Former Indiana nose doctor to serve probation in Florida

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) – A former northwestern Indiana nose surgeon who pleaded guilty three years ago to 22 counts of health care fraud after disappearing while vacationing in Greece will be allowed to serve the remainder of his probation in Florida.

The Merrillville Post-Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Philip Simon ruled last week that Mark Weinberger can serve his probation in southern Florida. He will remain on supervised release until Jan. 15, 2017.

Weinberger attracted national media attention after fleeing the country in 2004, after hundreds of former patients filed complaints.

A federal grand jury indicted him in 2006. The case remained on hold until 2009, when authorities found Weinberger on an Italian mountainside living in a tent.

Weinberger was sentenced to seven years, nearly double the recommendation under federal guidelines.