MercyHealth’s former Vice President of Marketing and Communications is formerly charged in federal court for the kickback scheme that got her fired.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that 57-year-old Barbara Bortner of Milton is charged with wire fraud and tax evasion.

Bortner’s accomplice, 46-year-old Ryan Weckerly of Sycamore, Illinois is charged with wire fraud and aiding and abetting in the preparation of a false income tax return.

According to a news release, beginning in February of 2015, Weckerly, who is the owner of Morningstar Media Group, and Bortner devised a plan whereby he would submit inflated invoices to Bortner for his marketing work for Mercyhealth.

Bortner received monetary kickbacks from the inflated invoices and agreed to use Morningstar Media Group as the primary marketing agency for Mercyhealth.

The kickback scheme continued until June of 2020 and involved over $3,000,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says both Bortner and Weckerly have agreed to plead guilty to the charges.