[ad_1]
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – A homeopathic doctor in the wine region of northern California was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly selling unapproved, natural Covid-19 vaccines and telling patients to forge Covid-19 vaccination cards.
Juli Mazi, 41, of Napa has been charged with wire fraud and healthcare-related misrepresentation.
“This defendant allegedly defrauded and endangered the public by attacking fears and spreading misinformation about vaccinations authorized by the FDA, while peddling bogus treatments that put people’s lives at risk,” said Wednesday Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in a statement.
Mazi holds a naturopathic license in the state of California and owns a homeopathic health care business called “Juli Mazi, ND, a Naturopathic Doctor Corporation”.
Federal investigators first learned of Mazi’s alleged plan to sell fake Covid-19 vaccines in April when a complaint was filed with the Office of the Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS-OIG). The person who lodged the complaint said his family members had obtained lead shots from Mazi. The doctor reportedly told them that the lozenges contained traces of the Covid-19 virus which would create an antibody response in their immune system.
Mazi reportedly gave these patients Covid-19 vaccination cards that listed Moderna as a vaccine, even though they never received injections of the FDA-approved vaccine. Mazi allegedly told patients to falsely indicate on these cards that they received the Moderna vaccine on the date they ingested their unapproved Covid-19 homeoprophylaxis vaccination lozenges.
Homeoprophylaxis involves exposing a person to diluted amounts of a disease, purportedly to boost the immune system and create immunity. Prosecutors say Mazi falsely claimed that oral ingestion of lozenges with small amounts of Covid-19 would result in full, lifelong immunity to the virus.
A criminal complaint filed against Mazi contains a photo of two allegedly forged vaccination cards showing Moderna as the vaccine and “Dr. Juli Mazi” as the health care provider. The complaint also includes a photo of a handout Mazi handed to patients explaining how homeoprophylaxis works and asking them to ingest two to four lozenges each day for four days, spacing each of those days at least 48 apart. hours.
“A total of four days of dosing are required, before lifelong immunity is considered to be achieved,” the document said.
The document also asks patients to fill out vaccination cards and to “ensure that the Covid-19 vaccine is available for your particular population before using this date on the official record” and “choose only to use two dates. , spaced at least 1 month apart. on the official vaccination card.
In a recorded phone call with the anonymous complainant on June 2, Mazi said the Covid-19 vaccination cards “ask for a manufacturer and a lot number. So, you know, I uh even though it’s more than an ethical stretch that I’m happy about, I’m mobilizing to offer these, ”according to the complaint.
Mazi also told the complainant that children and babies could receive the same doses of these homeopathic vaccination lozenges.
Mazi billed the anonymous complainant $ 243 for lozenges which she said would provide immunity to Covid-19.
Prosecutors said they analyzed Mazi’s financial records and found that she received $ 221,800 for 1,242 transactions from January 2020 to May 21, 2021. Most of those transactions did not indicate the purpose of the payments, but 25 Transactions amounting to $ 7,653 indicated that payments were for Covid-19 care. Of those, 21 occurred in 2021 after FDA-approved vaccines became available to the public, according to the criminal complaint.
Mazi is also accused of spreading misinformation about FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccines by falsely claiming they contain “toxic ingredients.”
“Instead of disseminating valid cures and information, Juli Mazi took advantage of the illegal sale of unapproved medicines, sparking false fears and generating false evidence of vaccination,” said the acting district attorney for the Northern District of California, Stephanie Hinds, in a statement. “We will act to protect confidence in medical developments that enable us to emerge from the problems posed by the pandemic.”
According to the complaint, Mazi also offered unapproved natural vaccines for childhood illnesses and falsely claimed these treatments would meet California schools’ vaccination requirements. She allegedly falsified vaccination cards submitted by parents to California schools.
“This doctor has violated the overriding public trust in medical professionals – at a time when integrity is most needed,” Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of HHS-OIG, said in a statement. . “By working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency will continue to investigate these fraudsters who recklessly endanger the health of the public during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. ”
If convicted, Mazi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and five years for making false health care claims. Each charge is also punishable by a fine of up to $ 250,000.
Before setting up his own practice in September 2019, Mazi worked for eight years at Thrive Natural Medicine in Soquel, Calif., And at Santa Cruz Naturopathic Medical Center for 13 months, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Mazi did not immediately respond to a phone message and email requesting comment on Wednesday.
[ad_2]
Source link