San Diego doctor Jennings Staley sentenced in hydroxychloroquine scheme

In March and April of 2020, as the coronavirus spread and other people isolated of their properties, a health care provider in San Diego boasted that he had his arms on a “miracle cure,” in keeping with prosecutors — hydroxychloroquine.

In mass-marketing emails from his enterprise, Skinny Seaside Med Spa, Jennings Ryan Staley stated the drug was included in his coronavirus “treatment kits,” regardless of the treatment becoming more and more scarce. But Staley had a method 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 provider, prosecutors mentioned.

Staley was sentenced last week to 30 days in jail and a yr of home confinement for the scheme. He pleaded guilty last yr.

“At the peak of the pandemic, before vaccines were available, this physician sought to profit from patients’ fears,” U.S. Lawyer Randy Grossman said in a information launch. “He abused his position of belief and undermined the integrity of your entire medical occupation.”

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

How false hope unfold about hydroxychloroquine to deal with 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, beginning within the early days of the pandemic, as a “sport changer.” Trump’s endorsement brought on demand for the drug to spike, resulting in shortages and ultimately affecting those that needed it for non-covid health issues. Studies later discovered that hydroxychloroquine just isn't an efficient treatment for covid and did not stop people from changing into sick.

In keeping with prosecutors, federal brokers started wanting into Staley after involved prospects alerted the FBI to the advertising emails from Skinny Seaside Med Spa. The enterprise advertised “world-class magnificence innovations at inexpensive costs,” courtroom paperwork show, and supplied companies including Botox, fats transfer, hair removing and tattoo elimination.

The covid remedy kit came with a 30-day “concierge medical expertise,” intravenous drips, access to medical hyperbaric oxygen (at an additional 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 about the therapy kit, investigators stated. When Staley and the agent spoke on the cellphone quickly after, the physician falsely claimed that hydroxychloroquine was a “magic bullet” and an “wonderful treatment” that would preserve someone immune from covid for at least six weeks, in response to court records.

“It’s preventive and healing,” Staley stated to the secret agent, court paperwork show. “It’s hard to consider, it’s almost too good to be true. Nevertheless it’s a remarkable medical phenomenon.”

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

When requested by the agent whether the remedy was a “guaranteed” cure for covid, Staley said yes however qualified that “there’s at all times exceptions” and “there are no ensures in life,” court data present.

Throughout the name, Staley also informed the agent how he was sourcing the hydroxychloroquine. He said that he “obtained the last tank of hydroxychloroquine smuggled out of China,” records present, 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 provided the agent prescriptions for generic variations 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 relations — for $4,000, in keeping with court docket paperwork.

A Florida man obtained 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 agreement, Staley also admitted to posing as one of 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 in the course of the investigation.

“Dr. Staley provided a ‘magic bullet’ — a guaranteed remedy for COVID-19 to folks gripped in concern throughout a global pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Cost Suzanne Turner said in a news release when Staley pleaded responsible. “At present, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as a part of a scam to make a quick buck.”

As part of his sentencing on Friday, Staley was ordered to pay a $10,000 positive and to provide again the $4,000 the federal agent paid for his household’s kit. He additionally needed to hand over “greater than 4,500 tablets of various pharmaceutical medication, multiple luggage of empty pill capsules, and a manual capsule-filling machine,” prosecutors mentioned.

In accordance with information from the medical board of California, Staley’s license has been briefly suspended by a courtroom order.