Doctor With Wall Practice Admits Taking Bribes In Multimillion-Dollar Lab Testing Scheme

A doctor from Point Pleasant who has practices in Wall and Howell has admitted in federal court that he accepted bribes to refer patients’ blood samples to a specific testing laboratory, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said Monday.

Anthony DeLuca, 52, of Point Pleasant, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark to one count of accepting bribes to direct patients’ blood samples to Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services, of Parsippany. DeLuca is one of 32 people who have admitted roles in the bribery scheme, including 21 doctors, Fishman said.

The organizers of the bribery scheme have admitted it involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and various private insurance companies. The investigation has so far recovered more than $10.2 million to date through forfeiture, Fishman said.

DeLuca admitted he accepted bribes in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS and was paid approximately $1,500 per month, which he received from another person on in his medical office engaged in the same activity, according to documents filed in this and related cases and statements made in court.

On April 9, 2013, federal agents arrested David Nicoll, 40, of Mountain Lakes; Scott Nicoll, 33, of Wayne, a senior BLS employee and David Nicoll’s brother; and Craig Nordman, 35, of Whippany, a BLS employee and the CEO of Advantech Sales LLC, one of several entities used by BLS to make illegal payments. They were charged by federal complaint with the bribery conspiracy, along with the BLS company and Frank Santangelo, 44, of Boonton. In June 2013, David and Scott Nicoll, Nordman and four other associates of BLS pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement. Santangelo, a doctor, pleaded guilty in August 2013 to charges relating to his role in the scheme.

The bribery count to which DeLuca pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20. As part of his guilty plea, DeLuca must forfeit $16,500, representing the total bribe monies received from BLS.

Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas O’Donnell; IRS– Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; and inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates, with the ongoing investigation leading to the guilty pleas.