Nelson S.T. Thayer Jr. Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | Penn Carey Law School
United States Attorney David Metcalf has announced a superseding indictment against three individuals from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Mary Blakley, also known by several aliases, and Fred Blakley are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the FDA. Janmarie Lanzo faces charges of conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the FDA.
The indictment claims that Mary Blakley, who referred to herself as "Doctor Mary," along with Fred Blakley, operated medical clinics across the United States. They allegedly charged clients around $300 for "full body scans" using an ultrasound machine. Janmarie Lanzo was involved in selling products recommended by Mary Blakley based on these scans.
According to the indictment, the defendants falsely claimed their "smart chip technology," allegedly invented by Mary Blakley and added to ultrasound machines, could diagnose various diseases including cancer. They reportedly prescribed supplements, creams, and veterinary products based on scan results.
The defendants are accused of promoting Aetheion cream for treating cancer and other conditions and selling fenbendazole, a veterinary antiparasitic drug, for human cancer treatment.
To hide their activities, the defendants allegedly:
- Claimed they were conducting research rather than providing services.
- Misrepresented regulatory requirements for their products.
- Used coded language and instructed others in deceptive practices.
- Disguised their clinics under different organizational guises.
- Required clients to sign confidentiality agreements.
If convicted, Mary Blakley and Fred Blakley could face up to 165 years in prison each. Janmarie Lanzo could face up to five years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Office of Criminal Investigations of the FDA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Paul G. Shapiro.
It is important to note that all charges are accusations at this stage; each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
