Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid

A summary of what happened?

Overview of Concerns and Complaints Against Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid

1. Illegal Acquisition of N95 Masks:
   • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mofid purchased over 375,000 N95 masks, which were designated as scarce under the Defense Production Act.
   • She knowingly violated legal restrictions on accumulating such supplies.
2. Collaboration with Son:
   • Her son, Adam Zohdi Mofid, sold these masks through his company, Clinical Supplies USA, at exorbitant prices.
   • Masks were sold at 300% to 400% markup, generating approximately $15.76 million.
3. Violation of Defense Production Act:
   • Both Dr. Mofid and her son pleaded guilty to misdemeanor violations of this federal law.
4. Sentencing and Penalties:
   • Dr. Mofid received two years of probation, a $100,000 fine, and 200 hours of community service.
   • Her son received two years of probation, 60 days of home confinement, a $1.2 million fine, and 200 hours of community service.
5. Ethical Concerns:
   • The incident raised questions about Dr. Mofid’s ethical conduct as a healthcare professional.
   • Price-gouging of critical medical supplies during a global health crisis is seen as a severe breach of trust and professional ethics.
6. Public Acknowledgment:
   • Dr. Mofid issued a public apology, expressing regret for her actions and emphasizing her commitment to compassionate medical care.

This case has attracted significant attention due to the implications of profiteering from essential medical resources during a public health emergency.

Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)

Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.

What was Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid trying to hide?

Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid may be trying to remove from the internet –

Comprehensive Investigative Report on Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid

Introduction

Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid, a prominent dermatologist based in San Diego, California, is known for her extensive contributions to dermatology, particularly in melanoma awareness and skin cancer prevention. However, her reputation has been significantly marred by allegations of unethical conduct related to profiteering during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report delves into the legal, ethical, and professional controversies surrounding Dr. Mofid, including her involvement in the illegal accumulation and sale of N95 masks during a time of acute global crisis.

Professional Background

Dr. Mofid is a highly trained medical professional with an impressive resume:

• Education and Training: She received her medical degree from the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed her dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• Leadership Roles: Dr. Mofid served as the Clinic Director of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins and was elected as the youngest president of the Maryland Dermatologic Society.
• Affiliations: She is affiliated with the Sharp Community Medical Group, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, and serves as Medical Director of the American Melanoma Foundation.

Despite her professional accomplishments, her recent legal troubles have overshadowed her contributions to medicine.

Allegations and Legal Case: N95 Mask Hoarding and Price Gouging

Context of the Case

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), especially N95 respirator masks, skyrocketed. In response, the U.S. government invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA), which classified N95 masks as scarce and essential items, making their hoarding and price-gouging illegal. Despite this, Dr. Mofid and her son, Adam Zohdi Mofid, engaged in a scheme to profit from these critical resources.

Accusations

1. Illegal Purchase of N95 Masks:
   • Dr. Mofid used her access to wholesale medical supply accounts to acquire over 375,000 N95 masks.
   • These purchases occurred between May 2020 and January 2021, a period when N95 masks were critically needed by frontline workers.
2. Excessive Pricing:
   • The masks were resold through Clinical Supplies USA, a company operated by her son.
   • The masks were sold at prices averaging 300% to 400% above their purchase cost, resulting in gross revenue of approximately $15.76 million.
3. Violation of Federal Law:
   • Both Dr. Mofid and her son pleaded guilty to misdemeanor violations of the DPA. This law specifically prohibits the hoarding and profiteering of essential goods during a national emergency.

Sentencing

In July 2023, both Dr. Mofid and her son were sentenced:

• Dr. Mofid:
  • Two years of probation.
  • A $100,000 fine.
  • 200 hours of community service.
• Adam Mofid:
  • Two years of probation, including 60 days of home confinement.
  • A $1.2 million fine.
  • 200 hours of community service.

Ethical Considerations

The actions of Dr. Mofid and her son have raised serious ethical concerns:

1. Breach of Medical Ethics:
   • As a physician, Dr. Mofid is bound by the principle of “do no harm.”
   • Her involvement in the hoarding of vital medical supplies contradicted this principle, especially during a time when healthcare workers faced shortages.
2. Exploitation During Crisis:
   • The hoarding and profiteering of PPE were perceived as taking advantage of a global health emergency.
   • This conduct has been condemned as a betrayal of public trust, particularly given Dr. Mofid’s prominent standing in the medical community.
3. Impact on Reputation:
   • The case has tarnished her professional image and raised questions about her integrity and commitment to patient care.

Public and Legal Reactions

1. Statements from Authorities:
   • U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating, “While many in our community responded valiantly to COVID-19, some people took advantage of the pandemic. The defendants are paying the price for selling medical supplies at inflated prices during a national crisis.”
   • FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy highlighted the ethical breach, noting that Dr. Mofid’s actions transgressed her oath as a physician.
2. Community Response:
   • Public opinion has been critical, with many expressing outrage at the profiteering from a public health crisis.
   • Healthcare professionals and patients alike have voiced disappointment over the breach of trust.

Dr. Mofid’s Response

In the aftermath of her sentencing, Dr. Mofid issued a public apology, expressing remorse and offering explanations for her actions:

• She stated that her involvement was primarily to support her son, who was recruited by an Australian PPE company.
• She admitted to providing access to her wholesale accounts but claimed she had no role in pricing, advertising, or distribution.
• Dr. Mofid noted that part of the consulting fees she earned were donated to charitable causes, including contributions to food banks and the San Diego Police Foundation.
• She emphasized that her intentions were never to harm or exploit the public.

Broader Implications

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ethical responsibilities of healthcare professionals, especially during emergencies. It underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents and highlights the consequences of prioritizing financial gain over public welfare.

Conclusion

Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid’s involvement in the N95 mask hoarding and price-gouging scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic represents a profound ethical and legal failure. While her professional achievements are notable, this incident has irreparably damaged her reputation and called into question her commitment to the principles of medicine. Her actions, though explained as misguided support for her son, serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining integrity, especially in times of crisis.

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid (or actors working on behalf of Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid), we will inform Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.

Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –

Since Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally

We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid

Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.

Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.

Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.”  Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).

Is Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid Committing a Cyber Crime?

Yes, it seems so. Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid used multiple approaches to remove unwanted material from review sites and Google’s search results. Thanks to protections allowing freedom of speech in the United States, there are very few legal ways to do this. Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid could not eliminate negative reviews or search results that linked to them without a valid claim of defamation, copyright infringement, or some other clear breach of the law.

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid is certainly keeping interesting company here….

The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.

Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.

Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.

Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.

As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.

The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.

The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.

In committing numerous offences, Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.

The Reputation Laundering

Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.

The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.

In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.

This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.

Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid is in great company ….

What else is Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)

To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Dr. Mona Zohdi Mofid that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].

All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.