San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus unfold and folks isolated of their homes, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his hands on a “miracle cure,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

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

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in jail and a yr of home confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty final yr.

“At the top of the pandemic, before vaccines had been obtainable, this physician sought to profit from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman stated in a information release. “He abused his position of belief and undermined the integrity of the entire medical occupation.”

Staley’s legal professional did not immediately reply to requests for comment 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, beginning in the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement prompted demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and finally affecting those that wanted it for non-covid well being issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an effective therapy for covid and did not forestall people from changing into sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal agents began wanting into Staley after concerned clients alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class beauty improvements at affordable prices,” court documents present, and supplied companies including Botox, fats transfer, hair removal and tattoo elimination.

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

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of the emails and inquired concerning the therapy package, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb cure” that would hold someone immune from covid for at least six weeks, in keeping with court information.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley stated to the undercover agent, court docket documents present. “It’s exhausting to believe, it’s almost too good to be true. But it surely’s a remarkable scientific 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 remedy was a “guaranteed” treatment for covid, Staley mentioned sure but certified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there are no ensures in life,” court information present.

Through the call, Staley additionally informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “got the final 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 sufficient to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later offered the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, regardless of 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 accordance with court documents.

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

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

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured treatment for COVID-19 to people gripped in concern during a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “At present, 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 high-quality and to give back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s equipment. He additionally needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical medicine, multiple luggage of empty tablet capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

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