San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and folks remoted of their houses, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his palms on a “miracle remedy,” according to prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley said the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” despite the remedy turning into more and more scarce. But Staley had a approach 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 12 months of house confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty final yr.

“On the peak of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were accessible, this physician sought to profit from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a news release. “He abused his place of belief and undermined the integrity of the complete medical career.”

Staley’s attorney didn't immediately reply to requests for remark late Monday.

How false hope unfold about hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19 — and the results that followed

Hydroxychloroquine is often 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 “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought about demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and finally affecting those who wanted it for non-covid well being problems. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an efficient therapy for covid and didn't stop folks from changing into sick.

According to prosecutors, federal brokers began trying into Staley after involved customers alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence improvements at affordable costs,” court documents show, and provided providers including Botox, fats switch, hair removing and tattoo elimination.

The covid remedy package got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medications, records show.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of the emails and inquired about the therapy package, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone soon after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb cure” that will preserve somebody immune from covid for at the least six weeks, in line with court data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the undercover agent, court docket documents show. “It’s laborious to consider, it’s virtually too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a remarkable medical 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 “assured” cure for covid, Staley stated yes however certified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there aren't any ensures in life,” court records show.

In the course of the call, Staley additionally instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “acquired the last 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 provided the agent prescriptions for generic variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, regardless of 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 keeping with court documents.

A Florida man obtained hundreds of thousands in coronavirus support. 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 additionally admitted to posing as one among 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 through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley supplied a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed cure for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said in a information release when Staley pleaded responsible. “At present, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a 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 provide again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He also had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical drugs, a number of baggage of empty pill capsules, and a handbook capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

According to information from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been quickly suspended by a court docket order.