Farid Fata seeks early release again; Clarkston victim vows to fight it
The former oncologist serving 45 years for health care fraud has filed another compassionate release request. Federal prosecutors oppose it, and victims have until Oct. 23 to send statements to the judge.
By OCJ Staff
Farid Fata, the former Michigan cancer doctor serving a 45-year federal prison sentence, has again asked to be released early, and a Clarkston woman who says he treated her for cancer she never had says she will fight it.
Fata filed a new motion for compassionate release on Sept. 15, WDIV reported. Federal prosecutors oppose the request. The U.S. Department of Justice notified victims in a letter dated Sept. 29.
Deadline for victims
Victims and their families have until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to send written statements to U.S. District Judge Jonathan Grey, according to WDIV. Statements can be emailed to:
No hearing had been scheduled as of the Sept. 29 letter, WDIV reported. Hundreds of people received the letter.
A second try
Fata's previous request for compassionate release was denied in March 2025. WDIV reported there is currently no limit on how many times he can file such a request. His projected release date is Dec. 11, 2050.
Fata was arrested in 2013 on federal health care fraud charges tied to unnecessary cancer treatments. He pleaded guilty to 16 federal charges in 2014 and was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 2015. He later tried unsuccessfully to challenge his guilty pleas and sought a shorter sentence.
'Pure evil'
Patty Hester, 72, of Clarkston, told WDIV that Fata treated her for cancer she did not have. She now needs weekly infusions to survive, she said.
Hester called Fata "pure evil" and said that for as long as she lives she will fight to keep him from ever getting out.
Other victims and family members have also spoken out against the request. Another man, who said his father died under Fata's care, told the station he felt cheated by the system. Jeff Berz told the station Fata's crimes amounted to more than insurance fraud.
This story uses reporting from WDIV/ClickOnDetroit.