A blood diagnostic company owner in Essex County, New Jersey, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for paying cash bribes to a doctor for patient lab work referrals, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Phillip Biondello, 49, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to violating the Anti-Kickback Statute. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.
According to court documents, Biondello paid a doctor cash bribes in return for patient blood sample referrals to his company, including a $24,000 bribe paid on May 7, 2013. The doctor’s referrals generated approximately $176,710.84 for Biondello’s company between June 2011 and June 2013.
Along with the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Biondello to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph N. Minish of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
Under U.S. Attorney Fishman’s leadership, the office has recovered more than $1.29 billion in health care fraud and government fraud settlements, judgments, fines, restitution and forfeiture since 2010.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Health Care Fraud
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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