An actor who had small roles in movies like Iron Man 2 and Moneyball is heading to prison after being caught promoting a fake COVID-19 cure during the early days of the pandemic. Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 57, was sentenced to over eight years in prison and fined $25,000 by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer in Los Angeles.
Back in March 2020, when the world was grappling with the spread of COVID-19, Middlebrook started pitching a so-called cure and treatment for the virus. He called these products QC20 and QP20. He went online, posting on YouTube and Instagram, trying to lure investors by making wild claims. Middlebrook said famous figures, including basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, were backing his products. He even claimed a group in Dubai wanted to buy his company for $10 billion, promising investors huge returns.
But none of it was true. At the time, there was no cure for COVID-19, and vaccines were still over a year away. According to the FBI, Magic Johnson had no connection to Middlebrook’s company. When shown a photo of Middlebrook, Johnson stated he had never met him. Johnson later testified during the trial to set the record straight.
Middlebrook’s grand claims didn’t stop there. In a YouTube video, he referred to himself as the “Real Iron Man” and suggested the pandemic was designed to ruin the U.S. economy under then-President Donald Trump. These statements were also proven baseless.
Middlebrook’s downfall began when he delivered fake pills to an undercover FBI agent posing as an investor. This led to his arrest in March 2020. Despite the mounting evidence against him, Middlebrook remained defiant in court. While testifying, he insisted that Magic Johnson was involved in his company, even though this had already been debunked. Judge Fischer noted Middlebrook’s lies during his testimony and handed down a tougher sentence because of them.
Middlebrook’s lawyer, however, wasn’t happy with the outcome. In an interview with a media outlet, he accused Magic Johnson of lying and claimed they would prove Johnson wrong, though no evidence supported these accusations.
According to his IMDb profile, Middlebrook’s acting career included small roles in films like Thor and Bad Teacher, as well as appearances in The Sopranos. He also claimed to be the inspiration behind the HBO series Ballers, though there’s no proof of this either.
The sentence wraps up a bizarre saga of deception and fraud during a time when people were desperately seeking answers to the pandemic. Middlebrook’s case serves as a reminder to be cautious of those trying to exploit fear and uncertainty for personal gain.