The COVID-19 vaccines have been a contentious topic across the nation since making their debut earlier this year. State regulations differ, with some states requiring proof of vaccination to enter certain public spaces, such as schools and government-run offices. However, some people are uncomfortable getting the vaccine and rather than opt to wear masks in these spaces or submit to regular COVID testing, have instead sought out fraudulent vaccination cards.
In fact, a California naturopathic doctor named Juli Mazi was arrested this summer for her alleged involvement in giving patients fake vaccine cards and selling homeoprophylaxis immunization pellets. She’s being charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters. According to a Department of Justice press release the “case is the first federal criminal fraud prosecution related to homeoprophylaxis immunizations and fraudulent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record cards”, though it is likely not an isolated incident.
According to court documents, Mazi would prescribe the homeoprophylaxis pellets to her patients, both adults and young children, claiming that the pellets would give them lifelong immunity against the COVID-19 virus to circumvent the patients from having to get the government authorized vaccines as offices and schools began to reopen. As part of the scheme, Mazi allegedly instructed patients on how to falsify vaccination cards and provided them “with specific Moderna vaccine lot numbers to enter onto the cards… to evade suspicion”.
The New York Times reported that Mazi received over $200,000 in digital payments between January 2020 and May 2021, with at least 25 transactions indicating COVID-19 treatments.
HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case. Mazi remains innocent until proven guilty, so we will continue to monitor the case as it develops. If she is convicted of the charges, Mazi could face up to 20 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines according to The New York Times.
