Herbalist found not guilty in 'fake' healing case HAROLD L JAMISON New York Amsterdam
News (1962-1993); Oct 1, 1988; ProQuest Historical Newspapers New York Amsterdam News:
1922-1993 pg. 5
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited
without permission.
Herbalist found not guilty in
‘fake’ healing case
By HAROLD L. JAMISON In a historical decision in Brooklyn Supreme Court Monday, a
jury of six men and six women found Alfredo Bowman not guilty on two counts of
practicing medicine without a license.
Bowman, affectionately known as Dr.‘ Sebi, director of USHA Herbal Research In~ stitute, 616
Pacific St., Brooklyn, was arrested Feb. 10. 1987, by Attorney General Robert Abrams’ office
because ads placed in the Village Voice and the "Amsterdam News, claixned_ a cure for AIDS.
Simeon Greenaway, Sebi's attorney stated this was the first case of its kind in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
“What was significant about
the verdict,” Greenaway stated, “is the fatt that USHA's African Bio-Mineral Balance will now be
recognized through
out h wor1d.”
described the African Bio-Mineral Balance “as a
dietary program that is consis~ tent with the African genetic structu're.”
The dietary program consists of natural herbal compounds, fresh fruits, vegetables and Jmces.
According to Sebi's testimony, “the compounds change the environment of the body through
intra-cellular cleansing and replenish the cells bye causing cell proliferation, wherein new cells push out
the old cells."
This process enables the body
to heal itself.
Greenaway described USHA’s concept of natural healing as one “on a collision course with the medical
establishment."
Objections to the views being expressed by Sebi prompted the attorney general to wage a “fear
and smear" campaign to discredit the reputation of_and
the USHA Institute, according_
to Greenaway.
Abrams proceeded with the case on the “erroneous assumption" that the compounds being marketed
were medicinal. How
ever, no attempt was made to‘
ascertain the contents of the herbal compounds before or after the arrest.
During the trial Assistant General Barclay revealed that two undercover agents were sent to the institute
on two separate occasions in an attempt "to entrap I into making medical diagnoses." After being briefed
by a medical doctor as to the symptoms of a urinary infection and herpes, the under
cover agents Gail Malis and Michael Colon were wired with a small tape recorder. The tape recording,
submitted into evidence by Barclay, failed to convince the jury that jdid in fact make a medical diagnosis.
One agent's testimony, under cross examination by Greenaway; clearly stated that he did not receive the
response fromjthat would constitute a medical diagnosis.
institute were practicing medicine. However, this was dispelled by testimony of Marjorie
Thorne-Puckerin, a former USHA employee who testified that individuals were required to fill out the
questionnaires to enable the institute to monitor clients health conditions, diet. and collect data for
research
purposes.
Harry Dickson, Roger Marshall, Naimah Fuller, Zadia Ife
A questionfiaire used by] and Karen Selby, witnesses for
to ascertain the health of clients was submitted in evidence by the prosecution to su port its contentions
that iand the
the defense, unequivocally testified to their improved health as a result of USHA’s dietary
program.
