Three more Alle-Kiski Valley people are pleading guilty in a multimillion-dollar scheme involving 16 people to defraud Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

They are John Layhew, 40, of 412 Sherwood Drive, Lower Burrell, and Linda McClafferty, 59, and her husband, William McClafferty, 55, both of 4858 Garvers Ferry Road, Allegheny Township, the U.S. Attorney's office in Pittsburgh said Wednesday.

The three initially were charged with conspiracy and health-care fraud; however, a review of court records shows they apparently accepted a plea deal because the only plea they entered was for a single charge of health-care fraud.

Sentencing for the three is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Layhew and the McClaffertyseach face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. But co-defendants previously sentenced have been placed on probation and ordered to pay full restitution.

According to court records, John Layhew and Heather Layhew, 35, of Rural Valley, obtained about $210,000 for chiropractor Douglas Henderson's clinic in the scheme. In turn, they allegedly received about $47,000 in a kickback from Henderson.

Records show Henderson collected about $415,000 from claims filed by the McClaffertys, who were paid about $41,000 in kickbacks from Henderson.

The government claims John Layhew and the McClaffertysare among 16 Alle-Kiski residents who got kickbacks from Henderson for filing claims for treatment or services at his Burrell Chiropractic Center that were never performed. The clinic is on Wildlife Lodge Road, Lower Burrell.

All 16 have been indicted. Some have been sentenced for a single count of health-care fraud. Several have been allowed to travel outside Western Pennsylvania prior to or after sentencing.

Some have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay full restitution; however, Philip Swartzlander, 50, of Leishman Avenue, New Kensington, was sentenced to serve five months and then begin probation, as well as pay restitution, according to the government.