NEWARK, NJ – Two former associates of Parsippany based Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC (BLS) were each sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison for their roles in a test referral bribery scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.
Cliff Antell, 43, of Rumson, and Craig Nordman, 39, of Whippany, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to informations charging each with one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Federal Travel Act and one count of money laundering. Judge Chesler imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Nordman was a BLS employee and the CEO of Advantech Sales LLC – an entity used by BLS to make illegal payments. Antell was an associate who used an entity – Brown’s Dock Consulting – to disguise the bribe payments to doctors.
The investigation has resulted in 53 convictions – 38 of them doctors – in connection with the bribery scheme, which its organizers have admitted involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and various private insurance companies. It is believed to be the largest number of medical professionals ever prosecuted in a bribery case. The investigation has recovered more than $15 million through forfeiture. On June 28, 2016, BLS, which is no longer operational, pleaded guilty and was required to forfeit all of its assets.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Chesler sentenced Antell to three years of supervised release and fined him $10,000. Nordman was sentenced to one year of supervised release.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
