Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Wealthy and cunning sneak COVID vaccine, violent COVID crimes explode!

Episode Date: March 10, 2021

Crime stats have taken a jump since the COVID pandemic began. The biggest increases are not in thefts, but in violent crimes, especially scams, aggravated assault, and murder. Joining Nancy Grace today: Darryl Cohen - Former Assistant District Attorney, Fulton County, Georgia, Defense Attorney, Cohen, Cooper, Estep, & Allen, LLC, www.ccealaw.com 678-596-5588PSYCH - Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta Ga, Masters degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Memphis State University, www.angelaarnoldmd.com Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet" featured on "Poisonous Liaisons" on True Crime Network  Dr. Kendall Crowns – Deputy Medical Examiner Travis County, Texas (Austin) Kristy Mazurek - Emmy Award-winning Investigative Reporter, President of Successful Strategies PR and Crisis Communications Firm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Has the world gone crazy? The answer is yes, because in the middle of a global pandemic, crime is running rampant. Even more disturbing, many of those crimes are COVID related. Everything from the wealthy trying to jump the line to get the vaccine, calling their concierge doctors for preferential treatment, to flat out murder, domestic violence, children being beaten and worse because of COVID. You've got people dressing up like little old ladies to get in line to get the shot first. What is happening? Why is it happening? And how do we

stop it? Again, thank you for being with us here at Crime Stories with me, an all-star panel. But first, take a listen to our friend Amanda Roberts at Fox 8. Originally from Detroit, Tulane Police Corporal Martinez Mitchum made New Orleans his home. He had a long history of working as a law enforcement officer for various educational institutions. Mitchum worked with the Loyola Police Department he worked with several New Orleans area high schools most recently the Tulane Police Department honoring his service to their department for four years and now he's dead I'm not sure I've got this right and I hope somebody can correct me did a

38 year old Louisiana police officer in the prime of his life get gunned down dead at a high school basketball game by a guy who refused to mask up. And so now the officer is dead over a face mask? With me, an all-star panel, former prosecutor, now veteran defense attorney in multiple jurisdictions. Daryl Cohen joining me, named partner with Cohen, Cooper, Estep, and Allen. Renowned psychiatrist joining me out of the Atlanta jurisdiction, Dr. Angela Arnold. You can find her at AngelaArnoldMD.com. Professor of Forensics, Jacksonville State University,

author of Blood Beneath My Feet on Amazon, and star of a brand-new program on the Tree Crime Network, Poisonous Liaisons, Joseph Scott Morgan, Death Investigator, Deputy Medical Examiner out of Travis County, that's Austin, joining me, Dr. Kendall Crowns, but right now to an Emmy award-winning investigative reporter and president of Successful Strategies PR and Crisis Communications, Christy Mazurek. Christy, thank you for being with us and thank you to the rest of our guests. Christy, tell me what happened to Officer Mitchum, excuse me, Sergeant Mitchum. What happened?

Absolutely shocking story, as you mentioned. I mean, he was giving back to his community, just serving a security detail at an area high school. There was a basketball game going on when he was gunned down. It was a shock to everybody around. I'm seeing conflicting reports, Christy, as to whether he was a corporal or a sergeant. Martinez Mitchum of Tulane University PD shot dead by some nut who wouldn't wear a mask. Take a listen to Amanda Roberts at Fox 8. The night of the shooting, NOPD Chief Superintendent

Sean Ferguson gave his condolences to all who knew him. Ferguson described how that night Mitchum was protecting young people and their families watching a basketball game inside the George Washington Carver High School. The NOPD says the shooter tried to enter the game without a mask and got into a fight with another scho intervened before he was a result of him interveni to escort this individual which is right at the doo

door of this school or th individual pulled his wep a shot that struck the of in his chest. That night, NOPD arrested John Schallerhorn on two charges. NOPD says Schallerhorn not only put the weapon on the ground after firing the two shots, allowing officers to arrest him, but they also charged him with armed robbery at the high school. They say at some point in the night, he threatened a man sitting in his car with a gun and stole the man's medallion chain. So I guess Officer Mitchum's police instincts kicked in.

