Guilty plea from seller of body parts

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- A New Jersey dentist has pleaded guilty to heading a multimillion-dollar operation that sold body parts plundered from funeral homes in New York.

Among the victims of Michael Mastromarino's illegal enterprise was the late British journalist and host of "Masterpiece Theater" Alistair Cooke, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Mastromarino, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York to corruption, body stealing and reckless endangerment for selling bone fragments and bits of flesh to tissue processors across the country.

He will face less time in prison for admitting he was the ringleader of the operation than if he had been tried and convicted on all counts, the newspaper said.

During his appearance in court Mastromarino also admitted to forging consent forms and medical records so the buyers would accept his samples.

He acknowledged selling several tissue samples that were cancerous or infected with the virus that causes AIDS and hepatitis.

Mastromarino faces up to 54 years in prison when he returns for sentencing in May.