San Diego physician Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

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

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seashore Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley mentioned the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” despite the treatment becoming increasingly scarce. However Staley had a approach of getting it, he later instructed an undercover federal agent. He deliberate to smuggle in a barrel of hydroxychloroquine powder with the assistance of a Chinese language supplier, prosecutors stated.

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

“At the top of the pandemic, before vaccines have been out there, this doctor sought to revenue from sufferers’ fears,” U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in a news launch. “He abused his place of belief and undermined the integrity of the entire medical occupation.”

Staley’s attorney didn't immediately reply to requests for comment late Monday.

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

Hydroxychloroquine is usually prescribed to folks 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 “recreation changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought about demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and in the end affecting those that wanted it for non-covid well being issues. Studies later found that hydroxychloroquine isn't an effective treatment for covid and didn't prevent folks from changing into sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal agents started trying into Staley after involved clients alerted the FBI to the advertising and marketing emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The enterprise advertised “world-class magnificence innovations at inexpensive prices,” court paperwork present, and offered services together with Botox, fats transfer, hair elimination and tattoo elimination.

The covid therapy equipment came with a 30-day “concierge medical experience,” intravenous drips, entry to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an extra price), and prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and anti-anxiety drugs, data present.

In late March 2020, an spy responded to one of many emails and inquired concerning the remedy equipment, 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 “amazing remedy” that might hold someone immune from covid for a minimum of six weeks, in keeping with court information.

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

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

When requested by the agent whether or not the medication was a “assured” cure for covid, Staley stated sure but qualified that “there’s always exceptions” and “there aren't any ensures in life,” court records present.

In the course of the name, Staley additionally advised the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He mentioned that he “obtained the final tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” information show, 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 offered the agent prescriptions for generic versions of Viagra and Xanax, a federally controlled substance, despite never asking him “any medical questions,” prosecutors mentioned. The agent ordered six kits — enough for himself and five family members — for $4,000, based on courtroom paperwork.

A Florida man acquired hundreds of thousands in coronavirus assist. He used it to purchase a Lamborghini, prosecutors say.

Staley was charged in mid-April 2020 and pleaded responsible in July 2021. As part of his plea settlement, Staley additionally admitted to posing as one among his workers 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 provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a assured remedy for COVID-19 to individuals gripped in worry throughout a worldwide pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner stated in a information release when Staley pleaded guilty. “In the present day, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a 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 give back the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his family’s equipment. He also needed to hand over “more than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical drugs, multiple baggage of empty capsule capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

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