A judge decided Wednesday not to throw the book at a Bay Shore woman who swindled her adopted mother and grandmother.

Irene DiGenaro, 39, was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay $36,371 in restitution. The sentence is significantly less than the state's seven-year maximum sentence for grand larceny and scheming to defraud.

Prosecutor Michael Mirabella believes a shorter prison sentence benefits the victims because DiGenaro can begin paying the money back sooner.

"We do believe it is fair," Mirabella said. "Restitution is what is needed here and hopefully they will get it."

Frances Hammels and her 86-year-old mother, Rose Napoli, of West Islip, said in court they had nothing left after DiGenaro scammed them out of $60,000. Hammels, who adopted DiGenaro when she was 8 years old, said the trio reunited in 2003 after being estranged for 22 years.

After DiGenaro took control of their finances, Hammels and Napoli told the court how she took everything, leaving them dependant on church donations for food.

According to prosecutors, DiGenaro also accumulated $25,000 in credit card debt under Hammels' and Napoli's names. The credit card companies forgave that debt.