San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “remedy kits,” regardless of the medicine turning into increasingly scarce. However Staley had a method of getting it, he later advised an undercover federal agent. He planned to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the assistance of a Chinese provider, prosecutors mentioned.

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

“On the height of the pandemic, before vaccines were out there, this physician sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a news launch. “He abused his position of trust and undermined the integrity of the complete medical career.”

Staley’s legal professional did not instantly respond to requests for comment late Monday.

How false hope unfold about hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19 — and the results that adopted

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to folks with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to treat malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, starting in the early days of the pandemic, as a “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement prompted demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and finally affecting those that wanted it for non-covid well being issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be an efficient therapy for covid and did not stop people from changing into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal brokers began looking into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise marketed “world-class beauty innovations at affordable costs,” court documents present, and provided companies including Botox, fats transfer, hair removing and tattoo elimination.

The covid remedy package came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, information show.

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of the emails and inquired concerning the remedy package, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone soon after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing cure” that would preserve someone immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, according to court docket records.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley said to the undercover agent, court docket paperwork show. “It’s onerous to believe, it’s virtually too good to be true. However it’s a outstanding medical phenomenon.”

He added that the virus “literally disappears in hours” after an individual takes the drug.

When requested by the agent whether or not the medication was a “assured” cure for covid, Staley mentioned yes however certified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there are no ensures in life,” court docket information show.

During the call, Staley also advised the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He stated that he “got 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 versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 members of the family — for $4,000, in keeping with court docket documents.

A Florida man acquired tens of millions in coronavirus assist. He used it to purchase a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

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

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed remedy for COVID-19 to people gripped in worry throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner stated in a information launch when Staley pleaded responsible. “At this time, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as part of a scam to make a quick buck.”

As a part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and to provide back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He additionally needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical drugs, a number of baggage of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

In response to information from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been briefly suspended by a court order.