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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Sept. 10 , 2009
INDICTMENT CHARGES CALIFORNIA WOMAN IN LYME DISEASE FRAUD CASE
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Carole E. Bradford, 69, Chula Vista, Calif., is charged with conspiring with her husband and others to market medical equipment and drug treatments for a nonexistent epidemic of Lyme disease, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
A superseding indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., adds new charges alleging Bradford, wife of co-defendant Robert W. Bradford, took an active part in the alleged fraud in her roles as chief executive officer, chairman of the board, president and co-founder of a company called American Biologics.
The superseding indictment adds Carole E. Bradford to a list of defendants first named in an indictment filed in December 2008 including John R. Toth, Robert W. Bradford, Bridgett G. Byrd and CRB, Inc., dba American Biologics.
The 20-count superseding indictment alleges Carole E. Bradford and the other defendants conspired to violate the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by conspiring to sell a microscope that supposedly would diagnose Lyme disease, as well as drugs that supposedly would cure the disease. They distributed marketing materials making false claims that Lyme disease was “the plague of the 21st century” and was a contributing factor in 50 percent of all chronic illness including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Carole E. Bradford’s husband, Robert W. Bradford, claimed to be a “doctor” and a “professor” even though he was not a physician and had no science degrees from an accredited university in the United States. He was the inventor of what he called “the Bradford Variable Projection Microscope,” which he claimed could be used to identify Lyme disease. Toth, who was a licensed medical doctor in Kansas, used Bradford’s microscope and treatments, charging patients approximately $100 for each use of the equipment and approximately $320 for a series of injections he called “antimicrobial treatment.” In March 2008 in Shawnee County District Court, Toth was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading no contest to a state charge of reckless involuntary manslaughter in the death of a patient, Beverly A. Wunder.
According to the superseding indictment, Carole E. Bradford participated in the strategy for marketing the medical device and the drugs and shared in the profits of the fraudulent scheme. She signed contracts with pharmacies for development and marketing of drugs, and attended meetings to promote the fraud.
She is charged with one count of conspiracy, eight counts of mail fraud, 14 counts of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce, five counts of receiving misbranded drugs, and one count of introducing a misbranded medical device into interstate commerce. Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce: A maximum penalty of 3 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Receiving a misbranded drug: A maximum penalty of 3 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Introducing a misbranded medical device into interstate commerce: A maximum penalty of 3 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigation worked on the case. John Claud, trial attorney with the Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Litigation is prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
A federal grand jury meeting in Kansas City, Kan., also returned the following indictments:
Joseph G. Markham, 38, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of bank robbery. According to the indictment, on Sept. 1, 2009, he robbed the First National Bank, 8800 W. 135th Street in Overland Park, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith is prosecuting.
Nylondraleshanett Williams, 36, Killeen, Texas; Nickolas Mims, 20, Dallas, Texas; and Jessica N. McDuffy, 35, Killeen, Texas, are charged with possession of stolen property. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 18, 2009, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
If convicted, each of them faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Army - Criminal Investigation Division worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith is prosecuting.
Christopher E. Summers, 31, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with three counts of making and possessing counterfeit checks. According to the indictment, he possessed three counterfeit checks in the name of Ranch Realty. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March and April 2009 in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, and Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Quinton S. Wilson, 31, Lawrence, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred June 16, 2009, in Lawrence, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
Christopher R. Musick, 29, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Dec. 19, 2008, in Lawrence, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence Police Department and theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
Kenney E. Pinto, 19, is charged with unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 28, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
James A. Campbell, 26, is charged with four counts of distributing cocaine, two counts of distributing marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2007 and 2008 in Kansas City, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Distributing cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Distributing marijuana: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Distributing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school: Not less than 1 year and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
J.R. Christopher Stallsworth, 32, and Mindy L. Ulmer, 28, are charged with one count of conspiring to obtain a firearm by making false statements to Cabela’s, a licensed firearms dealer at 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kan., and one count of making false statements to obtain a firearm.
In addition, Ulmer is charged with one count of falsely representing herself as the buyer of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction; and Stallsworth is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in June 2008, in Kansas City, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison.
Making false statements to obtain a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 .
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
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