There’s yet another update to the troubling case of Spyros Panos, who had been charged with stealing another physician’s identity to continue on his fraudulent way after losing his medical license for other crimes. A post on this site in 2018 provides some of the background and history.
On October 30, the Southern District of New York issued a press release that just came to my attention, courtesy of NYOrtho. The press release indicated that Panos, a former orthopedic surgeon who had previously been convicted of health care fraud, pled guilty on October 29 to charges of wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, “in connection with a scheme in which he assumed the identity of a licensed orthopedic surgeon and obtained over $876,000 in payments for reviewing patient files in connection with healthcare appeals and Workers Compensation cases.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Spyros Panos, a former surgeon who surrendered his medical license after a prior conviction in this District for health care fraud, has admitted to committing health care fraud again, this time by impersonating a licensed doctor. Now, for a second time, Panos awaits sentencing for his criminal conduct.”
According to the press release, Panos, 52, of Hopewell Junction, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.
Panos is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Karas on March 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. In connection with his plea, PANOS agreed to forfeit $876,389.97, and to pay restitution in the same amount.