San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, because the coronavirus spread and folks isolated of their homes, a doctor in San Diego boasted that he had his palms on a “miracle treatment,” in line with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” despite the treatment changing into more and more scarce. But Staley had a manner of getting it, he later instructed an undercover federal agent. He planned to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the help of a Chinese language 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 last yr.

“At the height of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines had been obtainable, this doctor sought to profit from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman stated in a news release. “He abused his position of trust and undermined the integrity of the complete medical occupation.”

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

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

Hydroxychloroquine is often 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 “game changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought on demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and finally affecting those who wanted it for non-covid well being problems. Research later found that hydroxychloroquine isn't an effective therapy for covid and did not prevent people from becoming sick.

In line with prosecutors, federal brokers started looking into Staley after concerned customers alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Beach Med Spa. The business advertised “world-class beauty innovations at inexpensive costs,” court paperwork present, and provided companies including Botox, fats transfer, hair removing and tattoo removal.

The covid remedy package came 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 medications, records show.

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of the emails and inquired in regards to the remedy kit, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “superb cure” that will preserve somebody immune from covid for at the very least six weeks, in response to court data.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the secret agent, court docket paperwork present. “It’s laborious to believe, it’s virtually too good to be true. But it’s a outstanding scientific phenomenon.”

He added that the virus “actually disappears in hours” after an individual takes the drug.

When asked by the agent whether the treatment was a “assured” cure for covid, Staley stated yes but qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there aren't any guarantees in life,” court docket information show.

In the course of the name, Staley additionally told the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “acquired the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data 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 variations of Viagra and Xanax, a federally managed substance, despite by no means asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors said. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 members of the family — for $4,000, according to courtroom paperwork.

A Florida man received tens of millions in coronavirus help. 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 settlement, Staley also admitted to posing as one in all his staff 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 through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured treatment for COVID-19 to folks gripped in concern during a world pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner stated in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “As we speak, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a scam to make a fast buck.”

As a part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 superb and to give again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s equipment. He additionally needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medication, multiple baggage of empty pill capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

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