San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus unfold and other people remoted of their homes, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his fingers on a “miracle treatment,” in keeping with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” despite the treatment changing into more and more scarce. But 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 supplier, prosecutors said.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in prison and a year of home confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible last year.

“On the top of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were out there, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Lawyer Randy Grossman mentioned in a news release. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of your complete medical occupation.”

Staley’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for remark late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to people with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to treat malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, beginning in the early days of the pandemic, as a “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought on demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those who wanted it for non-covid well being problems. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine is not an efficient therapy for covid and didn't forestall individuals from becoming sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal brokers began trying into Staley after concerned customers alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class magnificence innovations at inexpensive costs,” court docket paperwork show, and provided companies including Botox, fats switch, hair elimination and tattoo removal.

The covid therapy equipment got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional payment), 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 concerning the therapy kit, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “wonderful cure” that would preserve someone immune from covid for at least six weeks, in keeping with courtroom data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the secret agent, court docket documents show. “It’s laborious to consider, it’s nearly too good to be true. But it’s a exceptional medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the treatment was a “guaranteed” remedy for covid, Staley mentioned sure but qualified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there are no guarantees in life,” courtroom data present.

Through the name, Staley also instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “acquired the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data 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 variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 relations — for $4,000, according to court docket paperwork.

A Florida man obtained millions in coronavirus assist. He used it to buy a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As a part of his plea agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as considered one 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 brokers in the course of the investigation.

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured cure for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner stated in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “Right this moment, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as part of a rip-off to make a quick buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 effective and to offer again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He additionally had to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical medication, multiple luggage of empty capsule capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors stated.

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