Previously Convicted Former Physician Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud, Health Care Fraud, And Aggravated Identity Theft
Former orthopedic surgeon Spyros Panos, previously convicted of health care fraud, pled guilty to wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft for impersonating a licensed physician to fraudulently obtain $876,389.97 by submitting forged credentials and documents to peer review companies.
Spyros Panos, a previously convicted former orthopedic surgeon, pled guilty to wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft for impersonating licensed orthopedic surgeon 'Doctor-1' to secure over $876,000 in payments for fraudulent peer reviews of patient files in healthcare appeals and Workers’ Compensation cases. He submitted forged credentials, emails, and records to peer review companies, and in preparation for trial, he attempted to introduce fabricated evidence. Panos agreed to forfeit $876,389.97 and pay equivalent restitution, and faces a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison, including a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft, with sentencing set for March 16, 2021.
Spyros Panos, a former orthopedic surgeon who had previously been convicted of health care fraud and surrendered his medical license, pled guilty to wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft for impersonating a licensed physician known as 'Doctor-1' to defraud peer review companies. He submitted Doctor-1’s credentials and fabricated documentation to obtain over $876,389.97 in payments for reviewing patient files related to healthcare appeals and Workers’ Compensation claims. In advance of his trial, Panos submitted fraudulent emails and records as proposed defense exhibits, further demonstrating his intent to deceive the court. He agreed to forfeit the full amount of the fraud and pay restitution in the same sum. Panos faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison—20 years for wire fraud, 10 years for health care fraud, and a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft—with sentencing scheduled for March 16, 2021. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s White Plains Division.
Extracted insights
- $876K $876,389 $100K–$1M
- $876K $876,000 $100K–$1M
- person judge karas
- person licensed orthopedic surgeon
- person medical license
- person spyros panos
- scheme_term wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft
- Spyros Panos Pled Guilty To Wire Fraud, Health Care Fraud, And Aggravated Identity Theft
- Spyros Panos Assumed Identity Of Licensed Orthopedic Surgeon
- Spyros Panos Obtained Over $876,000 In Payments
- Spyros Panos Surrendered Medical License
- Spyros Panos Perpetrated Scheme To Defraud Medical Peer Review Companies
- Spyros Panos Submitted Doctor-1's Credentials
- Spyros Panos Defrauded Peer Review Companies Of $876,389.97
- Spyros Panos Agreed To Forfeit $876,389.97
- Judge Karas Scheduled To Sentence Spyros Panos On March 16, 2021
- Margery B. Feinzig And Lindsey Keenan Are In Charge Of The Prosecution
Press Release Previously Convicted Former Physician Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud, Health Care Fraud, And Aggravated Identity Theft Friday, October 30, 2020 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SPYROS PANOS, a former orthopedic surgeon, who was previously convicted of health care fraud, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to charges of wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme in which he assumed the identity of a licensed orthopedic surgeon and obtained over $876,000 in payments for reviewing patient files in connection with healthcare appeals and Workers Compensation cases. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Spyros Panos, a former surgeon who surrendered his medical license after a prior conviction in this District for health care fraud, has admitted to committing health care fraud again, this time by impersonating a licensed doctor. Now, for a second time, Panos awaits sentencing for his criminal conduct.” According to the allegations in the Indictment to which PANOS pled guilty, PANOS, an unlicensed physician, perpetrated a scheme to defraud medical peer review companies by impersonating a licensed orthopedic surgeon practicing in Westchester County (“Doctor-1”). Among other things, PANOS submitted Doctor-1’s credentials to peer review companies and conducted peer reviews using Doctor-1’s name and credentials. During the course of the scheme, PANOS defrauded the peer review companies of $876,389.97. According to court documents, in advance of his November 2, 2020, trial, PANOS submitted proposed defense exhibits that included fraudulent emails and records. PANOS, 52, of Hopewell Junction, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. PANOS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Karas on March 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. In connection with his plea, PANOS agreed to forfeit $876,389.97, and to pay restitution in the same amount. Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York Inspector General for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margery B. Feinzig and Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution. Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated October 30, 2020 Topics Financial Fraud Healthcare Fraud Identity Theft Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 20-251
Press Release Previously Convicted Former Physician Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud, Health Care Fraud, And Aggravated Identity Theft Friday, October 30, 2020 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SPYROS PANOS, a former orthopedic surgeon, who was previously convicted of health care fraud, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to charges of wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme in which he assumed the identity of a licensed orthopedic surgeon and obtained over $876,000 in payments for reviewing patient files in connection with healthcare appeals and Workers Compensation cases. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Spyros Panos, a former surgeon who surrendered his medical license after a prior conviction in this District for health care fraud, has admitted to committing health care fraud again, this time by impersonating a licensed doctor. Now, for a second time, Panos awaits sentencing for his criminal conduct.” According to the allegations in the Indictment to which PANOS pled guilty, PANOS, an unlicensed physician, perpetrated a scheme to defraud medical peer review companies by impersonating a licensed orthopedic surgeon practicing in Westchester County (“Doctor-1”). Among other things, PANOS submitted Doctor-1’s credentials to peer review companies and conducted peer reviews using Doctor-1’s name and credentials. During the course of the scheme, PANOS defrauded the peer review companies of $876,389.97. According to court documents, in advance of his November 2, 2020, trial, PANOS submitted proposed defense exhibits that included fraudulent emails and records. PANOS, 52, of Hopewell Junction, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. PANOS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Karas on March 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. In connection with his plea, PANOS agreed to forfeit $876,389.97, and to pay restitution in the same amount. Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York Inspector General for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margery B. Feinzig and Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution. Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated October 30, 2020 Topics Financial Fraud Healthcare Fraud Identity Theft Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 20-251