San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the medication changing into increasingly scarce. However Staley had a manner 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 provider, prosecutors said.

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

“On the top of the pandemic, before vaccines had been out there, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman said in a information launch. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of the whole medical career.”

Staley’s lawyer didn't immediately respond to requests for remark late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is often prescribed to folks 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 prompted demand for the drug to spike, resulting in 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 stop people from changing into sick.

In line with prosecutors, federal brokers began wanting into Staley after concerned customers alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence improvements at reasonably priced prices,” court docket paperwork show, and provided providers together with Botox, fat switch, hair removal and tattoo removing.

The covid remedy kit got here with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, entry to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra price), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, data present.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired in regards to the treatment kit, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb treatment” that will maintain someone immune from covid for not less than six weeks, according to court docket records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the undercover agent, court docket documents present. “It’s exhausting to imagine, it’s nearly too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a outstanding medical phenomenon.”

He added that the virus “actually disappears in hours” after a person takes the drug.

When asked by the agent whether or not the medication was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley stated yes however certified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there are no ensures in life,” court data show.

Throughout the call, Staley additionally advised the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “bought the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” information show, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “candy potato extract.” He added that the powder was enough 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 never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 family members — for $4,000, in keeping with court docket paperwork.

A Florida man acquired thousands and thousands in coronavirus aid. 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 certainly 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 during the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured remedy for COVID-19 to people gripped in fear throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “Right this moment, 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 wonderful and to offer back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s package. He additionally had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of assorted pharmaceutical drugs, multiple luggage of empty capsule capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

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