INDIANAPOLIS -- A woman who claimed she volunteered at a controversial Cloverdale dog-selling operation took a plea deal on Friday in exchange for her testimony against the business' owner.

Julie Herrick was sentenced to probation for failing to remit or collect sales tax when selling puppies, and agreed to repay the Attorney General's office $4,000 in legal and investigative fees, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Herrick initially told the judge that she was a volunteer for Kritter Heaven, whose owner, Tammy Gilchrist, is accused of skirting taxes for her dog-selling business.

State attorneys allege she worked for Gilchrist because she acted on her behalf, but Herrik said she was never compensated for puppy sales.

Herrik did agree to testify against Gilchrist, who state investigators allege owes about $192,000 in unpaid taxes.

A 6News investigation in November found that people across the state had reported getting sick dogs or nothing for their money when dealing with Kritter Heaven.

Many customers sought help after they said Gilchrist -- who has had at least 51 complaints leveled against her concerning the health of her animals -- sold them puppies that were sick, many with parvovirus, scabies, ringworm or fleas.

Last year, animal cruelty laws were so weak that state tax laws were used to close their business and bring them to justice.

"This is bigger than puppy mills. It's about an illegal business not paying their taxes, not paying their fair share," said Deputy Attorney General Andrew Swain.

Gilchrist returns to court in November.