ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County pediatrician is accused of prescribing pain pills and other controlled substances in exchange for sex acts.
Craig A. Spiegel, 67, faces 24 federal charges with allegations dating back to at least 2014, according to a federal indictment revealed Wednesday.
The indictment accuses Spiegel of issuing prescriptions to women in exchange for sexual acts and sexual photographs.
The indictment alleges there were at least 25 victims, some of whom Spiegel reportedly met while he was their pediatrician. One example cited in the indictment asserts that one patient met Spiegel through a friend who told her that he would write any prescription she desired if she performed a sex act.
Court filings also allege that the prescriptions happened without regard for the patient’s medical condition or the medical necessity of the prescription.
“The conduct alleged in the indictment represents an 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, to satisfy a sexual desire,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A.
Fleming. “It is illegal and unethical for a doctor to prescribe controlled substances as payment
for sexual favors or for cash, or to provide drugs to someone who is suspected of diverting or
abusing those drugs.”
Prosecutors have charged Spiegel with 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.
An acquaintance, identified as 46-year-old April Bingham, was also charged with one count of conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that Bingham, who did not have any medical training or a DEA registration allowing her to prescribe controlled substances, agreed to distribute controlled substances under Spiegel’s DEA registration in 2021.
If convicted, Spiegel faces up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines on each distribution charge, in addition to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each false statement charge.
