The 69-year-old physician operator of an Encino medical clinic has been arrested for selling narcotics at his business while awaiting trial on another narcotics charge, officials said. Dr. Yahya Hedvat, was arrested on Wednesday after a California Medical Board undercover agent was sold hydrocodone at Encino Urgent Care, 18055 Ventura Blvd., according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Hedvat’s office assistant, Nikravan Hormuz, sold the narcotics to the agent in the parking lot of the clinic on Aug. 8. At the time of the incident, Hedvat was free on his own recognizance and facing a 10-count indictment charging him with unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance, including hydrocodone, suboxone and clonazepam, prosecutors said. Hedvat had already turned in his Drug Enforcement Administration license to prescribe narcotics and was expected to face trial in two weeks. He is now being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Hormuz, 70, was arrested Thursday on a warrant charging him with one felony count of selling a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty on Friday and was seeking to post bail. If convicted in both cases, Hedvat faces more than 14 years in prison. Hormuz faces up to five years in country jail. The clinic was closed on Friday but may reopen Monday, according to the clinic’s answering service.
