Topeka ? U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren and Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline have been honored for their roles in the prosecution of the Kaufman group home scandal.

The award was presented Friday by the Kansas chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illnesses, the Disability Rights Center of Kansas and the Survivors of the Kaufman House.

Last year, a U.S. District Court jury found Arlan Kaufman guilty of 31 charges and his wife, Linda, of 30 charges, including health care fraud, Medicare fraud, forced labor and holding clients in involuntary servitude. Arlan Kaufman was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and his wife was sentenced to seven years.

Kline worked with Melgren and the Disability Rights Center to gather the evidence that prompted the prosecutions.

Earlier this year, Kline championed legislation that created a unit in his office that has access to reports and other documents from the departments of Aging, Health and Environment and Social and Rehabilitation Services.