Radiologist Indicted in $7 Million Fraud and Bribery Case Found in Contempt of Court

The behavior of Kansas radiologist Heidi Lynn Webster, MD, at her arraignment on charges that she and her business partners engaged in fraud and bribery was disruptive enough to earn her 30 days in jail. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson found Webster guilty of criminal contempt and denied her attorney’s motion to have the order overturned. According to court records, Webster “spoke loudly” and repeatedly interrupted Judge Robison as she tried to advise Webster of the charges leveled against her and her rights before the court. When Webster ignored Judge Robinson’s warnings, Judge Robinson ordered that 30 days in jail be added to any other rulings against Webster at the end of the case. Webster of Manhattan, Kan., and her business partners, retired Army Master Sgt. Lawrence Peter Fenti of New Braunfels, Texas and John Walter Hoffman of San Antonio, allegedly conspired to defraud the Army by among other things, bribing Army personnel and submitting fraudulent invoices. Webster denies the charges, and her attorney stated in the request to overturn the contempt finding that Webster acted as she did at the arraignment because of panic. She had never been arrested before, her attorney said. According to the Associated Press, Webster, 50, served as an Army officer radiologist from 1995 until 2006. After leaving the military, she formed two Kansas corporations — MRI Resources Inc. and Pro Veteran Staffing Inc. and registered them as defense contractors.