MAY 6-12, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 27 NEWS by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net Two former executives of the nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. have been sentenced to prison time for their involvement in an embezzlement and bribery scheme. Bontiea Goss, 65, was sentenced to three years in prison, and her husband, Tom Goss, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Bontiea and Tom Goss, who previously served as PFH’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, respectively, were indicted in 2019. As part of the sentencing, the Gosses additionally were ordered to jointly pay nearly $4.4 million in forfeiture and/or restitution, Justice Department officials say. Fired by PFH in early 2019 in the wake of the scheme, the Gosses pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to pay bribes and kickbacks to elected officials in Arkansas, according to the release. Tom Goss also pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from PFH and to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. PFH in 2022 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 nonprosecution agreement. The agreement acknowledged the criminal conduct of its former officers and employees. The Gosses and co-conspirators allegedly offered kickbacks and bribes to politicians in exchange for favorable legislation for PFH, according to past reporting. Among others involved in the conspiracy was former PFH CEO Marilyn Nolan, who pleaded guilty to her role in 2018. In early 2022, PFH and Burrell Behavioral Health formed a joint venture that established Brightli as their parent company, Springfield Business Journal previously reported. • Former PFH execs sentenced to prison time UMB Bank parent pens acquisition by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net Kansas City-based UMB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: UMBF), the parent company of UMB Bank, has penned a deal to buy Denver-based Heartland Financial USA Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLF). The all-stock transaction is valued at $2 billion and is expected to be completed in first quarter 2025, according to a news release. Bloomberg reported on the deal prior to the announcement. “This is a historic and exciting milestone for our company,” said Mariner Kemper, UMB Financial Corp. chair and CEO, in the release. “While we have maintained an outstanding pace of organic growth during the past decade, this compelling combination with HTLF marks a truly momentous expansion of all our core services in both existing and new markets. This synergy, along with a like-minded culture and customer approach, is an ideal fit for our business model, our credit and risk profiles, and our associates, customers and communities.” The transaction would be UMB’s largest in its 111-year history and would result in the company having $64.5 billion in assets. The deal also would add 107 branches and 237 ATMs to UMB’s 90 branches and 238 ATMs, officials say. HTLF does business as Minnesota Bank & Trust, Wisconsin Bank & Trust, Dubuque Bank & Trust, Illinois Bank & Trust, Bank of Blue Valley, Citywide Banks, Premier Valley Bank, Arizona Bank & Trust, New Mexico Bank & Trust and First Bank & Trust. The company has 1,900 employees, compared with 3,600 at UMB. UMB Financial on April 30 reported its first-quarter financial results. The company reported quarterly net income of $110.3 million, compared with $92.4 million a year earlier. • $64.5B Assets after acquisition
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