San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and people isolated in their properties, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his fingers on a “miracle treatment,” in response to prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seashore Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley said the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the remedy turning into more and more scarce. But Staley had a manner of getting it, he later informed an undercover federal agent. He planned to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the assistance of a Chinese language supplier, prosecutors said.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in prison and a 12 months of house confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty last 12 months.

“On the peak of the pandemic, before vaccines were obtainable, this physician sought to profit from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a information release. “He abused his position of trust and undermined the integrity of all the medical profession.”

Staley’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to individuals with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to deal with malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, starting within the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement precipitated demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those that needed it for non-covid well being problems. Studies later found that hydroxychloroquine isn't an effective remedy for covid and didn't forestall people from becoming sick.

In accordance with prosecutors, federal agents started wanting into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise marketed “world-class magnificence improvements at reasonably priced costs,” court docket paperwork show, and provided providers including Botox, fats switch, hair removal and tattoo elimination.

The covid therapy package got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional charge), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, data show.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of the emails and inquired concerning the remedy kit, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the phone quickly after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb treatment” that will maintain someone immune from covid for at the least six weeks, in response to court docket data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the undercover agent, court documents show. “It’s exhausting to consider, it’s nearly too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a outstanding medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the remedy was a “guaranteed” treatment for covid, Staley said sure however certified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there are no ensures in life,” court docket data present.

In the course of the call, Staley additionally informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “bought the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data present, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “candy potato extract.” He added that the powder was sufficient to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later provided the agent prescriptions for generic variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and 5 members of the family — for $4,000, according to court 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 a part of his plea agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as considered one of 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 agents throughout the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed remedy for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in fear during a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a information release when Staley pleaded guilty. “Right now, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a scam to make a fast buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 tremendous and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s kit. He additionally needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medicine, multiple bags of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

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