Despite claims by Melgen’s attorneys that he had no intention of fleeing to his native Dominican Republic, U.S. Magistrate James Hopkins denied their request to allow the 60-year-old doctor to post a sizable bond, secured by property worth millions, so he can help them prepare for his trial, now scheduled for Feb. 22.Seems hard to imagine that Melgen should be detained. He's a 60-year old doctor with no criminal history. I would expect that he gets bail from the district judge, especially since he already got bond in New Jersey where the judge found that he was not a risk of flight.
“There are no combination of conditions that will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant,” Hopkins ruled. “I will order that he be detained as a risk of flight.”
Not only does Melgen face a possible life sentence if convicted of 76 charges of health-care fraud but he, along with his longtime friend Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is charged in New Jersey with operating a bribery scheme, Hopkins noted.
Further, he said, an extradition treaty between the U.S. and the Dominican may not cover health-care fraud. If Melgen decides to flee to his island homeland — where he has luxury homes, bank accounts and links to top government officials — prosecutors may never be able to bring him back to stand trial, he said.
Melgen, who federal prosecutors said earned $1 million a month treating patients at clinics in West Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach and Port St. Lucie, smiled weakly at his wife, son and daughter as he was led from the courtroom in shackles. His wife, Flor, collapsed against the couple’s daughter Melissa in tears.
The SDFLA Blog is dedicated to providing news and notes regarding federal practice in the Southern District of Florida. The New Times calls the blog "the definitive source on South Florida's federal court system." All tips on court happenings are welcome and will remain anonymous. Please email David Markus at dmarkus@markuslaw.com
Monday, May 11, 2015
Salomon Melgen denied bail
From the Palm Beach Post:
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14 comments:
The debrief is set for this Wednesday.
yes, of course. rich white doctor with many connections and substantial resources should be let out so he can be at home. poor person of color with no resources to go anywhere - hell NO. that's what jails are for
Listen, I think bail in the federal system is a joke, but there is a huge difference between the cracks conspiracies and 924c charges that many of our black clients are charged in and Medicare fraud.
The argument that seems bs to me is the extradition issue....i am sure DOJ would argue there is no question on clarity the next time the seek to extradicte from there.
Who are his lawyers?
12:06 -
I agree the fraud is far worse!
People of privilege, education, connections and means who have the wherewithal to live comfortably and provide for their family
vs
People living in poverty who have everything stacked against them and are forced to survive any way they can
I see your point
Yawn!
No, u was talking about danger, not risk of flight. Dealing cracking is dangerous, people shoot at drug dealers and miss and kill little kids playing in the playground. As to risk if flight, u an with you 100%....zero for the local cracking dealers, Hugh for the fraudster....but come on...the dude has know this is coming for a long time
Didn't then Chief Judge Moreno make it essentially a standing order never to grant bail for health-care-fraud defendants? Hopkins is just following (unwritten) orders.
I hope they deny bond for Bernie!
Dr. Markus,
I now realize fighting the government is futile. I would like to, how do you say, "cooperate" and get a 5K. Who are the best lawyers in Miami for me? Might require some travel to the DR.
Thanks much,
Dr. Melgen
This is what happens when you hire "former" prosecutors who are now "defense" lawyers, and who never defend cases at trial.
Ditto 9:43 AM
Stop the hating.
Dude
When the court spends the first 45 minutes of your clients detention hearing grilling you on your judge shopping , that's not hating. It's pathetic
Pathetic
Why David is not publishing the news accounts of the fiasco is beyond me
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