SAN DIEGO–A judge sentenced Keith Allen Barton, 51, to six years and four months in local prison for his role in treating patients without a medical license. Judge Amalia Meza ordered Barton to serve five years in custody and one year and four months on mandatory supervision.
In January, a jury found Barton guilty of six felony counts of treating patients without a medical license, one count of false personation and three counts related to grand theft. The defendant claimed to be a medical doctor and promised patients he could cure cancer and HIV. He also advised a woman with autoimmune disease to surgically extract all of her teeth and to take an ineffective treatment called “dendritic cellular therapy.” The jury announced their verdict after two days of deliberations.
“By posing as an M.D., providing fake cures and charging thousands of dollars, this defendant showed a callous disregard for seriously ill people,” DA Dumanis said. “Deputy District Attorney, Gina Darvas, of our Consumer Unit, works to hold individuals who pose as physicians accountable for the harm done to desperate victims and their families.”
In addition to the two named victims, additional family members of others treated by Barton appeared at the sentencing hearing. Gabrielle Haynes and Rebecca Hyde told the judge that Barton recommended tooth extraction for their family members. Hyde told Judge Meza that her sister never recovered from having all of her teeth removed. Barton, never followed up on his promise of providing dentures to this victim. He instead, gave her a set of joke teeth. Judge Meza said that today’s sentence reflects Barton’s indifference and almost cruelty to his victims. She also noted society’s commitment to punish these types of crimes.
This case is a reminder that consumers need to be particularly wary of unapproved ‘miracle’ cures. In a similar criminal case prosecuted by the District Attorney, Robert Young of the pH Miracle Center has been charged with multiple counts of practicing medicine and theft by false pretenses. Young and two co-defendants have been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 20, 2014.
