San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus unfold and people isolated in their houses, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his hands on a “miracle cure,” according to prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Seashore Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” regardless of the medicine becoming increasingly 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 yr of residence confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible final year.

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

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

How false hope unfold 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 “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement prompted demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those who wanted it for non-covid health issues. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine is just not an effective remedy for covid and did not stop individuals from changing into sick.

According to prosecutors, federal agents began trying into Staley after concerned customers alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class beauty innovations at inexpensive prices,” courtroom paperwork show, and provided services including Botox, fats switch, hair elimination and tattoo removing.

The covid treatment equipment got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, entry to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional payment), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medicines, data show.

In late March 2020, an secret agent responded to one of the emails and inquired about the therapy kit, investigators stated. 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 may maintain someone immune from covid for at the very least six weeks, in keeping with courtroom data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley mentioned to the spy, court paperwork present. “It’s hard to consider, it’s nearly too good to be true. But it’s a remarkable medical phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether the medication was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley said sure but qualified that “there’s all the time exceptions” and “there aren't any ensures in life,” court information present.

Through the call, Staley additionally instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He stated that he “got the final 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 sufficient to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later provided the agent prescriptions for generic versions 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, in line with courtroom paperwork.

A Florida man received 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 a part of his plea agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as considered one of his workers 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 offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured treatment for COVID-19 to folks gripped in worry during a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said in a news launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “Immediately, 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 advantageous and to present back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He also needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of varied pharmaceutical drugs, multiple luggage of empty pill 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.