Creve Coeur chiropractor, radio host to pay $80,000 to settle COVID misinformation claims

Apr 20, 2024

Eric A. Nepute, in a screenshot from his radio show captured from Facebook.

ST. LOUIS — A chiropractor and radio host from Creve Coeur has agreed to pay an $80,000 fine and refrain from marketing his vitamin products as effective preventatives against COVID-19.

Eric Nepute agreed Wednesday to pay the fine to the federal government. The company Quickwork LLC, of which Nepute is a part-owner, agreed separately last year to pay a $1 million fine.

Nepute did not admit to any of the allegations. Instead, he signed the agreement to “avoid further expense uncertainty and expense associated with this lawsuit,” according to the settlement document.

“It’s a very favorable settlement,” said Napute’s attorney Jay Dobbs in an interview. “He admitted no liability and paid less than it would’ve cost to go to trial.”

Nepute has a morning talk show on Real Talk radio, KRTK 93.3FM, and operates wellness centers in south St. Louis County and Creve Coeur in addition to selling vitamins and supplements. In 2021, as controversy over COVID-19 and the effectiveness of a newly released vaccine reached a fever pitch, Nepute and Quickwork caught the eye of federal officials, who said he falsely claimed his vitamin D and zinc supplements could help prevent or cure COVID-19.

Nepute and Quickwork were defendants in the first lawsuit brought under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, passed in late December 2020 to crack down on scams and misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic. Federal officials accused Nepute of “disseminating misinformation, exploiting fears in the midst of a pandemic, and posing a significant risk to public safety” through popular Facebook videos and other false advertising.

A month later, Nepute signed a consent order agreeing not to claim that his vitamin products would treat or cure COVID-19. But he got into hot water again in March 2022 when federal officials tried to hold him in civil contempt because they said he continued to make claims on his radio show saying vitamins were “a hell of a lot more beneficial” than vaccines.

“Here’s a big old up your nose with a rubber hose, federal government,” Nepute said in a radio show broadcast. “Have a listen to this. Brand-new study confirms that vitamin D significantly, significantly reduces the risk of dying from COVID-19.”

Nepute was not held in contempt. Instead, he agreed to remove all content that violated his consent order from the internet, according to court filings.

In November 2022, Quickwork agreed to stop marketing their products as effective against COVID-19 and to pay a $1 million civil penalty, according to court documents. Part of that payment was suspended due to an inability to pay, according to a Department of Justice news release. Nepute’s lawyer, Dobbs, said his client had no role in those settlement negotiations.

Nepute continued to fight his case, arguing in court filings that he was not advertising products but rather providing educational information.

On July 19, a federal judge found there was no reasonable basis to support claims that zinc or vitamin D provides better support against COVID-19 than vaccines. But, he ruled, the government would have to prove at trial that Nepute actually made those claims in advertisements.

The government and Nepute ultimately reached a settlement, which was filed Wednesday. Nepute and Quickworks are required to pay damages if they violate their agreements.

Editor’s note: Updated at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with comments from Jay Dobbs.

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