Two individuals who once held top positions at a Missouri-based health charity were slam-dunked with prison sentences after playing key roles in a corrupt scheme involving millions in embezzlement and bribes across state lines. Bontiea Bernedette Goss, 65, and her husband, Tommy "Tom" Ray Goss, 68, were handed their fates by the justice system for conspiring with elected officials in Arkansas to maintain a lucrative, but illegal, cash flow to their organization.

Previously calling the shots as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Preferred Family Healthcare Inc., the Gosses were ordained to pay collectively a staggering $4.35 million for their crimes, according to the U.S. Justice Department. In a case that may seem as if ripped straight out of a crime novel, the couple admitted to conspiring to greedily line their pockets by bribing those in power to secure benefits for their charity—a charity supposed to aid the most vulnerable through a range of services from mental health treatment to support for those with developmental disabilities.

The hefty price tag attached to the Gosses' wrongdoing seems paltry in comparison to the cost of trust and integrity siphoned from the communities they served. Bontiea Goss will serve three years, while Tom Goss will languish for six behind bars for their part in this multi-state scandal that tarnished not only their names but also the noble cause they once served.

Numerous other players in this shadowy conspiracy have also been dragged to answer to justice. The list includes former charity CEO Marilyn Luann Nolan and several former Arkansas state legislators, as outlined in the proceedings. Political consultant Donald Andrew Jones and ex-Arkansas State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson are among the guilty, with Hutchinson sentenced to a solid eight years for his role in the mire of misdeeds.

Acting Deputy Chief Marco A. Palmieri and Trial Attorneys Jacob Steiner and Aaron Jennen, among other dedicated law enforcement officials, led the charge to slowly, but surely unravel the deceit, casting a glaring spotlight on the dark corners of public corruption. This extensive probe stripped the veneer of respectability from those involved, exposing a tale of greed that ran deep and wide, ultimately ensuring that justice was served. For more information on the sentencing and details of the case, visit the U.S. Department of Justice website.