Former Illinois Health Official Gets 8 Years for Kickbacks

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A former Illinois Department of Public Health aide has been sentenced to eight years in prison for her part in a kickback scheme that defrauded the state of millions of dollars.

Quinshaunta Golden pleaded guilty in April 2014 to bribery, theft and obstruction of justice in the kickback scheme. She was accused of issuing more than $11 million in falsified grants in exchange for kickbacks.

In addition to prison time, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough ordered Golden to pay $1 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release after her release from prison.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports (http://bit.ly/1fynto6) that in a plea for leniency, the 46-year-old Golden said she has already suffered for her actions. She said she "will wear the face of guilt, shame and embarrassment forever."

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