On April 3, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah dismissed all felony charges against Spokane businessman Robert McKinley, just days after his federal trial was set to begin. McKinley had been indicted alongside eight others in a high-profile case involving the sale of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.
The trial, which was scheduled to begin on March 28, 2025, stemmed from a sweeping 2022 indictment that alleged more than $100 million in fraudulent activity across several businesses selling nutraceuticals online. The government charged McKinley with 18 felony counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. Following more than two years of protracted litigation and discovery disputes, seven of the nine co-defendants pled guilty to felony charges and are all awaiting sentencing. McKinley, however, always maintained his innocence and denied any knowing involvement in the government’s alleged crimes. The dismissal of the indictment in its entirety as it pertains to McKinley is a vindication long in coming.
“The dismissal of the charges reflects what we had told the government all along – that Mr. McKinley was peripherally involved with the other defendants and never knowingly participated in any criminal activity, much less defrauded anyone,” said Sheppard Mullin partner Chuck Kreindler, McKinley’s lead defense attorney and chair of the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations practice.
In order to put the entire matter behind him, McKinley pleaded guilty to a one-count misdemeanor for the misbranding of a product known as “Immunity Shield” for which he was sentenced to 12 months of probation. At the sentencing, the government admitted that there were no victims, and the Court found that McKinley did not engage in any fraudulent conduct.
With the matter resolved, McKinley looks forward to continuing with his business interests.
In addition to Kreindler, the Sheppard Mullin defense team included special counsel Melissa Eaves and associates Krista Landis and Uma Fry Demetria. Derek Young from Moll & Young PLLC also assisted in the defense.
Original source can be found here.