Utah Doctor Faces 35-Year Sentence as COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud Trial Begins

SALT LAKE CITY – Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., a Utah plastic surgeon, is currently on trial facing federal charges that could lead to a 35-year prison sentence for an alleged scheme involving fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and the destruction of government-provided vaccines. The trial, which began on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City, has drawn significant attention and sparked protests from supporters who view his actions as a stand against what they term "unjust mandates."

Federal prosecutors allege that between October 2021 and September 2022, Dr. Moore and his co-defendants destroyed over $28,000 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines and distributed at least 1,937 fraudulent vaccination cards. The indictment also claims that Moore administered saline shots to minors, at their parents' request, to make them believe they had received a vaccine. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property.

The case has garnered strong political backing for Moore. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz was among dozens who rallied outside the courthouse, calling the charges "federal overreach" and criticizing past COVID-19 restrictions. Republican Representative Mike Lee, in a social media post, expressed surprise and disappointment that Dr. Moore is still being prosecuted, stating: > "I’m both surprised and disappointed that Dr. Kirk Moore is still being prosecuted—potentially facing three decades in prison—considering all that we’ve learned about COVID, the vaccines, and the unjust mandates imposed by the Biden administration."

The prosecution argues that Moore obstructed a federal program and destroyed government property, emphasizing that the case is not about vaccine efficacy but about the alleged illegal actions. Conversely, Moore's defense contends that the CDC program allowed providers autonomy over vaccine disposal and that his actions did not impede access to vaccines for those who sought them. They argue that the vaccines were no longer federal property once distributed to providers.

The trial continues amidst a backdrop of ongoing debate surrounding COVID-19 vaccine mandates and government intervention during the pandemic. Supporters of Dr. Moore, including figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously stated, "Dr. Moore deserves a medal for his courage and his commitment to healing!", maintain that he is a hero who helped individuals avoid what they considered tyrannical mandates.