ATLANTA (AP) - U.S. Attorney's officials say a doctor has been found guilty of health care fraud, tax fraud and money laundering.
Officials said Monday that 54-year-old Lawrence Eppelbaum was convicted of influencing Medicare patients from across the country to visit his clinic.
Authorities say Eppelbaum used money he funneled to a purported charity that he controlled to fund their travel to Atlanta and Florida - where patients visited a hot spring.
Officials say Medicare doctors take a special oath to not interfere with a patient's ability to choose a doctor.
Authorities say Eppelbaum tried concealing his control over the charity by having parents of students at a local private school make tuition checks out to the charity. He then repaid the school for the amount of the tuition plus 25 percent interest.
