The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the license to practice dentistry of Sergius Alexander Rinaldi, D.D.S., based on his convictions in the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, Springfield Division. Rinaldi failed to report his convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On Oct. 18, 2005, Rinaldi was convicted of one felony count of Mail Fraud and one felony count of Obstruction of Health Care Investigation/Penalty. As a result, Rinaldi was sentenced to incarceration for 21 months, then placed on supervised release with specified terms for a period of three years. He also was ordered to pay restitution, fines, costs, and fees totaling $526,044.35.

On Oct. 22, 2008, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Rinaldi's license pursuant to the Public Health Code which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Rinaldi's license to practice dentistry.

For more information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.