Doc Gets 2 Years for Taking Bribes in Morris County Medical Lab Scheme

A New Jersey doctor who admitted to receiving tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from a Parsippany-based laboratory service was sentenced to two years in prison Monday, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced.

Dennis Aponte, 46, based in Cedar Grove, pleaded guilty to taking bribes from Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC to refer blood specimens for patients seen in his West New York, New Jersey medical practice, Fishman said. Aponte was paid approximately $3,000 per month from October 2012 to March 2013, and BLS made more than $175,000 on testing blood specimens referred by Aponte.

In addition to Aponte’s 24-month sentence, Judge Stanley Chesler also imposed a one-year supervised release program, a fine of $50,000, and forfeiture of $235,000.

Aponte was one of many involved in the scheme, including BLS president and part owner David Nicoll, 39, of Mountain Lakes, Scott Nicoll, 32, of Wayne, Craig Nordman, 34, of Whippany, and physician Frank Santangelo, 43, of Boonton. All pleaded guilty to counts of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Federal Travel Act and one count of money laundering.

All are awaiting sentencing.