Encino Doctor Faces More Charges of Selling Narcotics

An Encino doctor awaiting trial for allegedly prescribing and selling narcotics without a legitimate reason pleaded not guilty Monday to selling hydrocodone to undercover agents.

Yahya Hedvat, who runs a clinic called “Urgent Care,” was arrested Wednesday and jailed on $1 million bail on one count of sale of a controlled substance.

The doctor had been scheduled to go on trial this month on a 10-count indictment accusing him of unlawfully prescribing the drugs hydrocodone, clonazepam and suboxone. Hedvat was free on his own recognizance while awaiting trial and had surrendered his federal license to prescribe controlled substances, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

On Aug. 8, an undercover investigator with the California Medical Board went to Hedvat’s clinic and allegedly negotiated the purchase of narcotics, including Norco and Ativan. Undercover agents allegedly bought the drugs in the clinic’s parking lot from Hedvat’s office assistant, Nikravan Hormuz, 70.

Hormuz pleaded not guilty Friday to the sale of a controlled substance and posted bail early Saturday. He faces up to five years in jail if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Hedvat remains jailed and faces up to 14 years and eight months in jail if convicted of all counts against him in both cases.

Both men are due back in court on Aug. 29, when a date is expected to be set for a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for them to stand trial.

— City News Service