San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and other people isolated of their houses, a health care provider in San Diego boasted that he had his hands on a “miracle remedy,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “remedy kits,” despite the medication turning into increasingly scarce. But Staley had a manner of getting it, he later instructed 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 year of residence confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible final year.

“At the peak of the pandemic, before vaccines had been available, this doctor sought to revenue from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman stated in a news release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of the complete medical career.”

Staley’s legal professional didn't immediately reply to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to people with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to deal with malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, beginning in the early days of the pandemic, as a “game changer.” Trump’s endorsement precipitated demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and in the end affecting those that needed it for non-covid health problems. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an efficient remedy for covid and didn't stop people from changing into sick.

In accordance with prosecutors, federal agents began trying into Staley after involved customers alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence improvements at inexpensive costs,” courtroom paperwork present, and offered companies including Botox, fat transfer, hair elimination and tattoo elimination.

The covid treatment kit got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, entry to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional charge), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medications, information present.

In late March 2020, an secret agent responded to one of the emails and inquired about the therapy kit, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb treatment” that will maintain someone immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, in line with courtroom information.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the spy, court docket paperwork present. “It’s hard to imagine, it’s nearly too good to be true. But it’s a exceptional scientific phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether the medication was a “assured” remedy for covid, Staley mentioned yes however qualified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there are no guarantees in life,” courtroom information show.

Throughout the call, Staley also informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “got the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” information present, 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 supplied the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors stated. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 members of the family — for $4,000, in accordance with court paperwork.

A Florida man acquired thousands and thousands 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 additionally admitted to posing as one among his staff 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 offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed cure for COVID-19 to folks gripped in worry throughout a global pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a information launch when Staley pleaded responsible. “In the present day, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as part of a scam to make a fast buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 positive and to give back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s equipment. He additionally had to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of assorted pharmaceutical medication, a number of luggage of empty tablet capsules, and a handbook capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

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