Orange County Woman Pleads Guilty in Medical Fraud Case

A woman who helped recruit patients to undergo unnecessary surgeries as part of a $154 million medical insurance fraud has pleaded guilty to 22 charges.

Sue Nanda, 40, of Costa Mesa, Calif., entered her plea in Orange County Superior Court. She is scheduled to be sentenced April 24 where she faces up to 20 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Nanda worked for the now-shuttered Unity Outpatient Surgery Center in Buena Park, targeting employees from businesses in 39 states who were covered by PPO insurance plans. She recruited more than 170 people from 16 states to undergo unnecessary surgical procedures in exchange for money or cheap cosmetic surgeries.

Nineteen people, including three doctors, have been charged in the alleged scheme. Six have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.