An Orange County resident and part-time actor has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme promoting a fake COVID-19 cure. Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 57, of Huntington Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer to 98 months behind bars. In addition to the prison term, Middlebrook was fined $25,000 and ordered into immediate federal custody.

Middlebrook's conviction came after a three-day trial in May 2024 where he was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud. During the early days of the pandemic in March 2020, he sought investors from various states including California, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Colorado through text messages and social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. He marketed what he claimed were cures for COVID-19 named “QC20” and treatments called “QP20.”

He falsely claimed to have developed a "patent-pending" cure and treatment for coronavirus infection. Middlebrook misled investors with promises of risk-free investments and guaranteed returns while falsely asserting that Earvin “Magic” Johnson was involved as a director in his company. His sentence also considered his obstruction of justice when he lied under oath about his alleged business relationship with Johnson.

Middlebrook further deceived potential investors by claiming an offer from Dubai to purchase his companies for $10 billion had been made and that several individuals had already invested significant amounts ranging from $750,000 to $1 million.

The FBI arrested Middlebrook in March 2020 after he provided pills—allegedly meant to prevent coronavirus infection—to an undercover agent posing as an investor.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI with Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth R. Carbajal and Joseph S. Guzman prosecuting the case.