He sees this guy without a mask, tries to stop him or make him put on a mask he refuses, tries to escort him out, and the guy turns around and shoots him dead in the chest. Straight back to Christy Missouri joining us. Christy. Nancy, there is a back story here also. Go ahead. That wasn't the gunman's first confrontation with cops that day. Hours before Officer Mitchum's killing, this shooter was kicked out of a local casino for not wearing a mask. officers on that scene were wearing body cameras and recorded John Shallohorn's anti-mask rants

saying the casino's mask mandate was discrimination. Those cops escorted him out of the casino and cite him. Then he makes his way over to this area high school. And of course, this tragedy occurs. Now, his defense attorney says, hold on, pump the brakes. This isn't an anti-mask mandate situation. He's saying, his attorney is saying, my client has a history of mental illness. Okay, so let me understand this. So he's mentally ill. Joe Scott Morgan, joining me, forensics expert, according to his defense attorney, but he gets kicked out of a casino for not wearing a mask. And then he goes to another public gathering, not wearing a mask. He has the wherewithal to steal a medallion at gunpoint off a guy sitting alone in his car.

He knows darn well what he did and that he's supposed to wear a mask. You go in a room, everybody's wearing a mask, but you. How important is it, Joe Scott Morgan, that we wear masks? Well, right now, relative to the mandate that we have, it is essential. He's trying to get into an auditorium, Nancy, with a bunch of kids and their parents who are just trying to peacefully watch this basketball game. And here he is creating a ruckus at the door because he's trying to flee an armed robbery that he has just committed. And, you know, the police officer sees this.

So not only is he confronted with the obstacle of the police officer in his way, he knows that sooner or later they're going to find out about this. The police officer just sees this guy as in violation of public health. But right now it's gotten to a critical mass. He winds up killing this cop because of this. You know, to you, Dr. Kendall Crowns, deputy medical examiner, Travis County, Texas, that's Austin. Dr. Crowns, I contracted COVID, coronavirus, and I know how I got it. I got it from my mom through one of her care workers.

I know exactly how I got it. And then I gave it to the rest of my family all through being breathed and coughed on by my mom. That's exactly what happened. Dr. Crowns, just how important is it that we wear masks? And think of this packed gymnasium at this high school, at this basketball game. Well, the importance of wearing a mask, it's to not just protect you, but to protect the others surrounding you. And it's, you know, they have shown that by wearing a mask, you can cut down on your chance of getting the coronavirus from an individual who has it significantly. Even with the cloth masks

that are handed out, it is helpful to have it on. And especially in a crowded gymnasium, you know, with a lot of people in the building, it's better to have it on than to not have it on. Anyone walking in there without a mask on is, let's say to have it on than to not have it on. Anyone walking in there without a mask on is, let's say if they had coronavirus, is potentially exposing all those people in that facility. So masks are very important to stop the spread. You're right. Every single one of them. And now this officer is dead, but that's just the tip of it. Take a listen to what happened with a Connecticut lawyer and his COVID-19 positive wife. This is Matt Carson, Fox 61. A well-known couple, John and Cindy LaCourie, lived here in Suffield.

Pretty established here. By all accounts, great people. 59-year-old John, a family attorney. His wife, 55-year-old john, a family attorney, his wife, 55 year old Cindy, a business owner, a sign on the door of her business reads closed due to a family emergency Christmas Day, six p.m. Cindy is here at 33 Dale Street in Windsor locks. It's her mother's house. She's taking care of the dogs because her mother is in the hospital battling covid john arrives. We're not sure what

ensued between them, but evidence is leading us to believe that he then shot the scene. The shooting took place in the basement of the home where the mother of the victim was shot while battling COVID John arrives. We're not sure what ensued between them, but evidence is leading us to believe that he then shot her and then himself. It happened on the bed in the bedroom with

the revolver prior to the shooting, John called Cindy's brother and told him what he was about to do. The brother rushed to the home, found the bodies, and called 911. We do not believe he is involved, no. In addition to Cindy's mother, it's believed Cindy herself and possibly her husband John were also dealing with a diagnosis of COVID. So to you, Christy Mazurek, investigative reporter joining us, the wife's mother has COVID, the wife has contracted COVID,

and apparently gives it to her husband, the Connecticut lawyer, and he kills her. Right. You know, and here's the tragic irony. The wife's business made face masks and hand sanitizer. That's the type of business she was in. So the back story here with this attorney, he was talking to a colleague just hours before this occurred. And the attorney claimed, you know, he seemed upset on the phone call. He was anxious, talking about the mother-in-law being sick, talking about his wife being sick. But at no time did he feel that John would open fire on his wife. So the mom gets it, gives it to the

