After initially pleading not guilty, the former CEO of a Santa Cruz health and wellness center has admitted her guilt in exchange for an apparent plea deal, according to MSN and the San Francisco Chronicle. She pleaded guilty on June 3 to three counts of COVID fraud in the San Francisco Division of the U.S. District Court.

Specifically, she was charged with committing “false statements related to health care matters by selling ‘homeoprophylaxis immunization' pellets for

COVID-19 and distributing false and fraudulent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) COVID-19 vaccination record cards,” according to court documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Northern District of California.

Simply put, she sold “pellets” that she falsely claimed would provide lifetime immunity from COVID-19. Furthermore, she sold counterfeit CDC vaccination record cards to people who did not want to get vaccinated.

Quack medicine and false vax records

Court documents report that the ex-wellness advocate obtained the useless pills and phony record cards from a naturopathic doctor in Napa. That doctor pleaded guilty in April.

Between May and July of 2021, the 40-year-old Santa Cruz native sold fake pills and phony vaccination cards for $19,500, making a $14,000 profit. She sold to 170 people who were either gullible enough to believe the pills would keep them safe or devious enough to want fraudulent vaccine cards.

Hard time for easy money

The disgraced CEO faces up to five years in federal prison on each count and as many as three years of probation. Furthermore, she must “forfeit to the United States … all property, real or personal,” in the amount of $19,500 (the profit she made from criminal activity). She also faces a maximum fine of $250,000, which could include asset forfeiture.

She will be sentenced on Sept. 28 in San Francisco.

Anyone charged with a federal crime is essentially being held to account by the United States government—and it is essential to have an aggressive criminal defense attorney experienced in federal law. Even if someone is guilty, a skilled attorney can negotiate a favorable plea deal.

For a free consultation, call the Sigal Law Group in Los Angeles at 818-325-0570.