Madison Doctor Sentenced for Taking Bribes in Test-Referral Scheme

Two New Jersey doctors were sentenced today for accepting bribes in exchange for test referrals as part of a scheme operated by Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC (BLS), according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

Wayne Lajewski, 51, of Madison, and Glenn Leslie, 60, of Ramsey, New Jersey, were sentenced after previously pleading guilty in U.S. District Court, authorities said. Both men pleaded guilty to separate informations charging them each with one county of taking bribes.

Thirty-seven people, including Lajewski and Leslie, have pleaded guilty in connection with the long-running scheme. The organizers of the scheme admitted the scheme involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and various private insurance companies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The investigation into the scheme has recovered more than $10.5 million through forfeiture to date.

Lajewski admitted to taking bribes of $2,000 per month over two years in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS, for which BLS received more than $850,000, authorities said. Leslie admitted taking $5,000 per month, for which BLS received $380,000.

Lajewski and Leslie were sentenced to 14 months and 24 months in prison, one year of supervised release and were each fined $10,000. Lajewski and Leslie must forfeit $48,000 and $350,000, respectively.