A pharmacist with a compounding operation in Lakewood is charged with funneling at least $50,000 to a Toms River doctor for prescription referrals.

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Vladimir Kleyman, 42, of Prescriptions R US, is accused of paying the unidentified doctor through an employee who acted as a go-between in 2013, according to information from New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman's office.

The payments violate New Jersey's anti-kickback statue.

Investigators said the bribes were intended to draw orders for a pain cream compounded at Kleyman's pharmacy. Components in the formula include ketamine, lidocaine and diclofenac.

Authorities said the scheme generated more than $40,000 from Medicare through at least 33 of 63 patients referred by the doctor. Kleyman is accused of garnering even more through other health insurance providers.

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