Doctor in Fertility Case Has Sentencing Postponed

Sergio C. Stone, one of three doctors involved in UC Irvine’s fertility clinic scandal, likely will be sentenced next month for fraudulently billing insurance companies.

Stone’s sentencing, which was scheduled Monday in federal court, was postponed because prosecutors and defense attorneys said they needed more time to respond to a confidential presentencing report prepared by court officials.

Stone was one of three clinic partners involved in a scandal involving allegations that human eggs and embryos were stolen and implanted in other women without the owners’ consent.

His other two partners, Drs. Ricardo H. Asch and Jose P. Balmaceda, left the country before charges were filed.

Stones faces a possible five-year sentence for his conviction on nine counts of insurance fraud, but federal prosecutors have said they will seek a sentence of one year.

In return, Stone, who remains free on $3 million bond, has promised that he will not appeal his conviction or ask for a new trial.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Wayne Gross said prosecutors and defense attorneys will ask U.S. District Judge Gary L. Taylor to set a new sentencing date for sometime next month.