Second round of charges for fake THC Doctors

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by Amy Nilson , March 5, 2015

SANTA CLARA COUNTY – 28-year-old Mykhailo Malenkov (or Michael Malenkov) is expected to appear on yet another round of charges stemming from an arrest that occurred back on January 08, 2013. Malenkov was arrested with three others – 67-year-old Bennie Leonard Brown, who was acting as the resident physician, 25-year-old Gayane Baran, is charged with aiding and abetting the unlawful practice of medicine, and 29-year-old Olexandr Filippov for charges under BP 2052(a) for operating a medical marijuana clinic without having, at the time of doing so, a valid, un-revoked, or un-suspended certificate to lawfully practice medicine. Also, 64-year-old Keith Corneliuson was named in a search warrant identifying him as operating as a THC Medical Clinic or THC Doctor, under the title Legal Aid Locally Licensed Carrier, or LLC.

A warrant for $400,000 for each suspect was issued out of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Each suspect was issued a $400,000 cash bond , and they are currently out of custody awaiting trial on the charges after entering not guilty pleas.

The Los Angeles clinic was located at the end of this short road.

A Jan 26, 2015 Court appearance in Dept 30 sparked a new debate on new charges that allege the Malenkov and Brown continued to illegally operate marijuana clinics in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose and Fairfield, California. New charges have been brought against Malenkov for restarting his illegal business, this time trying to hide his windfall of clients and cash from the U.S. government by sending payments to Ukraine, in order to avoid having the government freeze his assets. But the District Attorney wasn’t having it. Malenkov is again being charged with BP 2052(a), in Sacramento and San Jose. With new suspects added to the list, Malenkov and Brown are expected to face additional charges in Los Angeles and Oakland.

Several people came to support Brown, who is also facing new charges for continuing to operate an illegal marijuana clinic in San Jose. “I believe they are unfairly charged” one marijuana card carrying member said. “I believe they were only trying to help patients, and the allegation that they are a part of the mafia as reported by the CBS news station is untrue.”

The San Jose clinic was in this 1st Street storefront.

Charges detail how the suspects opened clinics at 2500 Perdido Lane in Los Angeles, 128 Cannes Court in Fairfield, 4343 Terrabella Place in Oakland, and 36 South First Street in San Jose. Several were operating out of residential homes. Prosecutors believe the group acted illegally to collect cash from ailing patients without having a legitimate certificate to practice medicine in the State of California, according to the State Medical Board.

The case was brought to the District Attorney’s attention after the Medical Board of the State of California’s investigator Ralph Hughes determined that Malenkov was illegally practicing medicine, in the form of supporting the four medical marijuana clinics, and by hiring several employees to operate as THC Doctors at those clinics.

During his interview with CBS, Hughes stated, “It’s organized crime.” Hughes said, “There’s evidence a group of ‘non-doctors’ running it instead, and that’s a felony.”

The next court date in the, San Jose Hall of Justice, has been scheduled on March 16, 2015 in Department 30 at 9:00 AM.

Read and view more: CBS San Francisco