A formerly licensed Beverly Hills-based marriage and family therapist pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge of distributing child sexual abuse material.
Ron Gad, 49, of the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles admitted circulating illegal material involving a pre-teen via the internet and across state lines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
At sentencing on May 12, Gad will face at least five years in federal prison, prosecutors said.
In the fall of 2022, investigators learned that Gad, who had a Beverly Hills office for his practice, had engaged in sexually explicit online chats with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer, according to court papers.
In October 2022, Gad drove more than 180 miles from Beverly Hills to San Luis Obispo to a public park, an arranged meeting site where he believed he was to meet the “girl.” Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, arrested Gad and seized several digital devices, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint.
A search of Gad’s digital devices led to evidence of Gad’s distribution of child pornography, as well as communications with suspected minors and Internet searches related to sex with minors, the affidavit states.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office previously charged Gad in state court. That case was dismissed so Gad could be charged in federal court.
Gad’s marriage and family therapist license expired last year.