WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A prominent Florida eye doctor linked to corruption charges against New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez wants his bail conditions eased in a separate health care fraud case.
A judge in West Palm Beach scheduled a Monday hearing on Dr. Salomon Melgen’s request. Melgen wants permission to live in his waterfront home, freedom to travel within South Florida and less intrusive electronic monitoring.
Melgen’s lawyers say in court papers he is encountering hardships because his trial was delayed until March 2017.
Melgen is charged with misdiagnosing patients in a decade-long scheme to bilk Medicare out of $190 million using multiple doses of a single-use eye drug.
New Jersey prosecutors allege Melgen lavished Menendez with illegal flights, vacations and campaign contributions so the senator would influence Medicare officials on billing disputes.
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