Actor Sentenced for COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, a 57-year-old part-time actor from Huntington Beach, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for wire fraud related to soliciting investments for a bogus COVID-19 cure during the pandemic's early days. He falsely marketed a purported cure, 'QC20', and treatment, 'QP20', claiming they were 'patent-pending' and could prevent infection. Middlebrook solicited potential investors across multiple states via social media, offering miraculous results and guaranteed returns, while also falsely stating that former NBA player Magic Johnson was involved in his business. He was convicted on 11 counts of wire fraud after a jury trial in May 2024, with the court noting his obstruction of justice during testimony. The FBI arrested him in March 2020 after he delivered pills to an undercover agent posing as an investor. In addition to his prison sentence, he was fined $25,000 and attempted to defraud investors of approximately $4.4 million.