Katy doctor convicted in federal court for his role in lab-work kickbacks scheme
A Katy doctor has been convicted for accepting illegal kickbacks for sending patient samples to specific labs, according to officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
The doctor, 60-year old Hector Ubaldo, was indicted in September on charges of conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks and solicitation and receipt of illegal kickbacks.
It took a federal jury 14 minutes to convict him, officials said.
Evidence presented at Ubaldo’s trial shows that he accepted cash in return for sending blood and urine samples to labs, which then billed insurance for diagnostic tests, according to officials.
In video evidence posted on X, Ubaldo is seen counting cash payments he received from the labs.
“The minimum I’m willing to [expletive] take on a monthly basis is about $10 grand,” Ubaldo said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 15 doctors, marketers and lab owners connected to the scheme over a period of several years, according to the statement.
Ubaldo faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
