San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and people isolated in their homes, a health care provider in San Diego boasted that he had his palms on a “miracle cure,” in response to 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 treatment turning into more and more scarce. But Staley had a way of getting it, he later informed an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese provider, prosecutors stated.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in jail and a yr of residence confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible final year.

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

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

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

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to folks with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to deal with 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 triggered demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and finally affecting those that wanted it for non-covid health problems. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an efficient therapy for covid and did not prevent individuals from turning into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal brokers started wanting into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class beauty innovations at inexpensive costs,” court paperwork present, and provided companies including Botox, fat transfer, hair elimination and tattoo removing.

The covid remedy kit came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra charge), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, data show.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired in regards to the remedy equipment, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the phone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb remedy” that will hold someone immune from covid for no less than six weeks, in accordance with court docket information.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the spy, courtroom paperwork present. “It’s arduous to imagine, it’s almost too good to be true. But it surely’s a remarkable medical phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether or not the remedy was a “assured” treatment for covid, Staley mentioned yes but qualified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there aren't any guarantees in life,” court data show.

In the course of the call, Staley also instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “bought the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” records present, 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 supplied the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, despite never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors stated. The agent ordered six kits — sufficient for himself and 5 members of the family — for $4,000, in keeping with courtroom documents.

A Florida man received tens of millions 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 settlement, Staley also admitted to posing as certainly 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 agents through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley supplied a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a global pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner mentioned in a news launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “Immediately, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a rip-off to make a quick buck.”

As a part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 effective and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s equipment. He also had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical medicine, multiple luggage of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

In keeping with data from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been temporarily suspended by a court docket order.