Investigators say public health programs lost $114,480 as part of the case.
ST. LOUIS — Craig A. Spiegel, a former Bridgeton pediatrician, pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges that he exchanged prescriptions for controlled substances with adult women in return for sex acts, explicit photos or cash.
The plea resolves the criminal phase of a case that began with a March 2024 indictment and documented a pattern of prescribing from at least 2014 through May 2023. Prosecutors said Spiegel’s conduct violated basic medical standards and fueled misuse of drugs such as opioids and stimulants. The case drew on work by local police and federal agents and involved patients linked to his pediatric practice. Sentencing is set for March 24, 2026, when a judge will weigh the severity of the conduct, the financial losses and the risk posed to patients, according to officials.
In court, Spiegel admitted to one count of illegal distribution of controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of making false statements related to health care matters. He acknowledged writing prescriptions to adult women—some of whom he first met when they were children under his care—without legitimate medical purpose. Prosecutors said at least one woman performed sex acts at his Bridgeton office or sent nude photos to obtain pain pills or Adderall. Another received a combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine and either a stimulant or muscle relaxer despite what investigators called a severe substance use disorder. Officials said Spiegel pressured some women to engage in sex acts or provide photos and that he lied under oath in April 2025 while accusing officers of misconduct during a cellphone search.
Authorities said the Medicare, Missouri Medicaid and Illinois Medicaid programs lost a combined $114,480 through claims tied to the illegal prescriptions. Investigators also focused on co-defendant April Bingham, 48, who, they said, received prescriptions from Spiegel in exchange for sexual favors and sold some of the drugs. To help Bingham obtain controlled substances and tap into insurance benefits, Spiegel used names belonging to her relatives and friends, according to court documents. Bingham previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and received a 21-month federal sentence in 2024. Officials credited the Bridgeton Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Health and Human Services inspector general and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud unit with building the case.
The 2024 indictment detailed how Spiegel, then 67, allegedly ignored red flags that prescriptions were being abused or diverted. Investigators said they identified at least 25 people tied to exchanges of cash or sex acts for prescriptions. One example cited by prosecutors involved repeated scripts for Adderall, Xanax and Percocet after topless sex acts. The conduct, they said, undermined efforts to curb misuse of powerful medications in the St. Louis region and placed patients at risk. The accusations against Spiegel echoed a broader set of cases in which medical professionals faced charges for abusing prescribing authority and making false statements to insurers or federal programs.
Each of the two drug counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; the false statements count carries up to five years and a $250,000 fine. A judge will consider advisory guidelines, any restitution and impact statements, along with Spiegel’s age and admissions, before imposing the sentence. Prosecutors identified Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Sestric and Jonathan Clow as leading the case. Officials have not said whether any licensing actions are pending or whether additional civil penalties will follow. The court could order restitution related to public program losses at or before sentencing.
Outside court, law enforcement leaders framed the plea as a step toward accountability. Michael Davis, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s regional special agent in charge, said the agency will prioritize cases where trusted professionals contribute to the misuse of potent prescription drugs. Former patients and neighbors near the Bridgeton office described heavy foot traffic before the practice closed, and one former patient’s family said the plea offered “validation” after years of questions. Advocates for people in recovery called the admissions “serious” and said they hoped the case would deter similar conduct.
Spiegel is due back in federal court in St. Louis for sentencing on March 24, 2026. Additional filings are expected early next year to outline the guideline range and any restitution recommendations.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.