NEWARK, N.J. – Fifteen doctors and other health care professionals are accused of taking illegal kickbacks to refer patients to a diagnostic facility in New Jersey.
Federal prosecutors say Orange Community MRI started the scheme as early as 2010.
Officials don't know how much money was involved. But authorities say they managed to trace $50,000 during a two-month span.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced Tuesday that an undercover cooperating witness posing as an OCM employee tallied the amount of bribes based on "kickback reports" that reflected how many patients doctors referred.
Court papers say Franklin Lakes practitioner Dov Rand bragged to the undercover witness that his appearance on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" would bolster his profile and lead to more referrals.
A message left for the facility's attorney was not immediately returned.
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