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St. Louis Pediatrician Gets 20-Year Sentence

A physician exploited patients with addiction for nearly a decade, trading prescriptions for sex acts, photos, and cash

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Craig A. Spiegel, a former pediatrician from St. Louis County, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on March 25, 2026, for illegally distributing controlled substances to at least 19 patients in exchange for sexual acts, nude photos, or cash. Between 2014 and May 2023, he prescribed dangerous combinations of addictive drugs, often preying on patients with substance use disorder. Spiegel's illegal actions resulted in substantial financial losses for Medicare and Medicaid, and he faced additional penalties for lying under oath during the investigation.

Original Source(s)

St. Louis Pediatrician Gets 20-Year Sentence

  • by Kerri Miller

  • March 26, 2026

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