A Rancho Mirage cosmetic surgeon who has been on the run for four months after pleading guilty in a scheme that duped health insurance companies into paying tens of millions of dollars for procedures that were not medically necessary was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in federal prison.

Dr. David M. Morrow, 72, a former Rancho Mirage resident whose current whereabouts are unknown, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton. Judge Staton imposed the sentence after Morrow pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false tax return.

Judge Staton noted that Morrow’s “greed knew no bounds,” and that he showed an “utter disregard for patients’ well-being and safety.” As part of the sentencing, Judge Staton found that the intended loss from Morrow’s scheme was $44,265,211.

“This defendant was a successful doctor who owned a medical clinic and multiple valuable residences, yet he engaged in a scheme designed to steal tens of millions of dollars from insurance companies by tricking them into paying for cosmetic surgery,” said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. “After admitting guilt, he went on the lam in the hopes of avoiding the punishment that was sure to come. When he is taken into custody – and he will definitely be captured – he will serve the lengthy sentence he deserves as a result of his greed and fraud.”

Morrow, a dermatologist-turned-cosmetic-surgeon who was the owner of the Morrow Institute (TMI) in Rancho Mirage, specifically admitted that he submitted millions of dollars in claims for procedures that he certified were “medically necessary” – but in fact were cosmetic procedures. In some cases, according to court documents, patients underwent procedures they did not want in exchange for promises from Morrow that he would perform the cosmetic procedures that they really wanted.

When he pleaded guilty in March 2016, Morrow admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme, which included submitting altered documents to private insurance companies that claimed various procedures were “medically necessary” to induce insurers to pay for them. The guilty pleas followed a grand jury indictment two years ago that alleged Morrow, his wife, and TMI lured patients to the Coachella Valley surgery center with promises that cosmetic procedures would be paid for by their union or PPO health insurance plans. The victim health insurance companies included Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Regional Employer/Employee Partnership for Benefits, formerly known as Riverside Employer/Employee Partnership (REEP), and Cigna.

Some of the insurance companies refused to pay for patients who were employed by public entities. According to prosecutors, the Morrows then made claims against those entities, demanding more than $15 million from the California Highway Patrol, Desert Sands Unified School District, Palm Springs Unified School District and the city of Palm Springs.

Morrow and his wife are believed to have fled in May 2017. Prior to becoming fugitives, they failed to report to court officials, among other things, the sale of their $9.45 million home in Beverly Hills. Last month, prosecutors filed notice with the court that Morrow had breached his plea agreement by becoming a fugitive.

Charges against Morrow’s wife, Linda Morrow, 65, are currently pending.

The investigation into the Morrows and TMI was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS – Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance.