A former research technologist for Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges that he lied regarding flawed genetic tests he performed for 124 cancer patients.

Floyd Benko, 62, of Palmyra, entered his plea to a false statements in health care matters charge before U.S. Middle District Judge Yvette Kane.

U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler said the charge relates to gene mutation testing Benko performed in 2013 and 2014. The tests are designed to help doctors tailor cancer treatments for patients.

Benko failed to perform mandatory and important steps in the tests as required by Hershey's procedures, Brandler said. Retesting of the patients by outside laboratories showed Benko's testing was flawed in 60 of the cases, the prosecutor said.

He said Benko admitted to lying to Hershey administrators regarding how he had performed the testing. His errors cost the medical center nearly $70,000 for retesting, Brandler said, adding that a plea agreement requires Benko to make full restitution.

That agreement also cites a stipulation between the prosecution and defense that the advisory guidelines for Benko's case call for a prison term of up to 1 1/2 years. Kane hasn't set a sentencing date.

Benko's arrest resulted from a probe by the FBI. The testing flaws became to light when a doctor at the medical center became suspicious about Benko's testing, which didn't mesh with a patient's clinical profile.

Benko's guilty plea came five months after Kane refused to dismiss the criminal case. The judge rejected Benko's claim that his actions didn't constitute a crime since he didn't benefit financially.