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SEATTLE - A Belfair couple who ran a private investigation firm have pleaded guilty to federal charges that they used illegal methods to dig up dirt on people who were involved in court cases or litigation.

Emilio and Brandy Torrella ran BNT Investigations, where workers posed as the people they were investigating to trick the IRS, Social Security and other agencies into releasing sensitive information -- from tax returns to medical histories. Prosecutors said they then forwarded that information on to other private eyes, who in turn sold it at a substantial mark-up to law firms and others.

The Torrellas were among 10 private eyes around the country indicted in the case last December. They pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Tuesday to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. They'll serve at least two years in prison. They admitted illegally obtaining information on 1,800 people from 2005 to 2007.