daughter. She gives it to him. Long story short, he shoots her dead. That's the tip of the iceberg of COVID crimes happening now. Take a listen to our friends at 12 News Arizona. Saturday evening, Wickenburg police say Sarah Michelle Boone hurt her kids. The three children had all tested positive for the coronavirus, and police say their mother hit one, kicked another, and picked the third up by their neck because they weren't wearing masks. Wickenburg police say the kids range from 5 to 14 years old

and did not need to go to the hospital after the incident. Boone police say was intoxicated and ran away from officers. She was caught and is now facing child abuse and assault charges among others. So mommy gets drunk and starts beating the Children because they have covid and or were not wearing their face masks. The world has turned upside down during the COVID pandemic, including right here in our country. Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. We are talking about, as they are called, COVID crimes.

Take a listen to this. Orange County's top health officer says the two wannabe grannies pulled off their disguise and successfully got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We have learned one of the women is in her 30s, the other is in her 40s. But the act was over just moments before they attempted to get their second dose, despite their convincing outfits. So yesterday we realized a couple of young ladies can dress up as grannies to get vaccinated for the second time. Donning a convincing disguise complete with gloves, glasses and even a bonnet, Dr. Raul Pino says when the two women returned to the convention center for their final shot in the arm, suspicions arose. They had a valid CDC card with vaccination. Orange County Sheriff deputies arriving here at the convention center after they say

vaccinators realized the pair fraudulently registered for an appointment with birth dates that didn't match. So I don't know how they escaped the first time. The sheriff's office identifying the women as Olga Monroy Ramirez and Martha Vivian Monroy and issuing a trespassing warning. Two young, healthy women, age 34 and 44, busted for dressing up like LOLs, little old ladies, grannies to get the COVID vaccine earlier. And I noticed a couple of snickers in here in the studio. Guess what? My 89 year old mother has not been able to get the vaccine yet, nor have I, nor my husband,

nor many other people that I know. So it's really not that funny to me. Nor have I, nor my husband, nor many other people that I know. So it's really not that funny to me. You know, Dr. Angela Arnold, why is that a laughing matter that these two women, young and healthy, dress up as grannies and end up cutting a real granny out of the line to get the COVID vaccine? Why is that funny to you, Jackie? I don't get it. It's, I don't think anybody would think that that was something funny. I thought my mom was going to die in the,

in the COVID ward. She was in the hospital two full weeks. She turned 89 in the hospital. I thought I and my children would never see her alive again. We couldn't get her to see her. And now I hear about these two liars dressing up in a costume to cut in line. Well, it may be funny to them because apparently they haven't had COVID and they don't know how scary it is to have COVID because you don't know what's going to happen to you. And apparently they don't know anyone who's had who has suffered from this.

You know, I'm just thinking about these two. The women show up at the Orlando Convention Center carrying CDC cards confirming they had their first dose, had already cheated to get their first dose, wearing a disguise. The police were called, and body cam footage shows one officer berating them and saying, you're lucky you're not being arrested. You know, I don't get it. Daryl Cohen, why aren't they arrested? They should have been arrested, Nancy.

And better than that, they should have been sentenced as part of their probation to go and work in a COVID ward and see what is happening and see why. I couldn't even get in to see my own mother. They're not going to send these two fraudsters in to work in a COVID ward. Well, they could send them outside the COVID ward. They could make sure that they are there and they see the bad, not the good. Yeah, I'm looking at you. Okay, in her defense, I'll make a cameo appearance as a defense lawyer just this once.

Jackie did have COVID, and I think I may know who gave it to her. But I'm taking the fifth on that. Dressing up as a granny to cut the line so real grannies and grandpas couldn't get their COVID shot. Well, they're not the only ones. Take a listen to this. Oh, everybody, that was Nikki Zazza with ClickOrlando.com. Now take a listen to our friends at Inside Edition. A SoulCycle trainer is under fire today for allegedly jumping the line for the COVID vaccine.

