Local surgeon indicted on fraud charges

DETROIT (AP) - A federal grand jury has indicted a Detroit-area surgeon who is accused of defrauding insurers and patients over back surgeries that weren't performed. Dr. Aria Sabit has been in custody since Nov. 24 when he was charged in a criminal complaint. The indictment now trumps that filing. Sabit pleaded not guilty Wednesday. The government says Sabit submitted spinal surgery claims of $15 million to Medicaid, Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan since 2011. The indictment describes some patients who didn't have back surgeries that were promised but didn't know until another doctor examined them. The Bloomfield Hills man surrendered his California medical license last summer after similar malpractice allegations. Published: Fri, Dec 12, 2014