CLEVELAND, Ohio — A former program manager for the Parma Public Housing Agency was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in federal prison for stealing $232,000 over six years.

Amy Belz, 34, who is free on bond while she awaits a date to report to prison, tearfully apologized to the judge and her family during the sentencing hearing. She cited the effect on her two daughters.

"Because of me, their lives were turned upside down," Belz said.

In handing down his sentence, U.S. District Judge James Gwin noted that Belz had a happy family — which sat behind her at the sentencing — as well as a good childhood and a strong support system.

Knowing that, Gwin said, "there's really no explanation for why you got into this."

Gwin's sentence was lower than the range recommended by the U.S. Probation Office, which called for a prison stint of between 2 and 2 1/2 years.

Belz, a Brunswick resident, pleaded guilty in May to stealing money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, by writing 138 housing agency checks to herself...