Stacey Griffith bragged about getting the vaccine on Instagram. Vaccine day, step one of the Moderna magic, she posted. But she's just 52 years old, 13 years younger than the 65 year old eligibility. So how'd she do it? She claimed to be an educator, putting her to the front of the COVID line. Stacey is the SoulCycle legend. Griffith, who's appeared as a SoulCycle master instructor

on network TV, apologized today, saying, I made a terrible error in judgment, and for that, I am truly sorry. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he's really upset. I don't think someone who shows up and says, hey, I'm a SoulCycle instructor should have qualified unless there's some other factor there, and that should have been caught in the application process. This is a woman. Let me go to you, Chrissy Mazurek. If I'm thinking about the right woman, Stacey Griffin, let me pull up her picture. Oh yeah, that's her. She's in great shape. So in shape. She's beautiful. She's wealthy. She's educated. She's privileged. So she still

had to cut the line with all that going for her. She couldn't wait her turn. And knew enough, Nancy, to be sneaky to drive an hour to Staten Island. Oh, wait a minute. Whoa. Wait a minute. Chrissy, Missouri, you're telling me something I didn't know. Oh, yeah. Say that again. I'm going to circle back with Cohen on why this is significant. Oh, yeah. She filled out the paperwork fraudulently and then went to a vaccine facility an hour away in Staten Island. So she knew people would recognize her if she went in her own neighborhood. You know, Daryl Cohen, you know why that's so important? What Chrissy Mazurk just told us, it shows planning a forethought, scheming. You know, the other day, Daryl, I couldn't get my mom in

anywhere around her, even at her advanced age, everything. In fact, a lady called us on the phone and went, Hey, Hey, I think I've got a spot for your mom. And as I'm talking to her, the spot got taken. You know, it just was so, and then Daryll I got her an appointment for the shot it was going to be a two hour drive and I was going to go ahead and drive the two hours to get my mom the shot the night before she got sick and we didn't feel like she should take the COVID shot feeling sick and and I was just so upset about it and now I hear hear about this SoulCycle millionaire, Stacey Griffith, driving, not to just get the shot because that's the only one she could get, but because she would be recognized in her neighborhood, says Christy Mazurk.

And I think Christy's right. Well, perhaps she should have gone to Coney Island where she belongs. But what she showed was absolutely. I'd like to join in on the laughter. I get the jokes, but you know, my mom almost died. I gave this to my children and my husband unwittingly. I have an uncle who died from it. I just went to a memorial service yesterday for a family relative that passed away with COVID. And just to think, you're so entitled with all the money and all the fame, Daryl, that you can just do anything. And she did get away with it. You see, Nancy, it's no big deal until you know someone, until you have someone that's close to

you that dies or almost dies. It becomes funny. I'm going to jump the line. Well, the people who jumped the line need to go ahead and be pushed in the back of the line and maybe subjected to people who have COVID both visually and physically and to see just how bad it is for some. Fortunately for me, it's not. But this is outrageous. She's got plenty, plenty of other potatoes in the stew with her. Take a listen to what this millionaire couple did. Here's Tanya Fletcher with CBC News. This is the couple at the center of it all. Rodney Baker, now former CEO of the great Canadian gaming corporation, and Ekaterina Baker, a Russian-born actress. It's believed the pair flew from Vancouver to Whitehorse on January 19th. Two days later, skipping the mandatory 14-day quarantine,

the Bakers chartered a flight nearly 500 kilometres away to Beaver Creek, Canada's westernmost community near the Alaska border. That's where they allegedly lined up outside one of these mobile vaccination clinics, posing as workers of the local motel. Staff who actually work at the motel are incensed. But the biggest red flag came after the two were immunized. But then as they were leaving, they said, could they get a lift to the airport? And after that, officials were tipped off.

Copies of the tickets show they were charged with two counts each of failing to self-isolate and failing to follow a declaration. So basically, they got a ticket. Let me just break that down. Millionaire couple takes a flight, then a charter flight to then dress up as motel workers to get the vaccine. Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.

Guys, we are talking about, as they're commonly referred to as, COVID crimes. From outright murders to beating children with COVID that don't wear their face mask and infecting mommy. To people pulling off all sorts of disguises and charter flights and long drives in order to cut the line. That's really the tip of the iceberg. Now, I love this guy, but I don't love what he said. Take a listen to Charles Barkley of the NBA. The front of the line. We need 300 million shots of giving 1,000 to some NBA players. What about NFL?

NFL, I'm just going to raise it, NFL players, hockey players, listen, as much taxes as these players pay, let me repeat that, as much taxes as these players pay, they deserve some preferential treatment. For life and death? Yes. The amount of money you make. No, I said taxes. I didn't say the amount of money you make. No, I said taxes. I didn't say the amount of money you make.

