State officials suspend a Midland, MI, man's chiropractic license

By LaNia Coleman

MIDLAND -- State authorities have suspended a Midland doctor's license.
The state Department of Community Health on Thursday suspended the chiropractic license of Frederick L. Knochel III, said James McCurtis Jr., an agency spokesman.

In December, Midland County Circuit Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach ordered Knochel to pay restitution and fines and perform community service for defrauding Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.

Lauderbach delayed sentencing Knochel, instead ordering him to complete 100 hours of community service in six months, plus pay $7,203 in restitution to the insurance provider and $11,046 in fines.

Knochel also must spend one year on probation. If Knochel fulfills the terms of his probation, Lauderbach said he will reduce the 31-year-old chiropractor's offenses to misdemeanors from felonies.

On April 20, court authorities charged Knochel with six counts of insurance fraud after state police detectives from the Bay City Post and investigators for Blue Cross and Blue Shield wrapped up a six-month investigation into allegations the chiropractor submitted false insurance claims totaling $858.