San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus unfold and other people isolated of their houses, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his fingers on a “miracle cure,” according to prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the medication becoming more and more scarce. However Staley had a method of getting it, he later informed an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the assistance of a Chinese language provider, prosecutors said.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in prison and a yr of home confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty final yr.

“On the top of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were available, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Lawyer Randy Grossman said in a news release. “He abused his position of belief and undermined the integrity of the complete medical occupation.”

Staley’s attorney didn't immediately respond to requests for remark late Monday.

How false hope spread about hydroxychloroquine to deal with covid-19 — and the implications that adopted

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to individuals with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to deal with malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, beginning within the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement induced demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and ultimately affecting those who wanted it for non-covid health problems. Studies later discovered that hydroxychloroquine will not be an effective remedy for covid and did not stop people from turning into sick.

In line with prosecutors, federal brokers began wanting into Staley after concerned clients alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise advertised “world-class magnificence innovations at inexpensive prices,” court documents present, and provided providers including Botox, fat switch, hair removing and tattoo elimination.

The covid remedy package came with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional fee), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medicines, records present.

In late March 2020, an secret agent responded to one of many emails and inquired about the therapy equipment, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb cure” that might keep someone immune from covid for at the least six weeks, in line with courtroom data.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley mentioned to the spy, court paperwork present. “It’s onerous to believe, it’s virtually too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a exceptional scientific phenomenon.”

He added that the virus “actually disappears in hours” after a person takes the drug.

When requested by the agent whether the medicine was a “assured” treatment for covid, Staley said yes however qualified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there are no guarantees in life,” courtroom information present.

Throughout the call, Staley also informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “obtained the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” records present, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “candy potato extract.” He added that the powder was enough to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later offered the agent prescriptions for generic variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and 5 family members — for $4,000, based on court docket paperwork.

A Florida man acquired hundreds of thousands in coronavirus support. He used it to buy a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As a part of his plea settlement, Staley additionally admitted to posing as one in every of his workers to fill a prescription for hydroxychloroquine to then use it in his kits, prosecutors stated. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal agents during the investigation.

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed remedy for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner mentioned in a news launch when Staley pleaded responsible. “As we speak, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a scam to make a quick buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 effective and to offer back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He additionally needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medicine, a number of luggage of empty tablet capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

Based on records from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been briefly suspended by a court order.