Jail Time For Rumson Man In Bribes For Blood Scheme

RUMSON, NJ — A Rumson man was sentenced to 21 months in prison Wednesday for his role in New Jersey's notorious "bribes-for-blood" scheme, where doctors would refer patients' blood samples to Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services in exchange for kickbacks.

Cliff Antell, 43, of Rumson, worked for Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services (BLS).

Antell, along with another man, Craig Nordman, 39, of Whippany, had previously pleaded guilty in the case. 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; no prison time.

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