Here are three updates in spine and orthopedic federal cases from the last month:
1. Michael Drobot, who served prison time for paying illegal kickbacks for spine surgeries at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital, was sentenced to another 15 months in prison for not paying money that he owed the government.
2. The owner of two durable medical equipment companies pleaded guilty for his role in an $11 million kickback scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said Nov. 16.
3. Two Texas-based pain physicians have been charged in a $12 million fraud scheme and accused of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, accoring to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Texas.