Former Doctor, 73, Gets 8-Year Prison Term

A former Brentwood physician was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison for running a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise that the judge described as a “department store of fraud.”

Parviz Kahn Berjis pleaded guilty last month to fraud and tax evasion charges for filing phony auto accident and workers’ compensation claims against 11 insurance companies, including the Automobile Club of Southern California. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler also ordered Berjis to pay $5 million in restitution.

Family and friends pleaded for mercy for the 73-year-old wheelchair-bound defendant, saying he had suffered enough in losing his good name, his home and medical practice.

Defense attorney Arthur Greenspan said Berjis has dementia and that his health problems would place an economic burden on the state prison system.

And he said the doctor had helped thousands of patients, treating many for free.

But Fidler sided with Deputy Dist. Atty. Albert H. MacKenzie, who argued that there was a Jekyll-and-Hyde quality to Berjis. MacKenzie said the former doctor bilked the system despite his education, good standing and wealth.

Fidler called Berjis’ scheme “a full-service fraud ring.”