apology saying Lee was “evil” and that she’s done damage to the families that cannot be undone.

“You ripped their hearts. You put an arrow through their hearts,” Friedman said.

Although he could not impose the life sentence he wanted to, Friedman added a specific requirement for Lee to complete her sentence. Friedman ordered Lee to read aloud and record an estimated 40 written statements that were submitted by victims ahead of the hearing.

“If you miss even one word, you’re going to start over again,” Friedman said.