San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus unfold and other people isolated in their homes, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his arms on a “miracle remedy,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “remedy kits,” despite the medication becoming more and more scarce. But Staley had a manner 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 provider, prosecutors stated.

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

“At the height of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were obtainable, this doctor sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a information launch. “He abused his place of trust and undermined the integrity of the whole medical profession.”

Staley’s attorney did not immediately reply to requests for remark late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed to individuals with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and is used to treat malaria. The drug was repeatedly touted by President Donald Trump, starting within the early days of the pandemic, as a “game changer.” Trump’s endorsement triggered demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and in the end affecting those that wanted it for non-covid well being issues. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine is just not an effective treatment for covid and didn't forestall individuals from turning into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal agents started wanting into Staley after involved customers alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class beauty innovations at affordable prices,” courtroom paperwork present, and supplied companies together with Botox, fats switch, hair removing and tattoo elimination.

The covid treatment kit came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional price), 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 concerning the treatment kit, 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 “superb remedy” that would hold someone immune from covid for at the least six weeks, in line with courtroom data.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley mentioned to the secret agent, court docket documents show. “It’s laborious to believe, it’s nearly too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a outstanding medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether the remedy was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley said sure however qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there aren't any guarantees in life,” courtroom data present.

Throughout the call, Staley additionally told the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “received the last 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 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 never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and five relations — for $4,000, in accordance with courtroom paperwork.

A Florida man obtained tens of millions in coronavirus assist. 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 also admitted to posing as considered one of his workers to fill a prescription for hydroxychloroquine to then use it in his kits, prosecutors stated. And he agreed to accusations that he lied to federal agents through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to people gripped in concern throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner mentioned in a information release when Staley pleaded responsible. “Today, 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 fantastic and to offer again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s package. He also needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medicine, a number of 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 briefly suspended by a court docket order.