San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus unfold and other people remoted in their properties, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his arms on a “miracle remedy,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley said the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the remedy becoming increasingly scarce. But Staley had a means of getting it, he later informed an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the assistance of a Chinese language provider, prosecutors mentioned.

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

“At the height of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were out there, this doctor sought to revenue from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a news release. “He abused his position of trust and undermined the integrity of all the medical occupation.”

Staley’s attorney did not immediately reply to requests for remark late Monday.

How false hope spread about hydroxychloroquine to treat 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 “game changer.” Trump’s endorsement induced demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and ultimately affecting those who wanted it for non-covid health problems. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an effective treatment for covid and did not stop individuals from becoming sick.

In accordance with prosecutors, federal brokers began trying into Staley after involved prospects alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class beauty improvements at reasonably priced prices,” court paperwork present, and supplied services together with Botox, fats switch, hair elimination and tattoo removing.

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

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of many emails and inquired concerning the treatment package, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb remedy” that may maintain somebody immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, in line with court information.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley said to the undercover agent, courtroom documents present. “It’s hard to imagine, it’s nearly too good to be true. However it’s a remarkable medical phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether or not the treatment was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley mentioned sure but certified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there are no guarantees in life,” court docket records show.

Through the name, Staley also informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He stated that he “obtained the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” records 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, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. 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 obtained tens of millions 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 stated. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal brokers in the course of the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed cure for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in concern during a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “In the present day, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a scam to make a quick buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 superb and to present again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He additionally had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medicine, a number of bags of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

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