MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A former vice president of Mercyhealth and an Illinois advertising and marketing agency owner both equally pleaded guilty Wednesday after they have been accused of wire fraud to consider advantage of the wellbeing process, the federal attorney’s office mentioned.
Barbara Bortner, 57, and Ryan Weckerly, 46, were being both of those associated in wire fraud and tax costs in a kickback scheme, explained the U.S. Division of Justice.
Weckerly owned the marketing and advertising enterprise Morningstar Media Team, based mostly in Sycamore, Illinois, even though Bortner was the vice president of advertising at Mercyhealth in Janesville. Weckerly allegedly started to post inflated invoices weekly for his advertising work to Mercyhealth, starting in February of 2015.
The U.S. attorney’s business office stated the pair agreed that Weckerly would send out monetary kickbacks to Bortner for the cash he acquired in the inflated invoice. Bortner also agreed to use Morningstar Media Group as the health system’s most important internet marketing agency, the DOJ reported.
This went on until eventually June of 2020 and involved more than $3 million.
In addition to remaining billed with wire fraud, Bortner also faces a tax evasion cost. Weckerly is also accused of aiding and abetting to put together for the bogus income tax return, the DOJ provides.
The DOJ mentioned these prices are the final result of an IRS criminal investigation.
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