NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A doctor has admitted accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for sending patients for tests at two labs.

Federal prosecutors say 54-year-old Vincent Destasio pleaded guilty to conspiracy. The Toms River man now faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced Sept. 26.

Destasio, an osteopath with offices in Toms River, accepted kickbacks from two people who operated a marketing and sales company specializing in blood and DNA testing labs. Officials have said Destasio got about $25,000 through the scheme that ran from March 2014 through last May.

Prosecutors say Destasio got paid for referring patient lab work to two separate labs. The labs had no knowledge or involvement in the scheme.

The two people who bribed Destasio have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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