Mary Burroughs sentenced to 40 months in federal prison

Former nursing home administrator Mary Burroughs on Wednesday was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution for stealing from Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center.

The sentencing ended a saga that likely ended the career of a woman who had more than 50 friends and associates, dating back to her nursing service in Vietnam, write the court in her defense.

Burroughs, 67, pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to charges of fraud involving embezzlement against the nursing home where she served as administrator for 11 months in 2009-10.

U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. departed below the 46-month minimum advisory sentence guideline, citing Burroughs’ age and medical condition.

“Her career is effectively over,” he said.

He also ordered her to serve a three-year, supervised release term after her release from prison. There is no parole in federal sentences.

The $583,156.02 restitution sum includes $363,896.02 taken from Riverview, plus $219,260 in damages to the Hodge Building on Riverview’s LaRoche Avenue campus.

Moore ordered the $84,809.70 Burroughs and her husband, Ron, has already paid to the court from a reverse mortgage on their home to repay Riverview applied to the total restitution.

He imposed no fine.

She must report to the prison designated for her custody by June 30.

‘A tragic thing’

Her sentence came just days after her son, Aaron Brent Burroughs, reported to the federal prison at Estill, S.C., to begin serving a six-month prison term after pleading guilty April 14 to obstructing a grand jury investigation into the embezzlement scheme orchestrated by his mother.

He had been sentenced to begin his term by May 17, but Moore granted a defense request for delay so that he could attend his mother’s sentencing on Monday.

“This is a tragic thing that has happened,” Moore told Burroughs after imposing sentence.

He noted the more than 50 letters from supporters, many of whom Moore said he had known since he was a boy, but added that frequently people who write the court or appear to testify don’t know all of the facts and circumstances involved in the case.

“The facts and circumstances in this case are inexcusable,” Moore said.

He said the case did not exhibit some of the desperation he frequently sees in fraud cases.

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