Husband and wife executives at a Springfield, Mo.-based healthcare charity pleaded guilty to their roles in a scheme that involved embezzlement and bribes paid to multiple elected public officials in Arkansas.
Bontiea Goss, 63, and her husband, Tom Goss, 66, were high-ranking officials at Preferred Family Healthcare, according to a Sept. 29 Justice Department news release. The charity provides mental and behavioral health treatment and counseling, substance abuse treatment and counseling and employment assistance, among other services. Most of its funding comes from federal funds, the largest portion being Medicaid reimbursement.
Tom Goss faces up to eight years in prison for his role in the scheme and his wife faces up to five years, according to the release. The pair must forfeit up to $4.3 million to the government.
Preferred Family Healthcare agreed in April to pay more than $8 million to the federal government. As part of the nonprosecution agreement, Preferred Family Healthcare representatives admitted that former officers and employees of the charity embezzled funds and bribed several elected officials in the Arkansas Legislature.
Several former executives from Preferred Family Healthcare, former Arkansas state legislators and others have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to this case, according to the release.