On February 9, ten people were charged in a 26-count indictment for a $300 million healthcare fraud scheme. The defendants include two physicians, one nurse practitioner, and various officers from marketing firms and laboratories. The government alleges that the individuals perpetuated an elaborate kickback scheme, revolving around paying kickbacks to medical professionals to induce them to order medically unnecessary lab tests that were then billed to federal healthcare programs. The defendants each face up to 55 years in federal prison if convicted.