The Orange County Register reports that Dr. William Wilson Hampton plead guilty to insurance fraud today by performing hundreds of unnecessary surgeries on patients for money.
As a result of his plea, the former doctor was sentenced to serve 16 years in state prison. Hampton is currently serving a 10 year federal prison term that was imposed on a companion case. Hampton’s criminal defense attorney, Donald Etra (who also represents Rihanna in the assault case involving Chris Brown) said today’s plea was a practical and efficient end to the prosecution of his client. The two prison terms will run concurrent with Dr. Hampton serving the majority of the federal term before he is paroled. Essentially, the two terms should end at roughly the same time.
Hampton was one of three doctors charged in 2007 with performing unnecessary surgeries for such things as sweaty palms, hemorrhoids or cysts on more than 1,000 healthy, insured patients. The doctor would meet many of his patients on the same day or just a few days prior to performing the surgeries. The patients were mostly young people who would pay anywhere from $300 to $1000 in cash for the procedures which were then billed to the insurance companies. Prosecutors estimate that Hampton made well in excess of $2.5 million dollars off of his patients.
According to the guilty plea, Hampton performed 180 surgeries in a three-month span.
Just last month, the California Medical Board revoked Hampton’s license to practice medicine.
Related Orange County attorney post
- “Real Housewives of Orange County” Wannabe Arrested for Fraud Scam! KTLA is reporting that a Laguna Hills woman, who wanted...
