A California physician could be sentenced to 166 years in prison after his conviction for defrauding insurance companies by billing cosmetic work as “medically necessary” procedures.

Lawrence Saks, 57, of Rolling Hills, Calif., was found guilty Jan. 21 on 16 federal charges, including health care fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

Saks operated Madison Park Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center, offering patients elective procedures, including face lifts and tummy tucks, out of its Torrance and San Pedro locations. Evidence at trial indicated that Saks collected payments from patients for the elective procedures and then filed claims with their insurers, stating they had medically necessary procedures such as tumor removals and hernia repairs, officials said.

Saks collected $5,900 in payments after submitting nearly $87,000 in fraudulent claims to his customers’ insurance companies.

At a November 2009 trial on the same charges, a jury deadlocked on all 16 counts in favor of guilt.

Saks is scheduled to go on trial March 8 on charges of defrauding disability insurance companies that were paying him benefits after he falsely told the insurers that he was not able to work.

He is scheduled to return to federal court March 29 to receive his sentence on the 16 other counts and faces a maximum statutory sentence of 166 years in prison.