• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Riverside
  • Weather
  • Dad of Slain Children Claims LAPD, LADCFS Knew Mother was Danger to Their Kids
  • Pacific Theatres and ArcLight Cinemas Won't Reopen
  • Police Seek Assistance to Locate Missing 69-Year-Old Woman
  • Sheriff's Department Seeks Help to Find 75-Year-Old Man Last Seen in La Mirada
  • Plaintiffs in Homelessness Lawsuit Ask Judge to Order L.A. Skid Row Clean-Up

Home » Crime » This Article

Lowest Of The Low? Suspect In Court For Alleged Fake Coronivus Cure Scam

Posted by Contributing Editor on March 26, 2020 in Crime | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
Federal courthouse
U.S. Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by John Schreiber.

A man who allegedly sought financing to mass-produce an unproven pill he said would prevent and cure the coronavirus made his initial appearance Thursday in Los Angeles federal court.

Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 53, was arrested Wednesday while delivering the pills to an undercover FBI agent posing as an investor, according to Thom Mrozek, director of media relations for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Prior to his arrest, Middlebrook had allegedly told the agent that a $300,000 investment would yield $30 million in returns.

At Middlebrook’s initial federal court appearance Thursday afternoon, U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. McDermott delayed a detention hearing until Friday, so the defendant will remain in custody at least until that time, Mrozek said. The magistrate on duty will make a decision on whether bond will be set.

McDermott also set an April 9 preliminary hearing date and April 16 arraignment date.

“Middlebrook fraudulently solicited funds with promises of massive profits for a company he called Quantum Prevention CV Inc. (QP20), and he falsely claimed to at least one potential investor that Earvin `Magic’ Johnson was a member of the board of directors, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint,” Mrozek alleged. “Mr. Johnson confirmed to investigators that he knew nothing about Middlebrook’s company.”

Middlebrook allegedly wrote to a cooperating witness in the investigation, “I have Developed the Cure for the CoronaVirus COVID-19. LA Patient tested Positive for CoronaVirus got up and walked out 51 hours after my Injection… Investors who come in at ground level say $1M will parachute with $200M – $300M.”

More than two million people watched Middlebrook’s YouTube and Instagram videos, where authorities say he falsely claimed to have developed a COVID-19 prevention pill and a cure for those already infected, Mrozek said.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Middlebrook said that because of the pill, he could walk into Staples Center filled with infected people and not contract the virus, according to prosecutors.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

Middlebrook is charged with one felony count of attempted wire fraud, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, according to Mrozek,

Lowest Of The Low? Suspect In Court For Alleged Fake Coronivus Cure Scam was last modified: March 26th, 2020 by Contributing Editor

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged April, arraignment, case, COVID-19, fake, Meds

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
46°
Clear
Feels like: 46°F
Wind: 3mph E
Humidity: 65%
Pressure: 29.82"Hg
UV index: 0
ThuFriSat
66/50°F
75/48°F
70/48°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Three Little Kids Watch In Horror As Mobile Home Daddy Murders Mom In Riverside Before Killing Himself 3,400 views
  • Head-On Horror Hurts Eight In Azusa Crash: Two Trapped In Wreckage With Critical Injuries 3,000 views
  • 3 Dead in Possible Street Racing Crash in South Los Angeles 1,600 views
  • Torture Terror For Little Girl, 3, Brother, 11, In Temecula: Evil Foster ‘Mom’ Gets 11 Years To Life 1,600 views
  • Driver Killed in Riverside Crash Identified 1,400 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service