San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and people remoted in their homes, a physician in San Diego boasted that he had his hands on a “miracle treatment,” in response to prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “therapy kits,” regardless of the medication becoming more and more scarce. But Staley had a way of getting it, he later instructed an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese language supplier, prosecutors mentioned.

Staley was sentenced last week to 30 days in prison and a 12 months of dwelling confinement for the scheme. He pleaded responsible final yr.

“At the peak of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines were out there, this physician sought to revenue from patients’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a information launch. “He abused his position of trust and undermined the integrity of all the medical occupation.”

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

How false hope unfold about hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19 — and the consequences 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, beginning in the early days of the pandemic, as a “game changer.” Trump’s endorsement induced demand for the drug to spike, leading to shortages and finally affecting those that needed it for non-covid well being issues. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an efficient treatment for covid and did not prevent people from turning into sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal brokers began looking into Staley after concerned prospects alerted the FBI to the marketing emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business marketed “world-class magnificence improvements at inexpensive prices,” court docket documents show, and supplied companies together with Botox, fat switch, hair elimination and tattoo removing.

The covid remedy kit got here with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra price), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety medications, information present.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired about the remedy equipment, investigators said. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “wonderful treatment” that might preserve someone immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, in keeping with court records.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley mentioned to the undercover agent, courtroom paperwork show. “It’s arduous to believe, it’s virtually too good to be true. But it surely’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 or not the medication was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley stated sure but certified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there are not any guarantees in life,” court data present.

Throughout the name, Staley additionally informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “acquired 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 enough to make 8,000 doses in gelatin capsules.

Staley later offered the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, regardless of never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and five members of the family — for $4,000, in accordance with courtroom paperwork.

A Florida man obtained tens of millions in coronavirus aid. 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 agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as one in every of his employees 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 brokers during the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed cure for COVID-19 to folks gripped in worry throughout a world pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a information launch when Staley pleaded responsible. “At the moment, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as 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 nice and to provide back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s package. He additionally had to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medication, multiple luggage of empty capsule capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

In accordance with records from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been quickly suspended by a court docket order.