Surgeon Sentenced

A Bend man with ties to Medford has been sentenced to six years for a scam in which he lured investors into putting money into franchised alternative medicine centers.
     KTVZ-TV reports that several victims say that's not enough time for 41-year-old Todd Surgeon. Among them was Joanne Lee, who invested $49,000 and moved from Bend to Eugene to run a franchise that turned out not to exist.
     Surgeon was sentenced Thursday. In a deal with prosecutors, he had made an Alford plea - not admitting guilt but acknowledging the likelihood he would be found guilty at trial.
     The sentence requires restitution - more than $215,000.
     In court Surgeon called the ventures sincere. Previously, he was convicted in Jackson County and in Nevada on charges including racketeering and fraud.

Associated Press