Stephen D. Meis, M.D., formerly based in Visalia, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of distributing misbranded medications. Meis was the Medical Director of Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical Inc. and Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical Inc. Along with Huu Tieu, the CEO, they are accused of selling unproven treatments for COVID-19, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Starting March 30, 2020, the pair’s business sold a product called the "Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care," which included several herbal mixtures, one of which was named "ImunStem." These products were sent by mail to practitioners and officials in California and other areas. The labels falsely claimed that "ImunStem" was the first dietary supplement approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medication for COVID-19. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved this or any other Golden Sunrise products for medical use, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Meis and Tieu were involved in promoting unapproved treatments during the global health crisis. Tieu has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Meis is scheduled for sentencing on July 14, and faces up to 12 months in prison and a $100,000 fine. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston will decide Meis’s sentence based on statutory guidelines and federal sentencing rules, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
