Judge backs moving fraud trial of NW Ind. doctor

HAMMOND, Ind. — A federal judge says he’ll likely move away from northwestern Indiana the health care fraud trial of a nose surgeon captured in Italy after more than five years on the run.

Defense attorneys for Mark Weinberger have requested the move, saying he can’t receive a fair trial at the U.S. District Court in Hammond because of extensive news coverage about his Merrillville clinic.

The Times and the Post-Tribune report that Judge Philip Simon said during a court hearing Thursday he has requested a South Bend courtroom for the trial starting Jan. 9.

Defense attorney Stephen Scheele says he agrees with a move to South Bend even though he had suggested Lafayette or Fort Wayne.

Weinberger is charged with billing insurers and patients for procedures he didn’t perform.