SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state lawmaker indicted on federal fraud charges for falsely promoting a treatment as having stem cells to help with COVID-19 and other illnesses has been stripped of some of her legislative power.
House Speaker Rob Vescovo on Monday removed fellow Republican Rep. Tricia Derges from all her committee assignments after a federal grand jury indicted the Nixa legislator on fraud charges.
She allegedly falsely promoted a treatment she was selling at medical clinics as containing stem cells that could treat various diseases, including COVID-19.
The 20-count indictment unsealed Monday also accuses the 63-year-old of illegally providing prescription drugs to clients and making false statements to federal agents investigating the case.