Superseding Indictment Returned in UCLA Body Parts Case

Superseding Indictment
Returned in UCLA Body Parts Case

May 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
(213) 974-3525

LOS ANGELES – The former director of UCLA’s Willed Body Program and an associate were indicted today in connection with a body-parts-for-profit scheme that they allegedly operated for several years.

The indictment returned this morning and unsealed this afternoon after the defendants pleaded not guilty, mirrors charges originally filed against the pair on March 7, 2007. Deputy District Attorney Marisa Zarate of the Major Fraud Division said the case was taken to the Los Angeles County Grand Jury after numerous postponements of the men’s preliminary hearing.

The superseding indictment (BA331871) eliminates the need for a preliminary hearing and moves the case toward trial.

Henry Reid, 58, of Anaheim, the former director, and Ernest Nelson, 50, of Rancho Cucamonga, each are free on bail. Reid’s bond is $500,000 and Nelson’s $350,000. Since the indictment calls for bond of $1 million each, bail will be the first matter taken up when the defendants return to Los Angeles Superior Court Department 103 on May 30 for a pretrial hearing.

Reid and Nelson are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft and one count each of grand theft and grand theft of personal property. The indictment alleged the theft was more than $1 million.

Nelson additionally was charged with four counts of filing false California tax returns between 1999 and 2003. At the time of the alleged crimes, Nelson owned and operated Empire Anatomical Co., which sold cadavers and human body parts to private companies for medical research.

The men are accused of using bodies donated to the UCLA program for research for their personal financial gain between May 7, 1999, and Feb. 26, 2004. Reid allegedly sold human body parts to Nelson and deposited the funds to his personal bank account. Nelson, in turn, allegedly sold human cadavers and body parts from the UCLA program to more than 20 private firms for more than $1 million.

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