This is the ONLY official archived legal webpage of Dr. Vincent Dammai
Falsehood will fly, as it were, on the wings of the wind, and carry its tales to every corner of the earth; whilst truth lags behind; her steps, though sure, are slow and solemn - Thomas Francklin (1721-1784), English Clergyman and Writer
Dammai Morgan Scientific Consultants (DMSC) was established with a vision to empower biotech companies with powerful tools to advance scientific discovery and develop futuristic technologies and marketable products.
A legal case was unsealed in late December 2011 by Southern District of Texas that falsely charged Dr.Dammai of conspiracy to use stem cells to treat MS, ALS, Parkinson's and 'other autoimmune disorders'. DOJ/FBI and FDA alleged these events occurred prior to 2010. The case is directly linked to criminal activities of South Carolina state senator Stephen Lewis Goldfinch Jr. who, through his company Caledonia Consulting LLC (Mount Pleasant, SC), illegally supplied (without Dr.Dammai's knowledge) stem cells produced for research purposes to unlicensed clinics for treating patients (click here). DOJ/FBI and FDA crafted a twisted narrative to target Dr.Dammai, by hiding crucial facts and covering-up Stephen Goldfinch's leading role in the scam, until a pioneering investigative report by FITSNews exposed Goldfinch. FITSNews's publication in October 2013, approximately 2 months after Dr.Dammai's plea to misdemeanor, forced DOJ into filing criminal information on Stephen Goldfinch in Texas (click here to read about efforts by citizens/patients to bring Goldfinch to justice). Until FITSNews broke the story, DOJ/FBI and FDA had been hiding the involvement of Stephen Goldfinch and his partner Yair Adereth to spread the falsehood that Dr.Dammai had dealings with patients and treatments. Government officials knew well that as an independent "outside" consultant Dr.Dammai had no visibility beyond contractual agreements for in vitro technology development. While detailed criminal counts on the kingpins Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth have yet to be brought forward to inform public of the full extent of their crimes, in the criminal information filed in Texas, FDA/DOJ were compelled to finally admit the direct link between Stephen Goldfinch and Francisco Morales (and others), confirming FITSNews's revelations. [In January 2014, after examining evidence at a hearing, federal magistrate judge Frances Stacy DISMISSED all charges related to FDA and DOJ/FBI's false narrative and pronounced JUDGMENTS in Dr. Dammai's favor to close the case as a technical violation of 'mislabeling' with $500 fine, a FDA class C misdemeanor for not labeling vials stating "for research use only" and "not for human use" which could have prevented misuse]. After prosecutors failed to meet even the lowest burden of proof, i.e., "preponderance of evidence" standard, judge Stacy RULED that Dr.Dammai's activities between 2006-2010 were consistent with a university faculty's normal consulting engagements with outside companies for technology development and as such constituted legal earnings/work. Dr.Dammai thus can work in any FDA-regulated industry/settings in research, clinical, or other professional and leadership capacities without restrictions. See CASE CLOSED below.
When the case was first unsealed, despite full knowledge of the truth, FBI/FDA released an intentionally falsified recital to the public - hiding the involvement of Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth, and commingling with another unrelated high-profile 24-count indictment - to create a false narrative that Dr.Dammai knew F.M and L.S. Government officials disseminated degenerate statements, heady and lucrative stories (USDOJ), prompting emboldened and sensational writings by media, lay persons and nescient 'experts', distorting public perception at will. Importantly, this false narrative was spread to etch an indelible image that Dr.Dammai had knowledge of the patients and benefited from financial proceeds described in the 24-count indictment, which is a complete falsehood. Despite lacking any evidence, DOJ/FBI and FDA carefully crafted this false narrative in order to influence the course of justice and coverup Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth's crimes (see link here). As evidence would later prove, Dr.Dammai had NO CONNECTION with FM/LS case and absolutely no participation in the events described in the 24-count indictment. The deliberate path of falsehood taken by DOJ/FBI and FDA, to sow prejudice by altering the truth, scorn the fundamental right to due process, violate equal justice under the law and discredit the rightful fruits of pursuit of justice. [Within few months of the indictments, after deriving intended benefits, federal prosecutors entered in court proceedings that Dr. Dammai was NOT involved with F.M/L.S case. By mid-2012, F.M/L.S case was publicly announced as 'separate case' and new characters were introduced into that story, i.e., an unnamed pathologist in Bryan/College Station, Texas and an unnamed laboratory somewhere in South Carolina that produced 'patient-specific factors'. DOJ press releases stated that pleas in that case were obtained in September, 2012. It's unclear why weren't the Bryan/College Station pathologist and South Carolina laboratory in F.M/L.S case ever prosecuted]
Dr.Dammai's Case Resolution: On July 30, 2013, based on FDA's application of existing statute to stem cells, Dr.Dammai agreed to a narrowly-worded misdemeanor plea, as quoted from the plea: "stem cells and packaging did not contain any directions for use", a 'mislabeling' technical violation incurred during technology development. This FDA technicality, as per the plea agreement, DOES NOT involve any "intent to defraud or mislead".
