YOUNGSTOWN - Video arraignments have been set later this month in federal court for two of three Valley doctors charged in connection with an alleged Medicare and Medicaid kickback scheme for testing that was not medically necessary.

OBGYN Joni Canby, as well as Doctor Samir Wahib of Youngstown are scheduled to be arraigned by video conference on February 16 before Magistrate Carmen Henderson in U.S. District Court in Youngstown.

According to court documents, Michelle Kapon, 41, and Canby, 62 of Poland, received kickbacks from OBGYN Wahib after sending samples from their patients to him for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.

Investigators say that Wahib, 53 of Canfield, paid $20 in kickbacks to Canby and $15 to Kapon for every specimen they sent to him.  Wahib would in turn allegedly submit claims to the federal government for payment of the tests.

Wahib faces 11 counts including Conspiracy to Solicit, Receive, Offer and Pay Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program, Offering or Paying Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program, Conspiracy to Commit Health Fraud, Health Care Fraud, and Obstruction of a Criminal Investigation of Federal Health Care Offenses

A ten-count indictment was handed up against Dr. Canby on charges of Conspiracy to Solicit, Receive, Offer and Pay Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program, Receipt of Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program, Conspiracy to Commit Health Fraud, and Health Care Fraud.

Kapon has not been indicted but a Bill of Information charges her with one count of Conspiracy to Solicit, Receive, Offer and Pay Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program, and two counts of Receipt of Kickbacks in Connection with a Federal Health Care Program

In most cases, prosecutors issue a bill of information instead of an indictment when the defendant intends to plead guilty to the charge or charges and forgo the grand jury process.