Court hearings delayed in Northbrook “erectile pumps” case

Court hearings have been delayed one month for a Northbrook man who has agreed to plead guilty and forfeit $2 million on charges originating in Rhode Island that he shipped unwanted “erectile pumps” to diabetes patients as part of a Medicare fraud scheme.

Federal court records show an arraignment and change-of-plea hearing for 49-year-old Gary Winner has been rescheduled for Nov. 17.

In a plea agreement filed last month, the Northbrook, Ill.-resident agreed to admit he purchased $26 penis enlargers from an adult website, repackaged them and shipped them to patients with information claiming the devices helped “bladder control, urinary flow and prostate comfort.”

Prosecutors say Winner billed Medicare an average of $284 for each item, claiming they were used to treat erectile dysfunction.