2 are indicted in cadaver scheme
The former head of UCLA’s 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.
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, of Anaheim and Nelson, 50, of Rancho Cucamonga 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 Friday.
Both men were released on their own recognizance pending a bail hearing scheduled for May 30.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
