Two former executives of a Springfield, Missouri-based charity were sentenced for their roles in a multimillion-dollar public corruption scheme that involved embezzlement and bribes paid to multiple elected public officials in the State of Arkansas.

"Bontiea and Tom Goss were the former chief operating officer and chief financial officer, respectively, at Preferred Family Healthcare Inc.," the court documents stated.

Bontiea Bernedette Goss, 65, was sentenced to three years in prison, and her husband, Tommy “Tom” Ray Goss, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison. They were also ordered to jointly pay $4.35 million in forfeiture and/or restitution.

"In exchange for the bribes and kickbacks offered and paid by the Gosses and their co-conspirators, elected state officials in Arkansas provided favorable legislative and official action for the charity," the court documents revealed.

The Gosses pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay bribes and kickbacks to elected officials in Arkansas. Tom Goss also pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from the charity and aiding in the presentation of a false tax return.

"Preferred Family Healthcare also agreed to pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the State of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement," the court documents further disclosed.

The investigation led to the guilty pleas of several other individuals involved in the scheme, including former executives, members of the Arkansas state legislature, and others.

Former CEO Marilyn Luann Nolan, former Director of Operations and Executive Vice President Robin Raveendran, former Executive and Head of Clinical Operations Keith Fraser Noble, former employee Milton Russell Cranford, political consultant Donald Andrew Jones, former Arkansas State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson, former Arkansas State Representative Eddie Wayne Cooper, and former Arkansas State Senator and State Representative Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV were among those who pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in the corruption scheme.

The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), FBI, and the Offices of the Inspectors General from the Departments of Justice, Labor, and FDIC.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri and other officials involved in the case made the announcement regarding the sentencing of the Gosses and the overall investigation.

The cases are being prosecuted by various attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Western District of Missouri, Eastern District of Arkansas, and Western District of Arkansas.