Bail slashed for doctor, associate accused of ripping off banks

RIVERSIDE - A judge today more than halved the bail amounts on which a Temecula doctor and his business associate had been held since being arrested last week on charges stemming from an alleged $3.3 million money laundering scam.

Dr. Donald Woo Lee and Sammy Ciling, both 49, could face more than 60 years in prison if convicted of fraudulently obtaining loans for medical equipment that prosecutors allege was never acquired.

Each defendant is charged with 55 counts of money laundering and grand theft, with sentence-enhancing allegations of destroying evidence.

During a bail-setting conference t...