Pine Brook Doc Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribes

Pine Brook doctor Angelo Calabrese is the latest of a group of doctors and salespeople who have pleaded guilty to taking or offering bribes in exchange for medical referrals, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

Calabrese, 56, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an information charge of violating the Travel Act and accepting more than $130,000 in bribes in exchange for at least $600,000 in lab business to Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services (BLS) of Parsippany.

As part of his plea, Calabrese agreed to forfeit $334,000 and could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Including another doctor and salesman, Calabrese is the 17th person to plead guilty to charges relating to the bribery scheme in which Fishman said BLS would offer millions of dollars in bribes to doctors for referrals for services BLS would provide and bill Medicate and private companies for.