Well, that's all taxes. I'm saying the amount of taxes these guys pay. We can't go there. I don't think you could go there. He already went there. It's too late. That cow's out of the barn. The cat is out of the bag. The ship has sailed. It's over.

Barkley said it. I pay more taxes, says Barkley. So he thinks he and others like him should get the COVID vaccine. Somebody needs a little tutorial in constitutional law and what our government is all about, about equal protection under the law, regardless of your paycheck or your tax bracket. What? He should get the vaccine before my mother or my children or the makeup guy or the intern or Jackie. Why? Why is that okay? But somehow nobody called him out on it. I am. Barkley, you're wrong. And what you said not only was wrong, but it's against everything our country

is supposed to stand for but somehow covid has turned that all upside down the people in the highest tax bracket should get the shot first specifically athletes like him okay he's not the only one i I can't blame just Charles Barkley. Take a listen to this. It's up to individual states to determine who gets the vaccine and when. The frustration comes amid reports some wealthy Americans are trying to get vaccinated before they are eligible, and in some cases may have been successful. A state and federal investigation is underway after Morse Life Health System in West Palm Beach, Florida, was accused of giving vaccines to its rich donors

who do not live at its assisted living facility. It was reportedly organized by two New York real estate moguls on the board of directors. You have basically given the vaccine to hundreds and hundreds of different private providers and you're trusting that they're going to do the right thing. State Representative Omari Hardy oversees the district where Morse Life Health is located. It just goes to show that there's been one pandemic for the rich and there's been another pandemic for the rest of us who are not rich and well connected. You are hearing our friend Manuel Borges-Quez at CBS. To you, Christy Mazurek, joining us, investigative reporter and president of Successful

Strategies PR and Crisis Communications. Christy, what happened? Tell me, what is Morse Life Health System. And who are they accused of giving the vaccine to? I guess what, before the senior citizens in the rest home? That's correct. That's correct. And this guy, the owner of this health system, you know, has come under fire in the past also. So the New York State Attorney General is looking into this person. But he peeled away vaccines, simply put, for his family members, friends, the board of directors that was mentioned, his donors that subsidize different

programs at the clinic. And to be honest with you, even people that are eligible for the shot, Nancy, they're coming under fire just in the court of public opinion. O.J. Simpson posted pictures of himself getting a shot, and the public was outraged. Here in the state of New York, our governor is coming under a lot of criticism for a lot of things. But most importantly, he was called out for being out and about for not wearing masks, for ridiculing his brother, who is a news anchor, for not wearing a mask and getting COVID and potentially passing it on to family members. And then he was forced to cancel holiday plans with his kids when the public found out the girls were planning to travel in to see him

out of the state of New York and not doing his mandated quarantine. So this is happening everywhere. So I guess the rule now to you, Joe Scott Morgan, is that the rich go first. Outrage is building as real estate moguls Bill and David S. Mack arranged for mega-rich New York friends to get their vaccine at their Florida rehab center while elderly locals either don't get it or have to camp outside at night in a line in the hope that they get it. Can you imagine my mother? She can barely walk.

Camping out in a tent on the sidewalk overnight at the chance of getting the COVID vaccine while these two, Bill and David S. Mack, real estate moguls in New York, arranged for all their wealthy friends to get the vaccine at the Florida Rehab Center they own. How would that even work, Joe Scott? It's hard to know, Nancy. And I think that it all comes down to this idea of privilege. And they're manipulating the system in accordance to what they perceive their needs to be.

And also, they're bringing their friends along with it. And it goes to a bigger issue for me because I begin to hear stories like this, and I think about maybe pursuing an investigation into outright fraud in this particular case. You know, I'm just trying to figure out how does it work. Let's go to the doctor. Dr. Kendall Crowns joining us, Deputy Medical Examiner, Travis County, Texas, Austin. Dr. Crowns, how do you just present a wealthy friend in the COVID vaccine line and somehow get the vaccine? You know, Nancy, I have no idea how you could pull that off and how the healthcare

people that are providing the vaccine would allow that to happen. That's just shocking to me. I mean, I had to prove who I was. I had to bring paperwork from the county health department and show up and wait in line to get my vaccine with the other health care professionals that were getting them that day. But other than that, I don't know how you could do that with it, even with a good conscience to to deny other people the vaccine that truly need it right away. You know, I put my name in and put my mom, my husband. We still haven't gotten the vaccine. And when I think of these guys sitting up in New York City in their high rise, arranging for themselves and all their rich friends to go cut the line in

