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| | U.S. Dept Of Justice Announces Charges Against Philip Sobol, M.D. And Four Others In Central Dist Of California
By Lonce LaMon - November 25, 2015
The United States Department of Justice, Central District of California, centered around the Federal Court House in Santa Ana, announced yesterday, November 24th 2015, its filing of charges against James Canedo the former CFO of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach; Philip Sobol, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon; Alan Ivar, D.C,; Paul Randall, a healthcare marketer; and Mitchel Cohen, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon. The charges against these five individuals involve related cases connected to Pacific Hospital of Long Beach and Tri-City Regional Medical Center in Hawaiian Gardens.
James Canedo pled guilty on September 4th 2015 to mail fraud, honest services fraud, money laundering, paying or receiving kick-backs, and violating the Travel Act. The case against Canedo was unsealed on November 23rd, Monday, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who is scheduled to sentence Canedo on June 17th 2016.
Philip Sobol, M.D. has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy. Sobol’s information and plea agreement were filed yesterday, November 24th 2015. Sobol is expected to be arraigned in December 2015.
Alan Ivan, D.C. was charged yesterday in a criminal information that involves one count of conspiracy. In a plea agreement simultaneously filed, Ivan admitted that for well over a decade he had an agreement with Michael Drobot, the owner of Pacific Hospital (for well over a decade until 2013), to refer patients in exchange for a monthly retainer. He has agreed to plead guilty and is expected to be arraigned in December 2015.
Paul Randall, a marketer previously affiliated with Pacific Hospital and Tri-City, pled guilty on April 16th 2012 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Randall admitted to recruiting chiropractors and doctors to refer patients in exchange for kick-backs. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 8th 2016.
Mitchell Cohen, M.D. was charged last week with filing a false tax return. Cohen in a plea agreement filed on November 16th 2015 admitted he failed to report income received from kick-back payments. He is also expected to be arraigned in December 2015.
All five defendants have agreed to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation, which has been dubbed “Operation Spinal Cap”. The kick-back schemes involved dozens of surgeons, orthopedic specialists, chiropractors, marketing and other medical professionals.
Philip Sobol, M.D. faces a federal prison term of up to 10 years. James Canedo, Alan Ivan, and Paul Randall could be sentenced to up to five years. Michael Cohen could face up to three years.
Michael Drobot pled guilty in April 2014 to participating in the scheme. He is known to have been the mastermind and the king pin. Drobot is also cooperating with the investigation.
Find the News Release issued by The Department of Justice dated November 24th 2015 here.
Or write to: lonce@adjustercom.com, Lonce LaMon journalist
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