Authorities allege that nearly 3,000 healthy people were recruited from across the United States to receive unnecessary medical procedures, including operations for sweaty palms.
The healthy patients would get cash or cosmetic surgery in return for undergoing procedures. The surgeries took place at a Buena Park facility formerly called the Unity Outpatient Surgery Center.
The patients were contacted by cappers, or recruiters. Three cappers have already pled guilty, and three administrators have also already been convicted.
Attorney Roy Dickson is accused of creating fake documents to disguise the illegal capping activities, and accountant Andrew Harnen also allegedly helped hide the scheme from insurance companies.
The investigation goes back to about November 2001, and authorities said insurance companies paid out more than $20 million in just a 9 month period.
