Bernadett Sentenced to 15 Months for Role in Spinal Kickback Scheme

A doctor and former owner of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach who failed to put the brakes on the spinal surgery kickback scheme at the facility was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison Friday. Faustino Bernadett, 65, was also ordered to pay a $60,000 fine in addition to the $1 million he was ordered to forfeit earlier. He pleaded guilty in August to a single charge of misprision of felony, meaning he had knowledge of the actual commission of a felony that he failed to report. Bernadett purchased Pacific Hospital for $20 million from Michael D. Drobot in May 2005 under terms that allowed h...