John Brincat, 70, who admitted he lied to disguise the company's steep losses, also was ordered by U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer to undergo treatment for alcohol and gambling problems.

Pallmeyer ordered no fine, so that any money recovered from Brincat can be used to pay restitution to investors who lost money.

Pallmeyer left the restitution order open for 90 days to allow victims to present proof of their losses. Prosecutors said such information should be submitted as soon as possible to the victim and witness section of the U.S. attorney's office.

Pallmeyer said she would take up the restitution issue at a hearing set for 9 a.m. on June 20.

Brincat was ordered to start serving his sentence Sept. 10.

In pleading guilty, Brincat acknowledged that he had used "cookie jar" funds the company kept in reserve to hide losses and make it appear that the company was meeting earnings projections when it was losing money.

When the scheme collapsed and the suburban Lake Forest-based company was forced to restate its earnings in 1997, the stock plunged $2 billion.

The company specialized in making loans to so-called subprime, or higher risk, borrowers. Many were loans extended to the borrowers by used car dealers.

Brincat acknowledged in his 30-page signed plea agreement that he received a hefty salary, bonuses and other benefits from the company while selling his Mercury stock at inflated prices.

Three other Mercury executives were involved in the scandal.

Chief financial officer James Doyle was helping prosecutors and had not been charged with a crime when he died of a heart attack in 1997.

Former treasurer Bradley Vallem got 20 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

Lawrence Borowiak, a former Mercury accountant, was sentenced to a year and a day after pleading guilty to insider trading in Mercury stock.