San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and people isolated of their homes, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his arms on a “miracle remedy,” in accordance with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Seashore Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” regardless of the remedy turning into more and more scarce. However Staley had a approach 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 provider, prosecutors stated.

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

“On the height of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines have been obtainable, this physician sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman said in a information release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of your complete medical profession.”

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 implications that followed

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to people with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to deal with malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, starting in the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement triggered demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and finally affecting those who wanted it for non-covid well being problems. Studies later discovered that hydroxychloroquine is just not an effective remedy for covid and didn't prevent people from becoming sick.

In response to prosecutors, federal agents started wanting into Staley after involved clients alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise marketed “world-class beauty innovations at reasonably priced prices,” court documents show, and supplied providers together with Botox, fats switch, hair removal and tattoo removal.

The covid remedy equipment got here with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra price), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medications, data present.

In late March 2020, an secret agent responded to one of many emails and inquired about the treatment package, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb treatment” that might hold somebody immune from covid for at the least six weeks, in line with court information.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley stated to the secret agent, court paperwork present. “It’s laborious to believe, it’s nearly too good to be true. But it surely’s a outstanding medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the treatment was a “assured” remedy for covid, Staley stated sure however certified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there aren't any ensures in life,” court docket information present.

Through the name, Staley also told the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “bought 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 enough 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, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and five family members — for $4,000, according to courtroom documents.

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

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As part of his plea agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as one of 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 during the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed cure for COVID-19 to folks gripped in fear during a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner stated in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “At the moment, 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 wonderful and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He also had to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical medication, a number of luggage of empty capsule capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

In response to data from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been quickly suspended by a courtroom order.