A federal judge denied a motion to detain three men associated with the Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center kickback and bribery case that involved $40 million in illegal payouts to surgeons in exchange for referrals, Dallas News reports.
What you should know:
1. The judge allowed Wilton Burt, Jackson Jacob and Douglas Won, MD, to stay out of prison in Texas until their sentencing hearings.
2. Mr. Burt faces a lifetime sentence, Mr. Jacob faces up to 20 years and Dr. Won faces up to five years, the smallest sentence of any of the defendants in the case.
3. Dr. Won performed his last spine surgery in March, but is still providing postop care for around 30 patients.
4. Mr. Burt is the co-founder of FPMC and was one of the practice's top managers.
5. The state charged 21 people in connection with the alleged billing scam at FPMC, 10 people pleaded guilty and nine people's cases are still pending in court. A lawyer who was charged requested a separate trial, and a judge dismissed all charges against another physician.