Huntington Beach Actor Convicted for Wire Fraud in COVID-19 Cure Scam
An actor from Huntington Beach was convicted for promoting a phony COVID-19 cure and raking in cash from duped investors. Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 56, faced the music as jurors pronounced him guilty on eleven counts of wire fraud following a scam that promised bogus COVID-19 cures and treatments, according to the Department of Justice.
With the pandemic as his backdrop, Middlebrook played his part too well, falsely peddling a supposed "QC20" cure and a "QP20" treatment to stop the virus. He assured risk-free bets and giant profits to those willing to invest. But the script took a turn when FBI agents, acting as potential backers, were handed supposed treatment pills - a sting operation that proved there was no miracle cure at all.
Middlebrook's act included text messages, social media videos, and claims of support from big names like Magic Johnson, who was allegedly a board member at Middlebrook's shady enterprise, a claim that turned out to be as fictitious as the cure itself. The Department of Justice reported that Middlebrook even boasted of a ludicrous $10 billion purchase offer from Dubai - all part of his deceitful pitch to secure investor funds.
Despite the actor's freedom on a $150,000 bond, come September 9, Middlebrook might be trading the spotlight for a cell, with a scheduled sentencing that could land him a max of 20 years per fraud count. The curtain fell on his performance after a three-day trial, closing a chapter on a scam that exploited the fears and hopes of many during the health crisis.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth R. Carbajal and Joseph S. Guzman, both of the General Crimes Section, are the ones pulling the strings behind the prosecution of this fraudster. The details of Middlebrook's crooked plot and his conviction are laid bare by Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy on the Justice Department's website, ensuring the final act of this saga receives its due audience.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings