Patrick Villanova
A Jersey City doctor has admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for test referrals in a multimillion dollar scheme operated in part by the president of a Parsippany-based laboratory services company, authorities said today.
Anthony DelPiano, 53, of Monmouth Junction, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to one count of accepting bribes, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
DelPiano is one of 35 people – 24 of them doctors – who have pleaded guilty in connection with an elaborate bribery scheme that resulted in more than $100 million of payments from Medicare and private insurance companies to Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC, Fishman said.
DelPiano, an internist whose Pavonia Avenue office is located near Journal Square, accepted bribes in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS and was paid approximately $2,300 per month, Fishman said.
DelPiano’s referrals generated at least $1,752,603.24 in lab business for BLS, Fishman said, adding that the investigation has to date recovered more than $10.5 million through forfeiture.
The bribery count to which DelPiano pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2015.
As part of his guilty plea, DelPiano must forfeit $204,475, representing the total bribe monies received from BLS, Fishman said.
Source: nj
