Philip Sobol M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, agreed with Michael Drobot to receive kickbacks in exchange for performing surgeries at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach or referring spinal surgery patients to physicians who would perform the spinal surgeries at Pacific Hospital.

Sobol and Drobot concealed the kickbacks through a series of sham agreements including a management agreement and option agreement. Sobol received approximately $5.2 million dollars in kickbacks.

On November 24, 2015, Sobol entered into an agreement to plead guilty to a two-count information that charged him with Conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and Interstate Travel in Aid of a Racketeering Enterprise in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952.

Prosecutors filed a Sentencing Report in his criminal case on December 5. On February 24, 2017, the United States Probation Office reported that his sentencing range was 46-57 months’ imprisonment. The report noted that Sobol had agreed to pay restitution but “did not identify any victims from the harm.”

But prosecutors say the Court should apply an additional two level increase because the offense involved more than ten victims.

Prosecutors reported that “it is difficult to determine exactly how many surgeries defendant referred where he received a kickback because the kickbacks were paid through sham management and option agreements that were designed to approximate the number of surgeries referred or performed at Pacific Hospital, Drobot admitted in his plea agreement that he paid between $10,000 and $15,000 per surgery performed.”

His Sentencing Hearing was set for February 16, 2018. On that day, the federal court entered the following order.:

“Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, it is the judgment of the Court that the defendant, Philip A. Sobol, is hereby committed on Counts 1 and 2 of the Information to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for a term of 21 months. This term consists of 21 months on each of Counts 1 and 2, to be served concurrently.”

“Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be placed on supervised release for a term of three years. This term consists of three years on each of Counts 1 and 2 of the Information, all such terms to run concurrently..”

“It is further ordered that the defendant surrender himself to the institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons at or before 12 noon, on July 16, 2018. In the absence of such designation, the defendant shall report on or before the same date and time, to the United States Marshal located at the United States Court House, 411 West Fourth Street, Santa Ana, California 92701- 4516.”

“It is recommended that the Bureau of Prisons designate confinement of defendant to the Lompoc, California facility.”