Doctor Accused Of Fraud In Spinal Surgeries Pleads Guilty
ED WHITE, Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — A doctor accused of hurting patients with spinal surgeries that weren't performed as promised has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud in cases from Michigan and California.
Dr. Aria Sabit admitted that he cheated insurance companies and caused serious injury to an unspecified number of people. He pleaded guilty Friday in Detroit federal court, four years after moving to southeastern Michigan from Ventura, California.
In the California case, Sabit says he conspired to get kickbacks in exchange for using or encouraging the use of certain surgical implants.
Separately, Sabit says he committed fraud against insurers while working as a neurosurgeon in the Detroit area. Guidelines call for a prison sentence of at least nine years, although a judge could go higher.
Sabit returns to court on Sept. 15.
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