Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, a gynecologic oncologist operating Poplar Avenue Clinic (a women’s health clinic and med spa) in Memphis, Tennessee, was convicted in January 2026 after a federal trial.0

A jury found him guilty on 40 of 46 counts: 18 counts of adulteration of medical devices, 16 counts of misbranding medical devices, and 6 counts of healthcare fraud (with a mistrial declared on the remaining 6 counts).0

Key Allegations and Evidence

Between approximately September 2019 and April 2024, Kumar and supervised advanced practitioners allegedly performed over 15,000 hysteroscopies with biopsies on 5,559 Medicare and Medicaid patients. These procedures involve inserting a hysteroscope through the vagina and cervix into the uterus to take endometrial samples, typically for diagnosing conditions like endometrial cancer.0

Prosecutors claimed these procedures were often medically unnecessary, performed to generate profit, with false claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid. The clinic billed over $41 million for these procedures and collected more than $4.8 million from those programs alone (excluding private insurance). Kumar was reportedly one of the top-paid providers in Tennessee for this service.0

Device reuse and safety violations formed a central part of the case:

• Many devices (single-use hysteroscopes and graspers) were labeled by the FDA for one-time use only and then disposal.
• Reusable devices required strict manufacturer-specified reprocessing (cleaning/disinfection) between patients.
• Evidence showed Kumar routinely reused single-use devices without proper sanitization or reprocessing, and failed to label reprocessed ones correctly. In some cases, devices bought in 2019 were still in use in 2024.
• The clinic purchased fewer than 200 new single-use hysteroscopes over the roughly 5-year period despite performing thousands of procedures.0

This created risks of cross-contamination, infection, and reduced device effectiveness, endangering patients. Prosecutors emphasized that Kumar prioritized profits over patient safety, targeting a vulnerable population of women by citing cancer concerns to justify invasive procedures.0

Broader Context and Initial Charges

The case began with a February 2025 indictment that included more serious allegations of enticing or inducing patients (at least four named victims) to travel interstate for illegal sexual activity, framed around unnecessary gynecologic procedures. There were also claims of sexual abuse under the guise of medical care.12

The trial focused on the fraud and device-related counts. Kumar’s defense contested the necessity of procedures (noting hysteroscopy has legitimate indications like abnormal bleeding, polyps, fibroids, etc.) and reportedly pointed to prior state medical board clearance on some sterilization issues. However, the federal jury convicted on the majority of counts after a 3.5-week trial and five days of deliberation.21

Status and Potential Penalties

Sentencing has been delayed multiple times (originally April 2026, with resets reported into May or later) due to post-trial motions. Kumar faces a maximum of 10 years per healthcare fraud count and 3 years per adulteration/misbranding count, potentially totaling over 160 years if sentenced consecutively (though actual sentences are often lower). He has remained out on bond pending sentencing and has expressed intent to appeal.2

The investigation involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Western District of Tennessee), HHS-OIG, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, FBI, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. It highlighted concerns about patient harm, taxpayer costs, and erosion of trust in healthcare.0

This case underscores federal scrutiny of schemes involving unnecessary procedures, billing fraud, and medical device safety violations, especially those affecting vulnerable insured populations. Public reports also note civil lawsuits from former patients. For the most current status, check official DOJ or court sources, as developments may continue.