A Fair Lawn, N.J., dentist has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of nearly $100,000 by billing for procedures that were never performed over a period of more than two years.

Joshua Prensky, 33, a licensed dentist with New Jersey Mobile Dentist of Colts Neck, N.J., pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, according to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza Dagli.

Prensky admitted that between Jan. 1, 2007, and March 6, 2009, he and others completed consult forms and submitted bills to the Medicaid program falsely claiming that various dental procedures and services were provided when they were not, according to Dagli.

An investigation determined that as a result of the fraudulent billing, Medicaid allegedly paid New Jersey Mobile Dentist nearly $100,000 to which it was not entitled. The dental provider contracts with individual dentists to provide mobile services in various nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state.

As part of his plea, Prensky agreed to pay restitution and a civil penalty totaling $84,340 to the State of New Jersey. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing Nov. 20 and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

The Division of Criminal Justice will also notify the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs regarding Prensky’s conviction, which could result in legal action against his professional license.

“Abuse of the Medicaid program and insurance fraud by persons who hold professional licenses are particularly disturbing crimes,” said Dagli in a statement. “Not only do such Medicaid fraud schemes involve theft of tax dollars, they also represent a theft from a program designed to assist persons who cannot afford health insurance or health care services.”