New Jersey blood-laboratory kickback prosecutions

A federal investigation into a New Jersey blood laboratory took an unexpectedly strange turn when prosecutors accused a New York physician of accepting more than ordinary professional incentives. According to the charges, the doctor allegedly received cash payments from the laboratory along with tickets to concerts by Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.

The allegations were part of a much larger investigation into relationships between the blood testing company and medical professionals. Prosecutors ultimately reported that 38 people entered guilty pleas in connection with the alleged bribery scheme, making the case considerably broader than the single physician named in the charging documents.

The concert tickets are what make the story particularly unusual. Bribery cases involving cash aren't exactly difficult to imagine, but tickets to see major pop stars being allegedly used alongside cash payments by a medical testing company give the case an oddly specific detail. Behind that detail was a much larger federal investigation into alleged improper financial relationships between healthcare professionals and the laboratory.