San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” despite the medication changing into increasingly scarce. But Staley had a way of getting it, he later told an undercover federal agent. He planned to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese language provider, prosecutors mentioned.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in jail and a 12 months of dwelling confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible last 12 months.

“On the peak of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines had been obtainable, this physician sought to revenue from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman said in a news release. “He abused his position of belief and undermined the integrity of the entire medical profession.”

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

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

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to individuals 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 brought about demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and in the end affecting those who wanted it for non-covid health problems. Studies later found that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be an effective remedy for covid and didn't stop folks from changing into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal agents began trying into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise marketed “world-class beauty improvements at inexpensive costs,” court documents present, and supplied services including Botox, fats transfer, hair removal and tattoo removing.

The covid treatment package came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medicines, information present.

In late March 2020, an secret agent responded to one of many emails and inquired about the treatment kit, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing remedy” that might preserve somebody immune from covid for no less than six weeks, in response to court records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the secret agent, court documents show. “It’s laborious to imagine, it’s almost too good to be true. However it’s a exceptional clinical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the medicine was a “assured” remedy for covid, Staley stated sure but certified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there are not any ensures in life,” court docket records present.

In the course of the name, Staley additionally told the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He stated that he “got the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” information present, 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 versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and five family members — for $4,000, based on courtroom documents.

A Florida man received thousands and thousands in coronavirus help. 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 additionally admitted to posing as one in every of his employees 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 offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to folks gripped in concern during a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a news release when Staley pleaded responsible. “At present, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as part of a scam to make a quick buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 tremendous and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s kit. He additionally needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of various 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 docket order.