Dr.Dammai DID NOT agree to conspiracy or any other false charges by DOJ/FBI and FDA. Those charges were confronted on January 27, 2014 at a hearing, resulting in JUDGMENTS by federal judge DISMISSING the charges after reviewing evidence. The final JUDGMENTS by Frances Stacy deemed the work done by Dr.Dammai between 2006-2010 as an independent consultant was consistent with a university faculty's normal engagements with outside companies and RULED that Dr.Dammai's portion constituted legal earnings. [SEE CASE CLOSED BELOW and Public Statements]
However, DOJ and FDA's press releases regarding the plea contains canards, errors and distortions. DOJ/FBI and FDA exploited the plea agreement as an opportunity to spread more lies via official press releases. In light of continuing efforts at the time by Dr.Dammai's attorneys to seek a verdict on the unresolved charges at an impending post-plea hearing (held on January 27, 2014), these factually false press releases circumvented due process by intentionally making gross misrepresentations of the plea document and court proceedings. For example, the press release headline reads "..plea to introducing stem cells into interstate commerce", which is factually a lie. Dr.Dammai's plea was to mislabeling and not for introduction into any interstate commerce; which requires actual sale (commerce); and Dr.Dammai never sold, while Stephen Goldfinch did sell across state lines. Further, Dr.Dammai's plea agreement carried a maximum $1,000 fine WITHOUT an intent to defraud or mislead. DOJ/FBI and FDA altered this fact and instead stated in press release that "Dammai faces up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine", describing a different FDA statute (not in the plea agreement) that is applied when "intent to defraud or mislead" is found, thereby altering the truth in the plea and spreading defamatory lies through federal government wires and communication channels that are blindly trusted by the public as sources of truthful information.
Other lies in the press releases of DOJ/FBI and FDA regarding the plea are pointed out below:
(1) 'Mislabeling' in Dr.Dammai's case was on strict-liability basis. It carried a statutory maximum fine of $1000. Dr.Dammai had no knowledge of FM.
(2) Strategic mention of ALS, MS and Parkinson's in press releases intentionally perpetuates (false) links with F.M and L.S case. These diseases were excluded from Dr.Dammai's plea and superseding information for legally valid reasons. Further, the latest version of F.M/L.S case (here) differs vastly from the original DOJ narrative (here). Dr.Dammai was NOT involved in F.M and L.S case, which was a separate case NOT LINKED to Dr.Dammai/Dr.Ramon.
(3) The press releases state: "Dammai acknowledged he was ONLY authorized to conduct research in kidney cancer...and not permitted to..." FALSE STATEMENTS. Dr.Dammai did not acknowledge such things in plea document or in court proceedings. Dr.Dammai had multiple research studies related to kidney cancers as well as stem cell projects.
(4) The press releases state: During the plea....Dammai also admitted he "did not have any 'formal training' in how to process stem cells." Public can readily verify from transcript of court proceeding and plea document that Dr.Dammai DID NOT admit any such thing. Dr. Dammai's technical expertise is evidenced by: research in Dr.Dammai's laboratory for over 5 years, stem cell related grants with Dr.Dammai as the principle investigator (and scored as 'Excellent' by experts), lab thesis work and publications under revision.
