New York, for accepting more than USD 174,000 in bribes in exchange for patient referrals to a mobile diagnostic company, an Indian-origin internal medicine physician has been sentenced to one year in prison by a US court.

The convict identified as Paresh Patel, 55 of New Jersey had previously pleaded guilty before US District Judge Mary Cooper to an information charging him with violating the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Patel was also ordered to pay USD 6,000 fine. He has also forfeited more than USD 174,000 he received as part of the bribery scheme.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from September 2009 through December 2013, Patel accepted more than USD 174,000 in bribes for referring his patients to a mobile diagnostic testing company operated by Nita Patel and Kirtish Patel, who are of no relation to Patel.

As part of the bribes, the diagnostic testing company paid Patel's property tax obligations and home renovation expenses.