Salomon Melgen is a name that may not ring a bell for many people, but he is one of the most notorious eye specialists in the history of the United States. He was convicted of 67 counts of healthcare fraud, accused of bribing a senator and sentenced to 17 years in prison. How did he go from being a respected ophthalmologist to a disgraced criminal?
Biography
Salomon Melgen was born in 1957 (age: 66 years, as of 2023) in the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. He moved to the United States with his family when he was a child, and became a naturalized American citizen. He graduated from Harvard University in 1986 and became the first surgeon in South Florida to perform outpatient retina surgery and to use laser therapy for eye diseases. He established his own clinic, Vitreo-Retinal Consultants, in West Palm Beach, where he treated hundreds of patients every day.
Melgen was known for his expertise in treating conditions related to the retina, the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into nerve signals. He was also known for his lavish lifestyle, his political connections, and his generosity. He donated millions of dollars to various causes, especially those related to his native country. He owned several properties, including a mansion in Florida, a villa in the Dominican Republic, and a private jet. He was married to Flor Melgen, a former beauty queen, and had two children, Melissa and Lenny.
Salomon Melgen Wiki/Bio
| Full name | Salomon Melgen |
| Date of birth | 1957 |
| Place of birth | Dominican Republic |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | American Mixed |
| Religion | Christian |
| Profession | Ophthalmologist |
| Education | Harvard Medical School |
| Specialty | Retina-related conditions |
| Conviction | Health care fraud |
| Sentence | 17 years in prison (commuted by Trump) |
| Links | Instagram- #salomonmelgen Homepage- Celebsworlds |
How did he commit healthcare fraud?
Salomon Melgen’s downfall began in 2013, when federal agents raided his clinic and seized his records. He was accused of billing Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, for millions of dollars worth of unnecessary and excessive procedures. He was also accused of falsifying diagnoses, inflating charges, and using expired drugs. According to the prosecutors, he cheated Medicare out of $73 million between 2008 and 2013, making him one of the biggest fraudsters in the program’s history.
His defense lawyers argued that he was a caring and innovative doctor who acted in the best interest of his patients. They claimed that he followed the accepted standards of care and that he was a victim of unclear and conflicting Medicare rules. They also pointed out that he had refunded some of the money to Medicare voluntarily and that he had no criminal intent.
The trial lasted for seven weeks and involved more than 70 witnesses and thousands of documents. The jury deliberated for four days and found Melgen guilty of all 67 counts of healthcare fraud. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and ordered to pay $42.6 million in restitution to Medicare. He appealed his conviction and sentence, but the appeals court upheld them in July 2020. He is currently serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.
How did he bribe a senator?
Salomon Melgen’s legal troubles did not end with his healthcare fraud case. He was also indicted for allegedly bribing Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey and a longtime friend of his. According to the indictment, Melgen gave Menendez various gifts and favors, such as flights on his private jet, vacations at his villa, and campaign contributions, in exchange for his influence and intervention in various matters. These matters included:
- Helping Melgen resolve a dispute with Medicare over his billing practices
- Helping Melgen secure a lucrative contract to provide port security services in the Dominican Republic
- Helping Melgen obtain visas for his foreign girlfriends
Melgen and Menendez pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. They claimed that their relationship was based on friendship and mutual respect, not on corruption. They argued that the gifts and favors were expressions of their personal bond and that they did not violate any laws or ethics rules.
The trial began in September 2017 and lasted for 11 weeks. The jury was deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict. The judge declared a mistrial and dismissed the charges. The prosecutors decided not to retry the case and dropped the indictment in January 2018. Melgen and Menendez were cleared of the bribery charges, but their reputations were tarnished by the scandal.
Salomon Melgen and Flor Melgen: A Love Story That Survived Scandal and Prison
Salomon Melgen and Flor Melgen are a couple that have been married for over 30 years and have faced many challenges and controversies together. He is a famous eye specialist who was convicted of healthcare fraud and bribery and is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence. Flor Melgen is a former beauty queen who stood by her husband’s side throughout his legal troubles and continues to support him from afar.
How did they meet, fall in love, and stay together despite the odds? This article will explore their relationship, and reveal some interesting facts about them.
How did they meet and fall in love?
Melgen and Flor Melgen met in the late 1980s when they were both living in Florida. Salomon Melgen was a successful ophthalmologist who had graduated from Harvard University and had become the first surgeon in South Florida to perform outpatient retina surgery and to use laser therapy for eye diseases. He had established his own clinic, Vitreo-Retinal Consultants, in West Palm Beach, where he treated hundreds of patients every day.
Flor Melgen was a beautiful and charming woman who had won several beauty pageants in her native Dominican Republic, including Miss Dominican Republic in 1980. She had moved to the United States with her family and had pursued a career in modeling and acting. She had appeared in several commercials, magazines, and TV shows, such as Miami Vice and The Golden Girls.
The two met at a social event and were instantly attracted to each other. They began dating and soon fell in love. They got married in 1991 and had two children, Melissa and Lenny. They settled in a luxurious mansion in Palm Beach County and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. They traveled the world, attended high-profile events, and donated millions of dollars to various causes, especially those related to their native country. They were a happy and glamorous couple, admired by many.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (approx)
- Weight: 80 kg (approx)
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Light brown
- Hair color: Grey
What are some surprising facts about him?
Salomon Melgen may be a notorious figure, but he is also a fascinating one. Here are some surprising facts about him that you may not know:
- He was a close friend of former President Bill Clinton and invited him to his villa in the Dominican Republic several times.
- He was a major donor to the Clinton Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Bill and Hillary Clinton, and gave more than $1 million to it.
- He was a supporter of former President Barack Obama and attended his inauguration in 2009.
- He was a benefactor of the American Friends of the Hebrew University, a nonprofit organization that supports the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and donated $5 million to it.
- Salomon Melgen was a patron of the arts and culture and sponsored various events and programs, such as the Palm Beach Opera, the Palm Beach Symphony, and the Miami International Film Festival.
- He was a philanthropist and humanitarian and helped many people and causes, especially in the Dominican Republic. He provided free eye care to thousands of poor and needy patients, built schools and hospitals, and supported disaster relief efforts.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (approx) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $20-50 M |
| 2022 | $15-40 M |
| 2023 | $10-30 M |
Salomon Melgen is a complex and controversial figure who rose to fame and fortune as an eye specialist but fell from grace and glory as a fraudster and a felon. He was admired for his skills and generosity but despised for his greed and corruption. He was a friend of the powerful and influential, but also a foe of the law and justice. He was a man who saw a lot, but also a man who saw trouble.
