Stephen Meis, MD, former medical director of Visalia, Calif.-based Golden Sunrise, pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, the Justice Department said in a May 19 news release.
What happened?
- Beginning in March 2020, Dr. Meis and Golden Sunrise CEO Huu Tieu marketed an unapproved COVID-19 treatment called the “Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care.”
- The products, including one called “ImunStem,” were falsely advertised as FDA-approved and effective against COVID-19, despite lacking any FDA approval.
- Mr. Tieu was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
What’s next?
- Dr. Meis faces sentencing on July 14, with a potential penalty of up to 12 months in prison and a $100,000 fine.
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