Doctor Couple Plead Guilty to Taking Illegal Kickbacks

Husband-and-wife physicians pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court Monday to accepting illegal kickbacks from a medical laboratory that analyzed patient specimens for them.

Drs. Adelina and Kevork Vorperian, who practice internal medicine in Glendale, admitted receiving nearly $6,800 in payoffs from a lab company representative who cooperated in an FBI sting investigation.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Adelina Vorperian faces a possible sentence of 10 to 16 months in prison, while her husband faces a six- to 12-month term because he played a lesser role in the fraud.

Both remain free on bail. U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson set sentencing for Oct. 24.

“Both doctors are extremely contrite and remorseful over their conduct and wish to put this unfortunate situation behind them,” defense attorney Richard Marmaro said after the plea hearing.

A California Medical Board spokeswoman said the agency had not been notified about the Vorperians’ guilty pleas but that they could face disciplinary action, including suspension or loss of their medical licenses.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Daniel Shallman said the case against the Vorperians was an offshoot of Durascam, in which state and federal agents throughout California targeted illegal kickbacks and false-billing schemes by medical providers.

More than 450 people have been arrested since the crackdown was launched in 1998.