Shore Doctor Admits Taking Bribes

A doctor with practices in Wall and Howell Townships becomes the 32nd defendant to plead guilty in a still-growing referral-scheme probe involving a Parsippany anaysis lab.

Anthony DeLuca, 52, of Point Pleasant, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in Newark, according to information from the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

DeLuca is also the 21st doctor to admit taking payments to refer blood samples to Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC, authorities said.

He told the court that he pocketed about $1,500 a month from an individual in his medical office, officials said. They didn't identify the alleged middle man.

DeLuca's sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2015. He could be handed a prison term as high as five years and a maximum $250,000 fine. He agreed to forfeit $16,500 in his plea bargain.

The investigation grew after the arrests of several company officials and a Boonton doctor in April 2013. Dr. Frank Santangelo pleaded guilty the following August.

Organizers have admitted paying millions in bribes and reaping at least $100,000,000 from Medicare and private insurors, prosecutors said. The investigation is still open.