A jury found Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 56, guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, according to the statement.
Middlebrook solicited multiple investors through text messages as well as videos and statements posted on YouTube and Instagram in March 2020, authorities said.
He was arrested that month by the FBI after delivering pills of the alleged COVID-19 cure to an undercover agent posing as an investor, the Attorney’s Office revealed.
Middlebrook claimed to have a miraculous “patent-pending” cure for COVID-19, which he called “QC20” and a preventive treatment, called “QP20.” He falsely promised the investments would have 100 percent guaranteed “enormous returns” completely risk-free, the statement said.
The part-time actor even falsely claimed he had received an offer from Dubai to acquire his companies for $10 billion, and that former Los Angeles Lakers star Earvin “Magic” Johnson was a director of the company.
Evidence shown at the trial revealed Middlebrook solicited investments from companies in California, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Colorado, according to authorities.
Middlebrook was released on a $150,000 bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9 and he could get up to 20 years in jail for each wire fraud count, the statement said.