(5) F.M is mentioned as "co-conspirator" to deliberately plant falsehood that the plea was to conspiracy of interstate commerce, which is the big lie. Dr.Dammai DID NOT agree to any conspiracy and such language was explicitly excluded from the legally valid plea agreement and superseding information. Dr.Dammai DID NOT enter into conspiracy with F.M, neither did Dr.Dammai have a direct connection to FM, nor did Dr.Dammai ever discuss any aspect related to patients, diseases or treatments with FM. In explaining Dr.Dammai's plea to Prentiss Findlay of The Post and Courier (responding to the lies in FDA and DOJ/FBI press releases), Dr.Dammai's lead attorney Jim Lavine stressed the fact that Dr.Dammai did not enter into conspiracy with anyone (Public Statements). Dr.Dammai NEVER sold or shipped stem cells to FM and had no knowledge of FM. {From Jan 27th hearing (see below), it is clear that DOJ/FBI and FDA lacked even a single piece of evidence on any conspiracy. Lack of evidence could not restrain DOJ/FBI and FDA from disseminating falsehood to public via official press releases to deliberately suppress the truth contained in the plea agreement and circumvent court proceedings}
(6) DOJ falsely represents Dr.Dammai by continuing to conceal the truth that Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth (Caledonia Consulting) were the main suppliers of stem cells to F.Morales (and others). Goldfinch and Adereth made $ 5 million from their stem cell operations.
(7) DOJ altered the truth about sources of cord blood and stem cells to shift blame away from Goldfinch. For example, contrary to DOJ press releases (here and here), Dr. Ramon was never involved with Caledonia Consulting. While admitting (see press releases) that Dr.Ramon had indeed obtained informed consent for all the cord blood he collected, DOJ/FBI and FDA still proceeded to indict Dr.Ramon. By contrast, DOJ/FBI and FDA opted to conceal the big truth that Stephen Goldfinch (and his cord blood suppliers at the two Conway,SC clinics) did not have informed consent from the mothers for any of the cord blood he collected, thereby protecting Stephen Goldfinch from indictment by grand jury. This calls into question how DOJ/FBI and FDA manipulated the grand jury to obtain selective indictments and thus violated constitutional rights of equal protection under the law. FITSNews's investigation ultimately was responsible for revealing to public that two Conway, SC clinics supplied cord blood and tissues to Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth (see here).
(8) A small portion of money received by Dr.Dammai for consulting was later evidenced to be linked to sales by Fredda Branyon. A total of $55,200 was returned to Fredda Branyon by Dr.Dammai to cover this portion. In any case, ALL money involving Dr.Dammai's consulting activities between 2006-2010 was RULED as legal earnings by judge Frances Stacy.
(9) Public following this case must read the plea agreement for the truth and NOT rely on these false DOJ/FBI and FDA press releases. Malicious false witness is seriously damaging Dr.Dammai's efforts to regain normalcy after a financially draining 3-year legal battle. It is important to realize that the misdemeanor plea to 'mislabeling' is a lawful resolution based on the large body of evidence and facts related to Dr.Dammai's technology development and consulting activities beginning 2006 and ending in 2010. Considering the significant amount of time and effort that went into formulating a congruous resolution, the integrity of the legal process is only ensured by faithful reproduction of the content of superseding information, plea document and plea proceedings in court, and not by psittacism, falsehoods and classless chatter devoid of higher-order social values.
CASE CLOSED: US magistrate judge Hon.Frances Stacy presided over the hearing held on January 27, 2014 to rule on evidence related to the charges contested by Dr.Dammai. In reviewing the evidence from both sides, Hon.Frances Stacy began probing deeper into a set of documents presented by prosecutor Cedric LaRue Joubert which directly contradicted his own claims. On its face, these documents were exculpatory and provided clear proof in support of Dr.Dammai's arguments, which judge Stacy could readily conclude even on a cursory reading. Yet, this prosecutor Cedric LaRue Joubert was making twisted and irrational misrepresentations of the documents, and pushing diametrically opposite arguments to mislead the judge after getting caught with the exculpatory evidence (prosecutors had withheld this exculpatory evidence from Dr.Dammai's legal defense team throughout the 3 year ordeal). Judge Stacy also noted the absence of the FDA and FBI agents whose investigative pursuits were so dramatized in FDA and DOJ/FBI press releases. Judge Stacy inquired why these FDA and FBI agents, who were scheduled to testify on their investigative findings, were not present in the courtroom to testify under oath at the hearing. Cedric LaRue Joubert replied, "they are not here and will not be testifying". After nearly three hours of questioning by judge Stacy, Cedric LaRue Joubert failed to present even a single piece of evidence on any of the charges, falling well short of the "preponderance of evidence" standard, the lowest level of burden of proof. In the end, based on collective evidence, judge Frances Stacy concluded in favor of Dr.Dammai and pronounced JUDGMENTS against the falsified FDA and DOJ/FBI charges, DISMISSED all indictments and closed the case as class C misdemeanor with $500 fine for mislabeling. The judge also RULED the technology development activities by Dr.Dammai as an independent outside consultant (2006-2010) constituted legal earnings. With no pending issues, the case was closed and all legal actions ended {transcript of this hearing is entered into court records, therefore, the summary presented above can be verified from archived court transcript}.
