FBI Arrests Local Man For Running Alleged COVID-19 Scam

The FBI has arrested a Southern California man who allegedly sought investors for a bogus cure for COVID-19.

Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 53, was arrested after giving an undercover agent posing as an investor some of his pills, which he claims give him immunity to the virus.

Middlebrook, who had addresses in Westwood, Newport Beach and Murrieta, is charged with one count of attempted wire fraud, a felony. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The complaint says Middlebrook claimed to have developed a "patent-pending cure" and a treatment that prevents coronavirus infection. Prosecutors say he also falsely claimed that Magic Johnson had joined the board of his company.

The government says videos Middlebrook posted to YouTube and Instagram have gotten at least two million views. Here is one of his YouTube videos:

The FBI wants to know if you think you're a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19. You've got options for how to report it:

• Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov
• Report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov
• If it's a cyber scam, submit your complaint through https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx