A St. Louis area plastic surgeon had pleaded guilty in federal court to billing patients for unnecessary procedures or procedures he never performed.

Doctor Richard Coin of Ladue pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of false demand against the United States. His business, Reconstructive and Microsurgery Associates, pleaded guilty to one felony count of health care fraud.

Court documents accuse Coin of fraudulently billing insurance providers and the government for one million dollars in 2001 and 2002. The practice also faces a civil lawsuit. A lawyer claims there might be thousands of victims in a fraud he contends might have netted Coin millions.