After spreading falsehood for several years via official press releases and media statements, FDA and DOJ/FBI did not issue press release(s) on the final outcome of Dr.Dammai's case following JUDGMENTS by Judge Stacy. The immensely destructive falsehood is left to persist, in its many manifestations, even to this day. Mothers duped by Stephen Goldfinch and Adereth still remain victims of their fraud, fully aided by the coverup by DOJ/FBI and FDA.
For general public unfamiliar with the scientific and legal jargon, Dr.Dammai's case can be viewed as: conspiracy and other charges related to government's false narrative constituted 85% of the case, and technical error in packaging documents/labels related to 'mislabeling' accounted for 15% of the case. The biological material was NOT sales related. Dr.Dammai agreed with the 15% 'mislabeling', as per July 30, 2013 plea, a class C misdemeanor with statutory maximum of $1,000 fine. Dr.Dammai disagreed with the 85% of the case and on January 27, 2014, finding conclusive evidence AGAINST the false charges brought forth by DOJ/FBI and FDA, judge Frances Stacy DISMISSED all charges related to the 85% portion.
*Earlier on the same day (January 27, 2014), Hon.Frances Stacy ended Dr.Ramon's case by imposing a $1000 fine and 2-yr probation for his plea resolution to FDA 'mislabeling' misdemeanor, which is also NOT linked to F.M and L.S case.
*Court records show Fredda Branyon (RN,ND) withdrew her guilty plea to count-one felony misbranding (entered 8/18/2011) and instead pleaded to a superseding single-count of misdemeanor 'mislabeling' for selling 183 vials of stem cells through Global Laboratories LLC. Thus, Branyon's case also concluded as a misdemeanor on 5/17/2014 with $1000 fine and 1-yr probation. Court filings of misdemeanor plea shows Branyon's charges were NOT linked to F.M and L.S case.
Involvement of SC senator Stephen Goldfinch in stem cells case:
Beginning with a mention in Fredda Branyon's plea (8/18/2011), Caledonia Consulting Company LLC (SCSOS) is referred to at various stages of this case. Caledonia operated between February 2006-December 2008 and was co-owned by Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth (previously at GE Biotech Technologies, Tel Aviv, Israel and worked briefly for VAYU Sense, Israel). Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth sold purified stem cells to unlicensed clinics in a multi-year/multi-state criminal operation that promoted stem cell use for treatment of incurable diseases in desperately ill patients (click here for more). To run the scam, Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth directly coordinated operations with unlicensed clinics, including Francisco Morales. In 2008, after three years of running a fraudulent business, Goldfinch and Adereth decided to sell their illegal operations for a quick profit. To accomplish this, Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth obtained by deceit few photographs of scientific equipment and facilities of a local university (Medical University of South Carolina), and presented these photographs to a prospective buyer (Fredda Branyon, RN,ND) to support their fraudulent claims that they owned a sophisticated stem cell production facility in Charleston, which is factually a lie. This cunning trickery worked and Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth successfully managed to ink the sale of Caledonia Consulting for $1.5 million to Fredda Branyon and, as part of this sale, Caledonia's existing stem cell inventory (360 vials) was transferred to Branyon at a valuation of $300,000 (Fredda Branyon paid Stephen Goldfinch for purchase of Caledonia Consulting LLC plus its stem cell inventory). Stephen Goldfinch shipped 360 vials of stem cells to Fredda Branyon after receiving this payment from Branyon. Since Yair Adereth and Stephen Goldfinch didn't actually own a stem cell production facility (Caledonia Consulting was a paper company registered in South Carolina), what exactly was sold for $1.5 million (apart from the 360 vials sold for $300,000) is a question worth asking that would uncover yet another dimension of the Goldfinch/Adereth fraud. What was happening at John's Island residential home, the registered address of Goldfinch and Adereth's "Biotech company", is also worth exploring to undertand their depravity. In any case, Goldfinch and Adereth managed to sell Caledonia Consulting, and subsequently Fredda Branyon formed Global Laboratories LLC with the starting inventory of 360 vials of stem cells purchased from Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth. DOJ/FBI and FDA covered up these crucial facts, the biggest pieces of the puzzle in this case, to protect Goldfinch. Stephen Goldfinch was the kingpin that illegally marketed, sold and shipped stem cells across interstate borders to Francisco Morales, David Steenblock and others throughout their 3-year business operations under Caledonia Consulting company name. The crucial historical facts, of Stephen Goldfinch's 3-year fraudulent stem cell business and shipment of 360 vials of stem cells to Fredda Branyon, were deliberately covered up by DOJ/FBI and FDA to perpetuate a false narrative and influence the course of justice, until FITSNews broke the story on Stephen Goldfinch in October, 2013. Subsequently, patients and citizens also gathered direct evidence on Stephen Goldfinch's fraud and published documents online.
