Redondo Beach Neurologist Pleads to Overprescribing Painkillers in Los Angeles County Case

On December 1, 2016, a Redondo Beach neurologist Gerard Goryl plead guilty to selling narcotics to undercover police officers two years ago. Dr. Goryl pleaded no contest to 38 counts, including illegally prescribing a controlled substance and possession for sale of a controlled substance in Los Angeles County Case No. BA425289. 

The sentence is an example of the new felony sentencing after realignment.  Dr. Goryl is expected to receive four years in local custody (which means that he will avoid state prison and serve the time in county jail with usually 2 years in and 2 years out and get credit for half time) and three years in a lockdown mental health facility when he is sentenced on Jan. 4.

The sentence to lockdown mental health facility shows that there were other factors in this case affecting the neurologist and that he needs treatment. The case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Major Narcotics Division. The case was investigated by the Redondo Beach Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Undercover agents were key to the case.

Dr. Goryl's medical clinic in Redondo Beach was run with with his assistant Wilfred Arvizo Jr. who was charged as a co-defendant. This was an undercover operation where evidence was gathered as officers posed as patients. Over a two-month period in 2014, both men allegedly sold or prescribed hydrocodone and Xanax to undercover officers. The government alleged that the drugs were sold without any type of physical examination or medical need. Mr. Arvizo faces six similar counts and is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 19, 2017.  

Attorney Commentary on Bail Pending Trial for Physicians: One of the difficult issues in these type of cases is that as a condition of bail, the Medical Board requested that Dr. Goryl cease practicing medicine while the case was pending. Initially the judge only limited Dr. Goryl from prescribing controlled substances and surrendering DEA certificate. Some additional facts must have occurred since two months later the judge amended the order and prohibited the doctor from practicing at all while the case was pending trial. This essentially shuts down the doctor's practice for two years. 

Posted by Tracy Green, Esq.
Green and Associates, Attorneys at Law
Email: tgreen@greenassoc.com
Phone: 213-233-2260