The former long-time MercyHealth Vice President of Marketing and Communications who plead guilty in connection with a $ 3 million kick back scheme will go to federal prison. 58-year-old Barbara Bortner pleaded guilty in Federal Court last October to charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. Bortner’s accomplice, Ryan Weckerly of Sycamore, Illinois is accused of sending inflated invoices for advertising to Bortner which she approved. Weckerly then shared the ill-gotten gains with Bortner. In U.S. District Court in Madison Wednesday afternoon, Judge William Conley sentenced Bornter to three-and-a-half years in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay back $3.1 million in restitution to MercyHealth and $770,000 to the IRS. Bortner will not report to prison until August 2nd. Weckerly will be sentenced May 17th at 1:00 p.m.
