San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus spread and folks remoted of their homes, a physician 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 mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” despite the remedy changing into increasingly scarce. However Staley had a way 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 supplier, prosecutors said.

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

“At the top of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines had been obtainable, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Lawyer Randy Grossman stated in a news release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of your entire medical career.”

Staley’s lawyer did not instantly respond to requests for remark late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to individuals 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 caused demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those who needed it for non-covid well being issues. Studies later found that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be an efficient therapy for covid and didn't forestall individuals from turning into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal brokers began wanting into Staley after involved customers alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class magnificence improvements at affordable prices,” court paperwork present, and offered companies including Botox, fat switch, hair elimination and tattoo removal.

The covid remedy kit came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, information show.

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of many emails and inquired in regards to the treatment kit, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the phone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing remedy” that might maintain somebody immune from covid for at least six weeks, in response to court docket records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the spy, court documents present. “It’s hard to imagine, 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 an individual takes the drug.

When requested by the agent whether the remedy was a “assured” treatment for covid, Staley said yes however certified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there are not any ensures in life,” court information present.

Through the name, Staley also informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “received 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 enough to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later provided the agent prescriptions for generic variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 family members — for $4,000, in accordance with court paperwork.

A Florida man obtained hundreds of 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 part of his plea agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as considered 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 in the course of the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured treatment for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in concern throughout a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner stated in a news launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “As we speak, 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 fantastic and to give back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s equipment. He also needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of assorted pharmaceutical medicine, multiple bags of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

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