Ex-Tustin Gynecologist Pleads Not Guilty to Mail Fraud : Courts: Ivan C. Namihas faces federal charges that he billed patients for unnecessary tests and treatments. State medical officials revoked his license after more than 100 sexual abuse complaints by his patients.

In his first appearance before a federal magistrate in Orange County, former Tustin gynecologist Ivan C. Namihas pleaded not guilty Monday to mail fraud for allegedly billing his patients for unnecessary tests and treatments.

Flanked by his wife, Rebecca, and attorneys from California and Nevada, Namihas entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Elgin Edwards in an arraignment that lasted less than one minute. Edwards set a trial date of Oct. 11 before U.S. District Court Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler.

Namihas, 61, escaped state criminal charges because of expired statutes of limitations after more than 100 sexual abuse complaints by his patients.

Dozens of women complained to state medical authorities that Namihas had fondled, masturbated or otherwise sexually abused them. Many of the alleged instances of abuse dated back to the late 1960s and continued through 1992, they said.

State medical authorities revoked Namihas’ license in May, 1992.

Federal authorities sought mail fraud charges after the case was publicized last year on ABC’s “PrimeTime Live.” The federal charges, contained in a grand jury indictment in Los Angeles, allege 14 instances between August, 1989, and April, 1992, in which Namihas fraudulently billed patients and insurers for “unnecessary and improper examinations,” collecting nearly $16,000 in payments. There is no federal jurisdiction over crimes of sexual abuse.

Wearing a navy blue suit, Namihas completed a USA Today crossword puzzle in the hallway of the federal building as his wife, whom he married a little more than a year ago, took notes and shielded her husband from reporters. The couple live in Las Vegas.

After the hearing, Ivan and Rebecca Namihas walked quickly out of the federal building holding hands.

“As the indictment alleges, Ivan Namihas, as an Orange County physician, misled patients by giving them false diagnoses and unnecessary tests,” said Jonathan Shapiro, the assistant U.S. attorney who is prosecuting the case.

In some of the treatments, the indictment alleges, Namihas performed painful laser surgery on patients and billed for the procedures even when test results and biopsies came back negative.

Paul S. Meyer, Namihas’ attorney in Orange County, said little about the case.

“I agree with the U.S. attorney’s office that it would be inappropriate to comment about any facts of the case at this time,” he said. “We are looking forward to trial.”

Meyer said the trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

Namihas faces a maximum penalty of 70 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised probation if convicted on all counts.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Santa Ana assisted in the investigation.