The former head of the University of California, Los Angeles' cadaver program and a businessman were indicted Friday on eight felony counts involving black market sales of donated human body parts in a scheme that allegedly cheated the university out of more than $1 million (650,000).
Henry Reid, the former director of UCLA's willed body program, allegedly sold body parts to businessman Ernest Nelson, who then resold them to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital research companies.
"As a result, Ernest Nelson was able to supply over 20 of his clients with hundreds of body parts and received over $1 million for the supplied body parts," according to the indictment.
Reid, 58, and Nelson, 50, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court to single counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft and grand theft of personal property.
The charges were similar to those brought more than a year ago, but the indictments allowed prosecutors to avoid a preliminary hearing scheduled Friday.
Both men were released on their own recognizance pending a May 30 bail hearing. Defense attorneys said they expected to prevail at trial.
The illegal sales ran from 1999 until 2004 with Reid using his position to cover up the scheme, authorities said.
During that time, Nelson, who owned the Empire Anatomical Company, wrote several checks to Reid ranging from $5,000 (3,226) to $9,000 (5,807) for body parts. Reid deposited them into his personal bank account.
Nelson also pleaded not guilty to four counts of filing false income tax returns and one count of failing to file an income tax return.
