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Medicare Fraud Trial Set For Eye Doctor

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
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The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The Medicare fraud trial of a prominent South Florida eye doctor tied to a New Jersey senator's alleged corruption is set to begin.

Salomon Melgen's federal trial begins Monday in West Palm Beach. He is accused of stealing up to $190 million from the Medicare program between 2004 and 2013.

Prosecutors say Melgen prescribed unneeded treatments, filed claims for procedures he never performed and charged for medicine he never purchased.

If convicted, the 62-year-old doctor faces up to 610 years in prison. He is free on $18 million bond.

His attorneys have denied the charges.

He faces a bribery trial this fall in New Jersey with Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.