Three more doctors are facing federal charges tied to their alleged role in a $580 million healthcare scheme centered around Pacific Hospital.David Hobart Payne, Jeffrey David Gross and Lokesh Tantuwaya join a half-dozen other defendants accused of playing a role in a 15-year-long scheme that federal prosecutors contend involved more than $40 million in illegal kickbacks for medical professionals.
The patients underwent spinal surgeries, which authorities say had inflated billings of $580 million submitted to federal and state workers compensation systems. Michael Drobot Sr., a Corona Del Mar resident and former CEO of Pacific Hospital, has admitted he paying kickbacks to doctors.
According to federal prosecutors, Payne, a 60-year-old orthopedic surgeon who lives in Irvine, is suspected of being bribed about $450,000 in order to steer more than $10 million in “kickback-tainted” surgeries to Pacific Hospital. He has been charged with conspiracy, honest services fraud and using an interstate facility to aid in unlawful activity.
Gross, a 52-year-old orthopedic surgeon who lives in Dana Point and Nevada, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud, after prosecutors allege he received at least $662,000 in exchange for performing and referring more than $19 million in kickback relates surgeries.
Tantuwaya, a 51-year-old Rancho Santa Fe and Wyoming resident, has also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and fraud. He is accused of receiving about $3.2 million in kickbacks related to $38 million in surgeries.
If convicted of the charges in the indictments, Payne, Gross and Tantuwaya would face potential sentences of decades in prison.
Source: https://www.dailybreeze.com