Federal prosecutors have charged a Mississippi couple with paying kickbacks to encourage health care program participants to obtain compounded pharmaceuticals, a Louisiana newspaper reported.

Prosecutors allege that Kimberly Homrighausen, 42, and Richard Homrighausen, 35, of Gulfport plotted to pay and receive kickbacks that caused the Tricare program to pay out approximately $9 million in claims. The couple pocketed approximately $1.7 million, feds believe.

The couple, prosecutors allege, paid kickbacks to patient recruiters who, in turn, recruited Tricare beneficiaries to order and receive compounded medications from specific pharmacies involved in the conspiracy.

Tricare is a health care program for U.S. military members and their families.

If convicted they could receive up to five years in prison.