KMOX (ST. LOUIS) - U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming is accusing a Bridgeton pediatrician of prescribing pain pills and other controlled substances in exchange for sex, sexual photographs, or cash.
67-year-old Craig Spiegel is facing several federal charges for making false claims related to health care matters. Spiegel is accused of taking advantage of patients since 2014. Many of the women he met were because he was their pediatrician as children.
U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming explained what's included in the indictment.
"Exploitation of patients who were vulnerable because they had been treated by Dr. Spiegel since they were girls, because they were struggling with an addiction , or both," Attorney Fleming said. "It is illegal and unethical for a doctor to prescribe controlled substances as payment for sexual favors, or for cash."
The indictment also accuses a former patient, 46-year-old April Bingham, of selling prescription drugs she obtained from Dr. Spiegel and recommending him to other people. Those people allegedly ended up providing him with services in exchange for medication.
Dr. Spiegel is also being accused of knowingly prescribing drugs to a woman with a severe substance abuse disorder. She died of an overdose in 2022 at the age of 40.
The Drug Enforcement Administrator (DEA) said there could be even more victims of the alleged drugs for sex scheme. DEA St. Louis Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said it's rare to have a practitioner engaged in acts like this.
"We actually had individuals come forward and present some information to us, and it was disturbing," Special Agent Davis said. "Of course, that's when we initiated the investigation. And that investigation has grown and it's still ongoing."
Special Agent Davis said people should call the DEA investigators direct phone line at (314) 240-1026 with any information, or if they believe they may also be a victim.