FITSNews first exposed (stem cell probe) Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth's activities with Francisco Morales (and others) on October 7th 2013, forcing DOJ to file criminal information on Stephen Goldfinch Jr. one month later. Yair Adereth quickly left USA to Israel, avoiding criminal charges. Criminal information filed by DOJ showed that Stephen Goldfinch sold and shipped stem cells to Francisco Morales throughout the 3-yr period between 2006-2008. Stephen Goldfinch reportedly "bragged about making 5 million dollars off the sale and distribution of stem cells in Texas." Dr.Dammai's involvement with Caledonia Consulting LLC was strictly confined to technology development and is accounted for in the plea. Dr.Dammai had NO knowledge of Caledonia Consulting's various clients and all Caledonia Consulting's downstream activities were hidden from Dr.Dammai. Stephen Golfinch and Yair Adereth were in direct phone and email contact with unlicensed doctors who administered stem cells to desperately ill patients, visited the clinics operated by these doctors and closely coordinated operations with these unlicensed clinics, clearly an extensive conspiracy that DOJ/FBI and FDA worked so hard to cover up, until FITSNews exposed it all. Due to the active status of this investigation Dr.Dammai will refrain from making clarifications on this issue.
Federal investigators (FDA and FBI) have had detailed knowledge of all Caledonia's operations since the investigation began in 2010, but only moved to file criminal information on Stephen Goldfinch in late 2013 after FITSNews published a pioneering investigative report exposing Goldfinch's main role in the stem cell scam with Francisco Morales and others. Stephen Goldfinch told South Strand News that the prosecutors assigned to this case "had no choice but to go forward with the case" after FITSNews outed Goldfinch. Stephen Goldfinch further claimed that the lead prosecutor (Samuel J Louis, AKA, Sam Louis) apologized to him and his wife for making the decision to prosecute him. Stephen Goldfinch plans to plead guilty to federal charges contained in the 'criminal information', signaling his agreement with the criminal charges filed in Texas. Dr.Dammai has responded appropriately to Goldfinch's tall tales told to Georgetown Times and other media outlets to deceive public: The State, Coastal Observer, Jack Lamson (WPDE, Carolina Live), Meg Kinnard (AP) and Rick Brundrett (The Nerve). Dr.Dammai's response to Stephen Goldfinch's false witness is presented above and further information can be found here.
Stephen Goldfinch's insouciant re-election campaign, and the unscrupulous lies and craven false witness about his criminal charges (1, 2, 3 WPDE interview) attracted significant statewide attention during SC House District 108 elections, 2014. DOJ/FBI and FDA did not elaborate on the sordid details of Stephen Goldfinch's "heinous" crimes in the criminal information filed in texas, allowing Goldfinch the perfect opportunity to spin a tale to media that somehow "employee's crimes" led to federal charges against him, which of course is a blatant false witness. In the final analysis, public was accurately informed by FITSNews reporting that Stephen Goldfinch's miserable life is built on fraud, crime, deceit and false witness. The corrupt government officials at DOJ/FBI and FDA continue to coverup Stephen Goldfinch and Yair Adereth's crimes despite petitions from citizens and patients to bring these individuals to justice.
Related news resources are here: He is staying put; A Problem; Suspension Urged; Avoid Rally with GOP Lawmaker; Almost
