A former aide to Danielle Steel is facing time in federal prison after admitting she stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the romance novelist.

Federal prosecutors announced Monday that 47-year-old Kristy Watts, who also goes by the name Kristy Siegrist, pleaded guilty last week to one count of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion.

Prosecutors say Watts admitted stealing at least $400,000 while handling accounting and other duties for Steel.

Watts worked for the best-selling author from 1993 to 2008.

Investigators determined Watts had deposited checks from Steel's accounts into her own account and used Steel's credit cards for herself.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 4 in federal court in San Francisco.