Cutting back
Michael Clair, who had a practice in Fall River, MA, was sentenced to one year in jail for defrauding Medicaid of $130,000, assault and battery, illegally prescribing prescription drugs and witness intimidation charges. The former dentist used sections of paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals in an effort to save money.
This guy should have been clipping coupons, not root canals.
Return of the Mack
In 2009, Gary "Doc" Kimmel, a well-respected and talented dentist from Chicago, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for laundering money for a Detroit pimp who used Kimmel's apartment and cars in a prostitution ring. He even performed dental services for a prostitute who had her teeth knocked out. Kimmel didn't serve the entire sentence and was released back in December. Now, he wants to rejoin the dental business.
Kimmel's lawyer Joseph Lopez reportedly told the Sun-Times that the only real allegation having to do with his work as a dentist is involving one prostitute.
“Her teeth got knocked out, he was trying to help her." "They need dentists just like everyone else needs dentists," said Lopez.
Granny throw down
Dr. Michael Hammonds, Deltona, FL, took an elderly woman's dentures from her and then refused to give them back. Virginia Graham was experiencing problems with her dentures so she went to see her dentist. Confrontation ensued. Grandma threw her dentures at Hammonds after he refused to giver her a refund. The brawl escalated and made its way down the hallway of the office. Virginia bit Hammonds's hand to make him let go of the teeth. No such luck. Hammonds wasn't giving in. He even blocked the door so she couldn't escape and grabbed her arms to prevent her from opening the door.
Hammonds was later arrested on charges of false imprisonment, battery and assault on a person older than 65, and grand theft.
While Virginia searches for a new dentist and new teeth, Hammonds searches for his dignity.
Sick and deceptive
In May 2011 Jason Roan, a Helena, MT dentist, reportedly met a woman through an online dating website and later committed non-consensual sexual acts during intercourse with her. Roan was given a three year deferred sentence and he must also serve 40 hours of community service in the dental field.
Overmedicating
Just last week Charles Kokoska, a dentist from Millsboro, PA, was arrested for prescribing 6,600 narcotic painkillers to seven patients.
According to the criminal complaint, Kokoska wrote the prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene and diazepam, a generic form of Xanax, between January 2009 and October 2010.
Dentist with a leg monitor
Mena, AR dentist David Van Winkle was charged with kidnapping, burglary and stalking in connection with an incident that happened at his victim's home. He allegedly abducted a woman at gunpoint. Last September, his bond was cut in half as long as he wore a leg monitor.