front of a bunch of elderly citizens in Florida, and they actually do it. I don't understand daryl cohen how that cannot be a crime it may be not a crime as far as the civil the penal system is concerned but it is clearly outrageous and it's a crime against humanity that's what i'm saying i don't understand how it's not a crime of a fraud of some sort because you're filling out documents that you fit into these criteria and yet you don't that's a lie that's like lying to a cop on a police report which is a sworn document but you know what those two mac and his brother are not the only two take a listen to what's going on again down in Florida. This is Tariq Minor and Mike Vasalinda. Governor is pushing back against claims his political action committee, friends of Ron DeSantis, received a large donation after vaccines were made available

to a wealthy community in the Keys. As Mike Vasalinda tells us, Florida's lone statewide elected Democrat wants the FBI to investigate the allegations. In late January, the wealthy Ocean Reef community in Key Largo was offered shots by Baptist Hospital. A month later, Bruce Rauner, a former Illinois governor and Ocean Reef resident, sent the governor's political action committee, friends of Ron DeSantis, a quarter million dollar check. The governor Thursday said his office had nothing to do with setting up the site. In the initial few three or four weeks, as you remember, the hospitals were getting the lion's share of the vaccine. But he added he was glad the hospital stepped up. You're 65 and up. I'm not worried about your

income bracket. I'm worried about your age bracket. Hours later, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Freed called on the FBI to investigate. Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Straight back to Christy Mazurik, Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter. What can you tell me about three Baltimore men facing federal charges for purporting to sell COVID vaccines? As always, Nancy, there are vultures who prey on people during troubling times. And as you mentioned, they are just the tip of the iceberg. So they created a fictitious website reporting that, hey, reach out to us, contact us, and pitched out to people, you can buy your own vaccine ahead of time.

Just put down a little deposit with us, and we'll get it right off to you. We have a guy up in upstate New York, Buffalo, New York, who did the same thing on Facebook. That's how the feds are catching these guys, Nancy. They're so pompous and arrogant with their schemes that they're doing it on social media. And people are so desperate to prevent death from occurring that they're struggling to survive. And they're getting caught and ensnared in these schemes. You know, when I was laying there with COVID and could not even get up to take care of the children, I wondered, the thought went through my mind. What if I end up in the hospital being intubated what if my husband David dies he's going to take

care of our children what's going to happen to them and now I'm reading about three Baltimore guys who tried to sell fake COVID vaccines online just to get a hold of people's credit cards? I mean, to Dr. Angela Arnold, you're the psychiatrist. I'm just a JD. You know, I'm just a trial lawyer. But who would do that? Who would take advantage of people in their fear like this with a fake vaccine just to get a hold of credit card numbers? Well, Nancy, this is a crime of opportunity, isn't it?

The hysteria over this is so high, and it has become so high, and people are waiting, and they don't want to be like you, laying in the bed, wondering if they're going to survive this or not. And you know what else? I'm sorry to say it, people that have money can make these things happen, but it's the hysteria that causes this crime of opportunity, doesn't it? And we see it in all different things. But I think that we're all particularly disgusted with this because this pandemic knows no limits. It knows no bounds.

Hey, guess what else they did, Dr. Angie? Listen to this. Guess what else they did dr angie listen to this guess what else they did they the site that they built features logos and designs similar to moderna's real site yeah and um as christy mazurk was saying it has a link for people to quote buy the vaccine ahead of time and they created a fake domain site it was moderna tx as in tax dot shop so you know i've gotten in on an email before it looked just like an american express bill the same logo the same colors the same everything it was a scam and as soon as you punch it it's a malware. It attacks your computer or your iPad. So somehow they get all your information. But again, that's the tip of the iceberg. You got these three guys

peddling fake Moderna vaccines and getting your credit card. Take a listen to what happened in Missouri. A federal grand jury has indicted this Missouri state legislature on fraud charges. Prosecutors say Representative Tricia Durges falsely promoted a treatment she was selling at medical clinics as containing stem cells that could treat various diseases, including COVID-19. The indictment also accuses the Nixa Republican of illegally providing prescription drugs to clients. Her attorney says she's presumed innocent. Dr. Kendall Crowns, Deputy Medical Examiner, joining me out of Travis County, Austin, Texas. When they say that the grand jury indicted a Missouri State Legislature member on fraud charges,

claiming there was a vaccine made from stem cells. How would that even work? I'm not 100% sure how that would work, how you would make it from stem cells at all. I mean, that totally doesn't make sense because most vaccines are based off the actual virus or bacteria or whatever they're trying to prevent, not some sort of weird stem cell research. So that in itself just seems like complete fantasy land. Yeah, see, you know that because you're a medical doctor. Dr. Angie knows that, Dr. Angela Arnold, because she's not only a medical doctor, but she's a psychiatrist as well.

