Kickback case

Pursuing and prosecuting criminals is a never-ending exercise in risk assessment and prioritization. Authorities are obligated to use their limited resources to chase down and incarcerate the most violent suspects, all the while knowing that plenty of other less-dangerous offenders are scheming and thriving at the expense of the law-abiding public.

That's one reason why it was encouraging Tuesday to see a local personal injury attorney brought before a federal judge on 18 felony charges. Prosecutors claim Noel Gage was involved in a insurance-settlement kickback scheme that inflated medical claims by millions of dollars -- the kind of operation that victimizes all Nevadans through increased medical and insurance costs.

According to authorities, health care providers provided false testimony for personal injury claims to boost settlement amounts, which allowed attorneys to collect higher fees. The care providers, who offered their services through medical liens, received kickbacks once the cases were settled.

The indictment against Mr. Gage alleges that he, doctors and other lawyers benefitted handsomely from the arrangement. Prosecutors want to seize about $8 million in assets in connection with the case.

Mr. Gage, 69, said Tuesday that he is "absolutely not guilty" of the charges against him. He'll certainly get his chance to prove it, and he should enjoy the presumption of innocence at this point.

But the Nevada U.S. attorney's office deserves a round of applause for committing the time and personnel to tackle this kind of case. Fraud on this type of scale, involving so many trusted, licensed professionals, can't be ignored.

"This is a continuing investigation; it's wide-ranging and expansive," said Steve Myhre, acting U.S. attorney for Nevada, adding that more indictments are forthcoming. "It will continue into the foreseeable future."

Good.