A Missouri state consultant was charged in a 20-count indictment that alleged she fraudulently administered therapies, together with for Covid-19, that falsely claimed to have stem cells.
Patricia Ashton Derges, 63, allegedly gave so-called “regenerative” therapies to shoppers who got here to the Ozark Valley Medical Clinic searching for remedy for numerous diseases, based on a grand jury indictment unsealed Monday.
The clinic provided its sufferers amniotic fluid that claimed to have stem cells, however actually was acellular, with out stem cells.
After Derges made false claims on a Springfield tv station in April that stem cells may deal with Covid-19, an investigation was launched, the FBI mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
And on Fb, Derges claimed her clinic’s “superb remedy stands to offer a possible treatment for COVID-19 sufferers that’s secure and pure,” the indictment mentioned.
She self-surrendered on her indictment Monday and was launched following an preliminary look in federal courtroom, based on the U.S Legal professional’s Workplace.
Derges’ actions had been a betrayal of belief instilled in her as each a well being skilled and a authorities official, Particular Agent in Cost Timothy Langan, of the FBI’s Kansas Metropolis workplace, mentioned.
“Derges vowed to do no hurt as a well being care skilled and was elected to serve the individuals, not deceive them,” Langan mentioned. “She used her place for private achieve and broken the general public’s belief.”
In keeping with the indictment, Derges administered the remedy to sufferers with the promise that stem cells would assist alleviate a variety of well being points, from power obstructive pulmonary illness to erectile dysfunction. Derges, an assistant doctor who bought her medical diploma from Caribbean Medical College of Curacao in Could 2014, allegedly gave the therapies herself.
The clinic obtained amniotic fluid via the College of Utah for about $244.00 per ml. Derges then charged her sufferers $950 to $1,450 per ml of amniotic fluid, the indictment mentioned, with some paying as a lot as $6,500 for what they thought had been therapies with stem cells.
Sufferers paid Derges roughly $191,815 for amniotic fluid that didn’t include stem cells, the indictment claims.
Federal prosecutors for the Western District of Missouri mentioned Derges had a number of e-mail exchanges in 2019 to the Director of Cell Remedy and Regenerative Medication on the College of Utah, who instructed her that the fluid didn’t include stem cells.
Derges was hit with eight counts of wire fraud in relation to charging the sufferers, who weren’t recognized, for the allegedly faux stem cell remedy. Every rely comes with a most sentence of a $250,000 high quality and 20 years in jail.
She additionally faces two expenses for making “materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent” statements relating to her amniotic fluid therapies to federal investigators final yr, every rely carrying as much as 5 years in jail.
Prosecutors additionally alleged that Derges prescribed Oxycodone and Adderall to individuals on-line and not using a correct medical analysis. She faces 10 counts of distribution via the web and not using a legitimate prescription, every carrying a most of 20 years in jail.
“This defendant abused her privileged place to complement herself via deception,” U.S. Legal professional Tim Garrison mentioned within the FBI assertion. “The indictment alleges she lied to her sufferers and he or she lied to federal brokers. As an elected official and a well being care supplier, she deserves to be held to a excessive customary.”
Derges, a Republican, was elected in November to a two-year time period after working unopposed for the District 140 state home seat. She didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark despatched to her authorities e-mail deal with.
In a Fb publish Monday night time, Derges cited the biblical story of David and Goliath whereas claiming that God can be on her facet.
“Lies and twisted phrases imply nothing. Reality and righteousness imply every little thing,” the publish mentioned. “I can stand earlier than God and know that He’ll smile at me. Goliath cannot take that away as a lot as he tries.”
Stacie Calhoun Bilyeu, an lawyer for Derges, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from NBC Information. She instructed the Kansas Metropolis Star that she was “restricted” in what she may say on the matter and that her consumer pleaded not responsible to all expenses.
“Dr. Derges, regardless of what it seemed like yesterday, has not been discovered responsible or convicted of something,” Bilyeu mentioned.
