ICYMI: Part-Time Actor, Full-Time Fraud! California Man Sentenced for Fake Covid ‘Cure’ Scheme
A California actor who faked a Covid cure and promised investors massive returns is heading to federal prison for over 8 years. đ #News #LosAngelesCA #California #Crime
LOS ANGELES, CA – When the world was searching for hope during the early days of the pandemic, one California actor claimed he had found the solution. That claim turned out to be a lie, and now heâs heading to federal prison for nearly a decade.
Actor Receives Lengthy Prison Sentence for Fraudulent Covid Claims
Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 57, has been sentenced to 98 months in federal prison and fined $25,000. The U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Central District of California announced the sentence on Monday, following Middlebrookâs conviction last year on 11 counts of wire fraud.
The lengthy sentence reflects the serious nature of his crimes and the damage caused by exploiting a global health crisis for personal gain.
Middlebrook, a part-time actor, had promised investors that he developed a “patent-pending” Covid-19 cure called âQC20â and a preventive treatment named âQP20.â His scheme began during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic and targeted investors in several states, including California, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Colorado.
False Covid Cure Claims and Fraudulent Investor Promises
According to prosecutors, Middlebrook promoted his fake cure through text messages and social media, falsely guaranteeing âenormous returnsâ on investments. He also claimed that retired Los Angeles Lakers star Earvin âMagicâ Johnson was a director and officer of his company.
Middlebrook further fabricated stories about investor interest, stating that some individuals had already invested between $750,000 and $1 million. He even lied about a party in Dubai offering $10 billion for his companies, promising investors substantial returns.
U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer determined Middlebrook had obstructed justice during the trial by lying on the witness stand about his supposed relationship with Magic Johnson.
Undercover Sting Leads to Arrest
Middlebrookâs fraudulent scheme unraveled in March 2020 when he delivered what he claimed to be a Covid-19 treatment, in pill form, to an undercover agent posing as an investor. This sting operation led to his arrest.
Middlebrookâs acting career includes minor roles in various films and TV series such as The Sopranos, Thor, Moneyball, and Iron Man 3, according to his IMDB profile.
RELATED TOPICS: California | Celebs | Crime
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