UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, Mary Blakley and her husband Fred Blakley have pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges in Philadelphia, admitting to running a fraudulent operation that bilked patients out of over $2 million. The couple, who falsely claimed to provide groundbreaking medical treatments at clinics across several states including Arizona, California, and Colorado, face severe prison sentences as their case unfolds.
The Blakleys, operating under the guise of medical professionals, promised patients miraculous treatments for various illnesses, including cancer, for a fee of $300 per full-body scan. Their claims included the use of a proprietary “smart chip” technology, which they asserted could detect and even cure diseases. However, federal prosecutors revealed that they only conducted basic ultrasounds, deceiving vulnerable patients with outlandish promises.
Court documents expose that Mary Blakley, who is 66 years old, falsely represented herself as a doctor, fabricating an impressive but nonexistent medical background. She claimed to have worked at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center and even displayed fake degrees from questionable online institutions. Meanwhile, Fred Blakley, aged 61, admitted to stockpiling firearms and ammunition, reportedly preparing for a “civil war” against the U.S. government.
The couple’s fraudulent activities came to light after complaints were lodged, including one from their estranged daughter. An extensive investigation by the FBI ultimately led to their indictment earlier this year. Both are currently in custody at a federal detention center in Philadelphia and are scheduled for sentencing in April 2025, where they could receive sentences totaling over 150 years.
The Blakleys’ clinics operated under a façade of legitimacy, charging patients for treatments that had no medical backing. They often prescribed unapproved medications, including fenbendazole, an animal drug not sanctioned for human use, and discouraged patients from discussing their treatments with anyone. Their operations raised serious concerns about patient safety and trust in healthcare systems.
As the case develops, the implications of their actions resonate deeply, raising questions about regulatory oversight in the healthcare industry. The urgent need for comprehensive checks to prevent such fraudulent schemes from exploiting innocent patients has never been clearer.
Stay tuned for further updates on the sentencing and the broader implications of this case. The healthcare community and law enforcement agencies are on high alert, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in ensuring patient safety and preventing future fraud.
