Infomercial Chiropractor Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Practicing Medicine Without License, Grand Theft

May 30, 2018 |   

A chiropractor who regularly appeared on a local television morning show in Sacramento was sentenced yesterday following a guilty plea in February. 

James Joseph Martin was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation after he plead guilty on charges that he practiced medicine without a license, four counts of grand theft by false pretenses and misdemeanor charges of illegally using ‘MD’ and ‘physician’ in advertisements. Martin was also ordered to surrender his chiropractic license and prohibited from portraying himself as someone who practices functional or pastoral medicine.

Martin's infomercials (see below) appeared regularly on ABC10’s Sac&Co morning show. In those spots, Martin, a licensed chiropractor, portrayed himself as a functional neurologist who practiced metabolic or pastoral medicine, specializing in treating conditions of the thyroid, neuropathy and other health conditions. 

Several of Martin’s patients was under the impression he was a medical doctor. Some patients paid thousands of dollars for his treatment, which primarily consisted of Martin prescribing over the counter supplements and then selling them at a significant mark up.