Doctor pleads guilty to fraud
Texarkana -- A podiatrist whose local practice has closed pleaded guilty Thursday to healthcare fraud.
Glenn Gregg Petty, who goes by Gregg, is the only defendant named in a 31-count indictment alleging 22 counts of healthcare fraud and nine counts of aggravated identity theft in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Petty, 52, pleaded guilty to a single count of healthcare fraud Thursday morning and is expected to receive a five-year term of probation when he returns to court in several months for formal sentencing.
Petty appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven for a plea hearing in a fourth-floor courtroom at the downtown federal building. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross, who was standing in for Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker, said Petty's plea agreement includes payment of $157,660 in restitution to the government. Ross said it will be up to the court to decide if Petty should be assessed a fine and whether he should be ordered to complete any community service restitution.
Craven told Petty that his plea and resulting felony conviction mean he may no longer be eligible to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, possess guns or ammunition or receive certain federal benefits. Petty has shuttered the office where he once practiced on Richmond Road in Texarkana, Texas, but still operates Legacy Foot and Ankle in Frisco, Texas, according to staff at the office.
According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Petty's medical license expires Nov. 1.
Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2017/sep/22/doctor-pleads-guilty-fraud/692332/
