Here are three federal updates involving spine and orthopedics since Nov. 30:
1. Former New York orthopedic surgeon Spyros Panos was sentenced to 111 months in prison for fraud and identity theft charges he pled guilty to in 2020, according to the Department of Justice, Southern District of New York.
2. Neurosurgeon Lokesh Tantuwaya, MD, 55, was sentenced five years for taking about $3.3 million in bribes for performing at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. Along with his sentence, Dr. Tantuwaya must forfeit the money he obtained in bribes, according to the Justice Department.
3. Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, and injury lawyer George Constantine were convicted by a Manhattan federal jury on Dec. 16 of running a $31 million slip-and-fall scheme that defrauded New York City businesses and insurance companies.