But the rest of the world doesn't know that. They may think that this is some new vaccine using stem cell research and innovative techniques and actually buy it and pay for it. You were hearing Ryan Dean, five on your side at KSDK, reporting on that. Of all people, a Missouri state legislator. What about that? Joe Scott Morgan. Exactly. It's almost like if he understands,

I think, what he's doing, if he can take, you know, some, you know, kind of exotic sounding medical terminology like stem cell. I mean, how much have we heard about stem cell research over the years, you know, for reparative purposes, like people with spinal cord injuries and this sort of thing. And then you take this and you apply it toward this virus, this horrible plague that we have upon us that's got everybody in a panic. They think, wow, this really sounds like it's loaded with solid science. Let's buy into this. And again, this goes back to this idea, this underpinning of fraud. And this guy is not a stupid person. He understands this.

So that makes it all the more egregious, not to mention he's a public servant, allegedly. Guys, we're talking about a Missouri state lawmaker indicted by a grand jury for selling fake stem cell COVID treatments and illegally prescribing oxycodone and Adderall. But you keep saying he? It's a woman. Do I have this right? Is State Representative Tricia Durgess from Nixa, Missouri? Do I have that right? I mean, you think.

I see all the pictures of her holding her dogs and her with a stethoscope as a doctor. She looks like Florence Nightingale, Nancy. She does. I'm looking right at her. Do I have the right person, Christy? She has absolutely no guilt because as recently as last week, she's trying to solicit support for some of the bills that she has. Okay, so it's not just these three guys in Baltimore.

Now you've got a state lawmaker trying to take advantage of COVID fear. Well, okay, I hope you're sitting down. Take a listen to our longtime friend Jim Morate, Inside Edition. And a surfer dude who claimed to have cooked up a COVID vaccine months before Pfizer or Moderna is facing federal charges. 55-year-old John Stein built a homemade lab in Seattle with equipment he bought on eBay. Got one of these for a song, but that song was about $5,000. Then he injected himself and 30 others with the vaccine, which feds call an untested, untried, and potentially unsafe substance,

and charged up to $1,000 per injection. He denies wrongdoing. Okay, Christy, I'm actually a little afraid to ask, but it goes from three guys in Baltimore to a state lawmaker in Missouri. Now I've got a surfer dude in on the act. What happened? Well, and he not only was promoting the fact that he had COVID-19 shots, he also has concocted some cancer vaccine. So he's far-reaching on this. This is someone who's in the bowels of society.

I guess the term snake oil salesman would be appropriate for this guy, Daryl Cohen. Oh, I love snake oil. I mean, look, but Nancy, there's another part to this. These peoplearyl Cohen. Oh, I love snake oil. I mean, look, but Nancy, there's another part to this. These people are scum. There's no question about it. But the public has got to pay attention to CDC. They've got to pay attention to. Don't you understand people are desperate? Yeah, but they're also gullible. People are desperate for a cure. They'll do anything. and this guy's actually injecting people he didn't just advertise it he injected people launching his vaccine scheme in seattle washington back in march

posting online 400 to a thousand dollars and then he stupidly offered the jabs to undercover agents sent in by the fda they're telling how many people he actually jabbed, Darrell. Look, I don't say that he is a good guy. He's a terrible guy. But I also say that we as the American public have to pay a little bit more attention to the real news. Pay attention to CC. Please, Darrell, you with your law degree.

Yeah, maybe you can decipher that. But not everyone has the benefit of a four-year degree at a fancy school plus a law degree. Daryl, a lot of people out there don't understand what's happening. And they get these emails and these advertisements and they believe it and they're desperate. COVID crimes. It's sadly not over yet. Keep the faith, friend. Nancy Grace, Crime Story, signing off. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.