San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “remedy kits,” despite the medication becoming 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 provider, prosecutors said.

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

“On the peak of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines had been available, this physician sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a information release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of your entire medical career.”

Staley’s lawyer didn't instantly reply to requests for remark late Monday.

How false hope spread about hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19 — and the implications that followed

Hydroxychloroquine is often 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 “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement induced demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and in the end affecting those who needed it for non-covid health problems. Studies later found that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be an effective treatment for covid and didn't stop people from turning into sick.

According to prosecutors, federal brokers began wanting into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class beauty innovations at reasonably priced prices,” courtroom paperwork present, and supplied services together with Botox, fats switch, hair elimination and tattoo removing.

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

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired about the treatment kit, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing treatment” that may hold somebody immune from covid for not less than six weeks, in accordance with court records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the undercover agent, courtroom documents present. “It’s onerous to consider, it’s almost too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a remarkable medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the remedy was a “assured” treatment for covid, Staley mentioned yes but certified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there are not any ensures in life,” courtroom information show.

Throughout the name, Staley additionally told the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “bought the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” records 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 offered 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 — enough for himself and 5 relations — for $4,000, based on court docket paperwork.

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 responsible in July 2021. As a 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 stated. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal brokers throughout the investigation.

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured cure for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said in a information release when Staley pleaded responsible. “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 nice and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He also needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical drugs, a number of luggage of empty pill capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

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