Cardiologist Shashi Agarwal was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail for his role in a healthcare kickbacks scheme. The judge found Agarwal guilty of raking in more than $101,750 through an illegal deal with an Orange, N.J., MRI diagnostic facility to refer patients in exchange for cash.

Court documents said the diagnostic facility paid Agarwal $100 for each Medicare or Medicaid patient he referred for an MRI or CAT scan. During the sentencing, Agarwal agreed to hand over the thousands in bribe money.

The Garden State’s U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that a police investigation into the scheme led to arrest and criminal prosecution of 15 people, 12 of which have already pleaded guilty.

At least 4 other New Jersey doctors have been sentenced to shorter stints in prison and subsequent home confinement for their involvement. Daisy Deguzman will spend 6 months in jail and 6 months under house arrest. Dov Rand, Lucio Cardoso and Rameshcha Kania were sentenced to 5, 4 and 3 months in jail and home confinement, respectively.

For more MassDevice.com coverage of medical device kickback scandals, click here.