San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus unfold and people remoted in their houses, a health care provider in San Diego boasted that he had his palms on a “miracle cure,” in accordance with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” regardless of the remedy changing into more and more scarce. However Staley had a approach of getting it, he later advised 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 last week to 30 days in prison and a year of dwelling confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible final yr.

“On the top of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines have been obtainable, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman stated in a news release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of the whole medical occupation.”

Staley’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to folks with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to treat malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, starting within the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement prompted demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those that wanted it for non-covid well being problems. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine is not an effective therapy for covid and did not forestall folks from becoming sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal brokers started trying into Staley after involved customers alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class beauty improvements at reasonably priced costs,” court paperwork show, and provided providers including Botox, fat transfer, hair elimination 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 additional fee), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, records show.

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of many emails and inquired about the remedy package, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone soon after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing cure” that would hold someone immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, in accordance with court docket records.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley stated to the spy, court docket paperwork show. “It’s arduous to consider, it’s virtually too good to be true. However it’s a exceptional clinical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether the treatment was a “guaranteed” treatment for covid, Staley stated yes but certified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there aren't any ensures in life,” court data present.

In the course of the call, Staley also instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “bought 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 provided the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and five members of the family — for $4,000, in accordance with court documents.

A Florida man acquired hundreds of thousands in coronavirus support. 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 of his staff to fill a prescription for hydroxychloroquine to then use it in his kits, prosecutors mentioned. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal brokers through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in concern throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a news launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “At this time, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a rip-off to make a fast buck.”

As a 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 household’s kit. He additionally had to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of assorted pharmaceutical medication, a number of luggage of empty capsule capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

In accordance with records from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been quickly suspended by a court order.