San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

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

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

“At the top of the pandemic, before vaccines had been obtainable, this physician sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman stated in a information launch. “He abused his place of belief and undermined the integrity of the entire medical occupation.”

Staley’s legal professional did not immediately reply to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is often prescribed to folks 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 “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement prompted demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and finally affecting those who needed it for non-covid well being issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine isn't an efficient remedy for covid and didn't stop individuals from turning into sick.

In response to prosecutors, federal brokers started looking into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence improvements at inexpensive costs,” court documents show, and provided services together with Botox, fats transfer, hair removing and tattoo removal.

The covid treatment 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 medications, records show.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired concerning the remedy equipment, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing remedy” that would maintain someone immune from covid for no less than six weeks, according to court docket information.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the spy, courtroom paperwork present. “It’s onerous to imagine, it’s almost too good to be true. But it’s a remarkable clinical phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether the treatment was a “guaranteed” remedy for covid, Staley mentioned yes however qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there aren't any guarantees in life,” court docket data show.

Throughout the name, Staley also advised the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “acquired the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data show, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “sweet 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 versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, regardless of by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and five members of the family — for $4,000, in line with court documents.

A Florida man obtained tens of millions in coronavirus help. He used it to buy a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As part of his plea settlement, Staley additionally 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 brokers during the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to folks gripped in fear during a global pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a news release when Staley pleaded responsible. “Today, 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 advantageous and to offer back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He additionally had to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medication, a number of luggage of empty tablet capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

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