San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his business, Skinny Beach Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley said the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” regardless of the treatment becoming more and more scarce. However 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 provider, prosecutors mentioned.

Staley was sentenced final week to 30 days in prison and a 12 months of house confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty final year.

“At the height of the pandemic, earlier than vaccines had been out there, this doctor sought to revenue from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a information release. “He abused his position of belief and undermined the integrity of the entire medical profession.”

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 adopted

Hydroxychloroquine is usually 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 triggered demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and finally affecting those that needed it for non-covid well being issues. Research later discovered that hydroxychloroquine isn't an effective remedy for covid and didn't stop individuals from turning into sick.

Based on prosecutors, federal agents started wanting into Staley after concerned customers alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seashore Med Spa. The enterprise advertised “world-class magnificence innovations at inexpensive prices,” court documents show, and offered companies including Botox, fat switch, hair removing and tattoo removing.

The covid treatment equipment came 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, records present.

In late March 2020, an undercover agent responded to one of the emails and inquired concerning the treatment kit, investigators mentioned. When Staley and the agent spoke on the telephone quickly after, the doctor falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “wonderful cure” that may keep someone immune from covid for at the very least six weeks, in keeping with courtroom records.

“It’s preventive and curative,” Staley mentioned to the undercover agent, court docket paperwork present. “It’s exhausting to consider, it’s almost too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a outstanding clinical phenomenon.”

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

When asked by the agent whether or not the medicine was a “guaranteed” remedy for covid, Staley stated yes but qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there are not any guarantees in life,” courtroom records show.

During the call, Staley also instructed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “obtained the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” data present, and that he “tricked customs” by labeling the barrel as “sweet 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 mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and 5 relations — for $4,000, based on court documents.

A Florida man received hundreds of thousands in coronavirus help. He used it to buy a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021. As part of his plea agreement, Staley additionally admitted to posing as considered 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 brokers through the investigation.

“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed treatment for COVID-19 to people gripped in fear during a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Particular Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner stated in a information launch when Staley pleaded guilty. “In the present day, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as 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 advantageous and to give back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He additionally needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of assorted pharmaceutical drugs, a number of baggage of empty tablet capsules, and a guide capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors said.

Based on data from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been temporarily suspended by a courtroom order.