San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus unfold and folks remoted of their properties, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his hands on a “miracle treatment,” in accordance with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seashore Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” regardless of the medication turning into more and more scarce. However Staley had a way of getting it, he later informed an undercover federal agent. He planned to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese supplier, prosecutors said.

Staley was sentenced last week to 30 days in prison and a 12 months of house confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty last 12 months.

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

Staley’s attorney didn't instantly respond to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly 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 in the early days of the pandemic, as a “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement caused demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and finally affecting those who wanted it for non-covid health issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an effective remedy for covid and did not stop folks from turning into sick.

In line with prosecutors, federal brokers began looking into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class beauty improvements at reasonably priced prices,” courtroom documents present, and provided providers together with Botox, fats transfer, hair removing and tattoo removing.

The covid therapy equipment got here with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medicines, information present.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of the emails and inquired about the therapy equipment, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone soon after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “amazing remedy” that might keep someone immune from covid for at least six weeks, in response to court data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the spy, courtroom documents show. “It’s exhausting to imagine, it’s virtually too good to be true. But it surely’s a exceptional scientific phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether the remedy was a “guaranteed” treatment for covid, Staley stated yes however qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there aren't any guarantees in life,” courtroom data show.

Through the call, Staley additionally instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “received the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data show, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “candy potato extract.” He added that the powder was sufficient to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later offered the agent prescriptions for generic variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, regardless of by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors stated. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and five members of the family — for $4,000, according to courtroom paperwork.

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

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As a part of his plea settlement, Staley also admitted to posing as certainly 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 throughout the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed remedy for COVID-19 to people gripped in worry during a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a news release when Staley pleaded responsible. “Right now, 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 nice and to provide back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s package. He also needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical medication, a number of luggage of empty tablet capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

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