A former St. Louis-area pediatrician, Craig A. Spiegel, has pleaded guilty to prescribing pain pills, Adderall, and other controlled substances in exchange for sex, nude photos, and cash.Federal prosecutors say Spiegel, 69, ran the illegal scheme for nearly a decade, knowingly giving out prescriptions with no legitimate medical reason often to women he had once treated as children.
In many cases, he wrote prescriptions to women battling serious addiction issues, fully aware of the danger to their mental and physical health. He admitted to performing these exchanges at his former pediatric office in Bridgeton, Missouri. Some of the prescriptions were written under other people’s names to exploit insurance benefits. One co-defendant, April Bingham, who introduced other women to Spiegel, also pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to 21 months in 2024.
Prosecutors say the illegal activity caused over $114,000 in losses to Medicare and Medicaid. Spiegel also admitted to lying under oath in federal court during a prior hearing, falsely accusing Bridgeton police of misconduct in an effort to suppress evidence.
Spiegel will be sentenced on March 24, 2026. He faces up to 45 years in federal prison if given the maximum penalty.
If you or someone you know was impacted by Dr. Spiegel’s actions, contact HHS-OIG at 800-447-8477.
