Plea agreement in former Ind. surgeon's fraud case

A former northwestern Indiana surgeon captured in Italy after more than five years on the run has agreed to plead guilty to federal health care fraud charges.

Forty-six-year-old Mark Weinberger would be sentenced to up to four years in prison under a plea agreement filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Hammond. As part of the deal with federal prosecutors, he also agrees to pay restitution to 22 patients.

Weinberger formerly operated a Merrillville nose and sinus clinic, where prosecutors say he billed insurers and patients for procedures he didn't perform.

The plea agreement was first reported by the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.

The agreement doesn't list a plea hearing date. Weinberger's trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 9.