was an internal medicine doctor from Texas Convicted of accepting more than $200,000 in bribes To send patient samples to specialized laboratories, according to officials from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Dr. Hector Ubaldo, 60, was convicted in September. After a two-day trial, it took only 14 minutes for a federal grand jury to indict him on charges of conspiracy to pay and receive health care bribes and soliciting and receiving illegal bribes.
Based on evidence presented at trial, Ubaldo accepted cash from so-called “marketers” in exchange for sending patients' blood and urine samples to specialized laboratories, which then billed insurance companies and Medicare to run clinical trials. used to bill for, according to one News release From the US Attorney's Office.
Ubaldo also entered into “sham medical consulting agreements with laboratories and marketers” where he was to provide consulting services in exchange for a monthly fee. However, laboratories and marketers did not need these services, and Ubaldo did not provide them.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, “Instead, the medical advisory services agreements served as a fraudulent vehicle for Dr. Ubaldo to pay bribes in exchange for sending samples to specific laboratories.”
On various occasions, one of the marketers met Ubaldo in his office and handed over thousands of dollars in cash. Video evidence of the meetings was presented in the court.
“To tell you the truth, I need cash,” Dr. Ubaldo told marketers in a meeting.
Ubaldo accepted more than $253,000 in bribes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He now faces up to 15 years in federal prison and was taken into custody while awaiting sentencing.