A former pediatrician from St. Louis County, Missouri, has admitted to prescribing pain medication and other controlled substances in exchange for sex acts, nude photos, or cash. Craig A. Spiegel, 69, entered a guilty plea on Thursday to charges including illegal distribution of controlled substances, making false statements related to health care matters, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to court documents, Spiegel acknowledged that he began issuing prescriptions without legitimate medical purpose as early as 2014 and continued until May 2023. He wrote prescriptions for several adult women in return for sexual favors or explicit images. In some cases, he provided these drugs knowing the recipients suffered from substance use disorders and that the prescriptions posed risks to their mental or physical health. Many of these women were former pediatric patients of Spiegel.
One woman received pain pills or Adderall from Spiegel after performing sex acts at his office in Bridgeton, Missouri, or sending him nude photographs. Another woman was given an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and either a stimulant or muscle relaxer despite her severe substance use disorder and high risk of overdose. Spiegel also admitted pressuring multiple women into providing sexual favors or explicit photos.
Spiegel further confessed to prescribing drugs to his co-defendant April Bingham in exchange for sexual favors while knowing she was addicted and selling some of the drugs. He issued prescriptions using names of Bingham's ex-husband, mother, and friends partly to exploit their insurance benefits. Bingham connected Spiegel with others who either paid him or engaged in sex acts for prescriptions.
The illegal prescription scheme resulted in losses totaling $114,480 for Medicare as well as Medicaid programs in Missouri and Illinois.
In addition to drug-related offenses, Spiegel admitted lying under oath during an April 2025 hearing where he tried to suppress evidence obtained from his cell phone by falsely claiming officers had searched it illegally.
Spiegel is set for sentencing on March 24, 2026. Each count of conspiracy and illegal distribution carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; making false statements could result in up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. April Bingham previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and was sentenced last year to 21 months in prison.
Authorities encourage anyone with concerns about Dr. Spiegel’s conduct to contact the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 800-447-8477.
The investigation involved the Bridgeton Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), FBI, and Missouri Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Sestric and Jonathan Clow.
