Holmdel salesman sentenced in medical bribe case

The probe of a deep and elaborate bribes-for-referrals scheme involving a North Jersey diagnostic lab, uncovered by federal investigators, lands a defendant from Holmdel behind bars for 37 months.

Len Rubenstein, 44, was sentenced in Newark for his guilty pleas on counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and money laundering, according to information from the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

He was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release, forfeit $250,000 and pay a $10,000 fine.

The probe centered on Biodiagnostics Laboratory Services LLC (BLS) of Parsippany. Organizers, including the company's president, have admitted to bribes in the millions of dollars.

Authorities contend that BLS also collected more than $100 million from Medicare and private insurors, and they've dunned defendants for some $11 million in forfeitures.

Rubenstein admitted collaborating with BLS President David Nicoll, 41, of Mountain Lakes, Nicoll's brother Scott, 34, of Wayne, and others to pay doctors to refer patients to the lab for bloodwork.

Rubenstein concealed the bribe money within a firm he controlled, Delta Consulting Group LLC, authorities said.

Rubenstein is one of 38 defendants, including 26 doctors, to enter guilty pleas, authorities said.