A former physician who operated a clinic in Hollywood pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to federal narcotics charges for illegally dispensing prescriptions for controlled substances – including opioid-based medications – during telemedicine sessions with patients from across the United States.

Raphael Tomas Malikian, 39, who resides in Llano and Palmdale, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud and one count of distribution of oxycodone. Malikian owned and operated Happy Family Medicine, a medical clinic that was advertised as being in a co-working space at 7083 Hollywood Blvd. but primarily offered telehealth services via telephone or text messages.

From December 2019 to August 2021, Malikian issued prescriptions for controlled substances to customers without first obtaining their full medical history, conducting a physical examination, requiring medical testing or utilizing diagnostic tools, authorities said. Malikian faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.