U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Texas, March 19, 2021
Fourteen defendants convicted in the Forest Park Medical Center bribery scam have been sentenced to a combined 74+ years in federal prison and ordered to pay a total of $82.9 million in restitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Seven defendants – Wilton McPherson “Mac” Burt, Jackson Jacob, Douglas Sung Won, Michael Bassem Rimlawi, Shawn Mark Henry, Mrugeshkumar Shah, and Iris Kathleen Forrest – were convicted at trial in April 2019, and were sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Zack Zouhary. Ten other defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial, and one, who was granted a mistrial, pleaded guilty after trial.
“Patient needs, not physician finances, should dictate where, when, and how patients are treated. Money should never be allowed to influence medical decisions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “We believe the stiff sentences handed down this week send a strong deterrent message: Violate anti-kickback laws, and you will face consequences.”
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