Feds Say Lafayette Doctor Should Report To Jail

The federal prosecutors who have worked the case against a Lafayette doctor say it is time for him to report to jail. Former cardiologist Dr. Mehmood Patel has been appealing his conviction on charges of health care fraud for three years. He has been free during that time, and Patel will continue to appeal.

Prosecutors say it is time for Patel to be incarcerated while he continues the appeal process.

Patel has been free for more than three years, and his attorney says that he will still work to allow the doctor to remain free while the try another appeal.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed Patel’s conviction last week. Not only that, but the court upheld his 10-year prison sentence. The conviction came after prosecutors says that Patel billed not on the government, but other insurers for procedures that were not needed. Prosecutors pegged the number of fraudulent claims at more than two million dollars.

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