ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis-area pediatrician is facing dozens of federal charges after prosecutors alleged he prescribed women opioids in exchange for money or sex acts for nearly a decade.
Dr. Craig A. Spiegel, 67, was charged by federal prosecutors with 24 counts, including 17 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances, in connection with a scheme that investigators believe started as early as 2014. Investigators also believe a woman, 46-year-old April Bingham, got involved in the operation in 2021, resulting in her and Spiegel being charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to the indictment, Spiegel prescribed the medication without any legitimate medical reason and ignored substance abuse red flags in the victims to whom he prescribed the medication. The indictment said one of the victims he prescribed medication to died as a result of an overdose on April 4, 2022.
It read, "He continued to engage in his criminal course of distribution even after learning that the patient died of an overdose."
Investigators said Spiegel knew many of the women because he was their treating pediatrician when they were children. He would prescribe them drugs like Adderal, Percocet and Xanax in exchange for sexually explicit photographs or sex acts. The indictment alleges he would pressure reluctant victims into sending him the photographs or agreeing to engage in sex acts at his office in Bridgeton or in the women's homes.
The indictment read based on the 25 women alone, the United States is aware of thousands of text messages to or from Spiegel, more than 1,200 individual prescriptions for controlled substances that should have not been issued, and more than 73,000 controlled substance pills were illegally distributed.
It said his danger wasn't limited to prescribing practices. One example given was a minor complaining to state authorities that Spiegel was inappropriate with her during a medical examination.
According to the indictment, it said he preyed on vulnerable women in a sexual, sometimes forcible, manner.
Investigators say in 2021, Bingham started working with Spiegel. The indictment alleged that Bingham exchanged sexual favors for the prescriptions and sold the drugs. The indictment alleges Spiegel knew Bingham was selling the drugs, but agreed to fill out other prescriptions for Bingham using the identities of her ex-husband, mother and friends to avoid suspicion about the frequency of the refills and to take advantage of those people's prescription insurance benefits.
Investigators also said Bingham brought others to Spiegel, and they would exchange cash or sexual favors for prescriptions.
In all, Spiegel is facing 17 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances, six counts of making false statements related to health care matters and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Bingham is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Spiegel was arrested on March 6 and there is a motion to have him in jail until trial.
The charges of conspiracy and illegal distribution of controlled substances are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine. Each charge of making false statements is punishable by five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Spiegel's office shows it's located at SSM Health DePaul Hospital-St. Louis in Bridgeton.
5 On Your Side reached out to SSM Health and it said, "... Spiegel resigned last fall from medical staff. He was an independent physician and was never employed by SSM Health."
A photo of Spiegel was on the Washington University School of Medicine's website, but it was taken down.
A Washington University spokesperson said, "The physician is not and never has been an employee of Washington University or the School of Medicine. He has been a 'voluntary faculty member,' which is a common affiliation for community physicians.
Investigators have asked anyone who was a victim or patient of Spiegel and has information they would like to share with DEA investigators to call 314-240-1026.