Washington: An Indian-American doctor in Illinois near here was arrested on charges of receiving kickbacks for referring patients for medical treatment, prosecutors said.

Neil Sharma, faces a maximum potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to USD 25,000, and full restitution, they said yesterday.

According to federal charges, Sharma, 34, of Lemont, Illinois, a licensed Illinois physician and the medical director of an Illinois healthcare company, received a kickback of USD 2,500 in cash, from an individual in return for his referring Medicaid and Medicare patients to the individual's company for medical treatment.

In February 2015, Sharma offered an individual who owns Company B an additional 500 patients at an increased rate.

He also offered to refer to Company B Medicaid and Medicare patients in two new programs Company A planned to implement.

In exchange, Sharma wanted a cash payment immediately and additional cash payments every month after for an unidentified length of time.

He planned to conceal the payments received from the individual by being named the medical director for the individuals other health care companies not contracted with Company A, federal prosecutors said.