Vincent Gammill has been arrested.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Investigators said they are seeking additional people who may have been scammed by an El Cerrito, California man arrested last week for practicing medicine without a license at a fake cancer treatment office.
Vincent Gammill, 69, who is in Contra Costa County Jail, is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on August 31 in connection with his fake cancer-treatment clinic.
“I was very upset that there was somebody who’s preying on cancer victims who are desperate to live,” said one victim who wished to be identified as Fern, according to ABC affiliate KABC.
Fern, a married mother of two, has been battling breast cancer for seven years. Despite years of chemotherapy, but the cancer advanced, spreading to other organs.
She finally decided to try alternative, natural treatments, and traveled to see Gammill at his office in Richmond, Calif. The visit cost her $2,000, and after spending two days in his office, Fern told KABC she left realizing she had been conned.
After she paid him, Gammill gave her “multiple plastic … baggies with different powders, empty capsules, vials of liquids, commercially produced medications with expired shelf life dates (including medications labeled in Russian) and a baggie of dirt,” according to Fern’s official statement.
Per the San Jose Mercury News:
Gammill also gave her instructions on how to take the fake medicine. At one point, he brought out a large frying pan and commented that one of the compounds could burn a hole through the table before instructing the victim how to mix the compound over the frying pan. She followed his instructions and after the mixture was placed into a capsule, she ate it and began to feel her stomach burning. Gammill told her that was good and meant the ingredients were still active.
After Fern went to the authorities, the pharmaceutical crimes unit’s investigation found no record of Gammill’s medical training or license to practice medicine. Police arrested Gammill on July 9 at his Richmond office for practicing medicine without a license, dependent adult abuse, and furnishing dangerous drugs without a license.
Detectives located over 25,000 prescription pills including morphine, Ambien, steroids, and Mexican and Russian drugs at Gammill’s office and home.
The pharmaceutical crimes unit and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office said they are seeking additional victims who may have been harmed. Northern California residents may contact the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at 925-313-2600. Southern California residents may contact the PCU at 805-383-8700 or email at pharm.tip@ventura.org.