Two NJ Docs Plead Guilty To Taking Bribes

Two New Jersey doctors pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking monthly payoffs from a lab in exchange for ordering unnecessary tests on their patients.

Eugene DeSimone, 60, who has offices in Secaucus and Douglas Bienstock, 48, with offices in Hawthorne, pleaded guilty to taking bribes.

In all, 20 doctors have now admitted accepting payoffs from BLS Labs in Parsippany. Eleven others associated with the lab -- including senior executive Scott Nicoll -- have also admitted helping orchestrate the scheme.

The lab made tens of millions by paying doctors to order extra and unnecessary blood tests. Medicare and private insurers were among the victims. Officials said no patients were harmed but medical records of the unnecessary tests remain part of their files.

DeSimone and Bienstock have agreed to forfeit over $300,000. They both face up to five years in prison when they are sentenced in December.

The investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman continues and more arrests are expected.
 
Follow Jonathan Dienst on Twitter @jonathan4NY

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