STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A doctor accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a 76-year-old woman in Macomb County has a history of alcohol, fraud, and sexual misconduct issues throughout his career.
Sterling Heights crimes
Dr. Stephen Bruce Mason, 54, of Detroit, is scheduled to return to court Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, on two misdemeanor charges out of Sterling Heights.
Officials said Mason befriended a 76-year-old woman online and drove her home from a hair appointment on Aug. 1, 2024.
When the woman invited him inside, Mason made sexual advances toward her, but she rejected those advances, according to police.
Mason is accused of masturbating in front of the woman after being rejected.
He is charged with assault, a 93-day misdemeanor, and aggravated indecent exposure, a two-year high-court misdemeanor.
Mason was given a $1,000 personal bond during his arraignment at Sterling Heights District Court. He is scheduled to return at 1 p.m. Thursday for a probable cause conference.
Indiana legal issues
Mason was practicing family medicine in 2005 in his home state of Indiana when he became the subject of an investigation by the state’s medical licensing board.
Mason admitted that he regularly drank alcohol in his medical office, including prior to seeing patients.
Former employees testified that Mason solicited them for sex and touched them inappropriately at work.
State officials said Mason had sexual contact with a patient.
He was also accused of writing prescriptions for controlled substances in exchange for cash.
The Indiana medical licensing board said Mason exhibited “lewd or immoral conduct in connection with the delivery of services to the public.”
His license to practice medicine in Indiana was revoked.
Wisconsin medical license
Mason moved to Wisconsin and applied for a state medical license in 2007.
He was initially given a limited medical license because Wisconsin officials were aware of his history in Indiana, where he was still unable to work as a doctor.
The limited medical license required him to participate in sexual addiction treatment programs, as well as regular drug and alcohol screenings.
Wisconsin eventually granted Mason a full medical license. It’s still valid.
Michigan legal troubles
Mason moved to Michigan in 2011 and began making home medical visits for Lake MI Mobile Doctors USA.
The FBI and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched an investigation into Mason in connection with a $1.7 million fraud scheme. They found that he and two other doctors had billed Medicare for home visits that either didn’t happen or were medically unnecessary.
Mason pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was sentenced in 2017 to 18 months in prison and fined $50,000 by the state medical board.
After prison
When he got out of prison, Mason set up a new business in Michigan called Expert Opinion, LLC.
His company’s Facebook page uses stock medical photos and uses generic reminders to see a doctor and get vaccinated. It lists a Royal Oak address and phone number.
If you visit the Facebook page, you’re invited to call “Dr. Steven” for health consultations. No last name is listed.
