San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus unfold and other people remoted in their properties, a health care provider in San Diego boasted that he had his palms on a “miracle cure,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the treatment becoming increasingly scarce. But Staley had a approach of getting it, he later advised an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese language provider, prosecutors stated.

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

“At the top of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines have been accessible, this doctor sought to profit from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman stated in a information release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of the entire medical career.”

Staley’s attorney didn't immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is often prescribed to individuals 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 “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought about demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and ultimately affecting those who wanted it for non-covid well being issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be an efficient treatment for covid and did not forestall people from becoming sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal brokers started looking into Staley after involved clients alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence improvements at inexpensive prices,” courtroom documents show, and provided companies including Botox, fat switch, hair elimination and tattoo elimination.

The covid remedy package 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 medicines, data show.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired about the remedy equipment, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the phone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “wonderful treatment” that will maintain somebody immune from covid for no less than six weeks, based on court docket records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the undercover agent, court docket paperwork show. “It’s onerous to consider, it’s almost too good to be true. But it’s a remarkable scientific phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether the medication was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley mentioned sure but qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there are not any ensures in life,” courtroom data present.

During the call, Staley additionally advised the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “obtained the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data 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 variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed 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 line with court documents.

A Florida man acquired millions in coronavirus support. He used it to buy a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded responsible in July 2021. As part of his plea settlement, Staley also admitted to posing as one in all his employees to fill a prescription for hydroxychloroquine to then use it in his kits, prosecutors mentioned. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal agents through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley supplied a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured remedy for COVID-19 to people gripped in fear throughout a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “At present, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a 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 provide back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s equipment. He also had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medicine, a number of baggage of empty capsule capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

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