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UCLA Body Parts Peddler Found Guilty

Businessman carved up donated cadavers to sell parts for profit

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 15, 2009 4:39 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A businessman who carved up bodies donated to UCLA's medical school and sold them off to research companies has been found guilty of grand theft, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ernest Nelson raked in over $1.5 million from the scheme, which he conspired to carry out with the director of the university's willed-body program, said prosecutors. He now faces up to ten years in prison.

"This was a man for whom money was more important than the safety of doctors and other medical technicians," a prosecutor said. "He was willing to go into a willed-body program and cut up body parts for his own personal financial gain."

Defendant Ernest Nelson looks behind him while awaiting a verdict in his trial yesterday. Nelson was found guilty on eight counts.
Defendant Ernest Nelson looks behind him while awaiting a verdict in his trial yesterday. Nelson was found guilty on eight counts.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Ernest Nelson has been found guilty of grand theft and tax evasion.
Ernest Nelson has been found guilty of grand theft and tax evasion.   (AP Photo/UCLA Police Department, File)
Henry Reid director of the UCLA willed body program, pleaded guilty last year to his role in selling off parts of bodies donated to the university.
Henry Reid director of the UCLA willed body program, pleaded guilty last year to his role in selling off parts of bodies donated to the university.   (AP Photo/UCLA Police Department, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
kokuaguy
May 15, 2009 10:13 AM CDT
Opportunity knocked.
Robert_Dada
May 15, 2009 5:13 AM CDT
No it was the previous administration that had no respect for humans. A systematic program or torture and lying to start a war that has killed thousands should have taught you that by now.

Juror says UCLA's lax supervision partly to blame
San Francisco Chronicle

 
conviction • UCLA • grand theft • bodies • body parts • cadaver • Ernest Nelson

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