Editing William R. Ferguson (section)

=== Fraud trial ===
A customer eventually complained to police after not getting a result from the Zerret Applicator.<ref name="TheIndependent1948" /> On September 11, 1948, Ferguson, Stanakis, and Flay Smith, one of his salespeople, were arrested in [[Chicago]] and were held and charged with running a [[scam]].<ref name="FortWorthStar-Telegram1948" /><ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1948" /> All three were released on $1,000 [[bail|bond]], and the post office issued a fraud order that banned them from mailing items.<ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1948" /> Ferguson claimed he was uninterested in money and cared only about helping humanity.<ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1948" /> In October, Ferguson was charged with [[fraud]] by the prosecutor.<ref name="TheIndependent1948" /> His defense lawyer called over 40 witnesses, who testified to a judge that the device had helped them. In response, the judge expressed his doubts and stated "I think you are all suckers. But I'll keep an open mind."<ref name="TheIndependent1948" /> After the arrests, the devices were studied by city chemists.<ref name="TheIndependent1948" /> 

In April 1949, Ferguson and Stanakis were charged federally with a violation of the [[Pure Food and Drug Act]], for entering a misbranded therapeutic device into interstate commerce.<ref name="ThePalladium-Item1949" /> Attorney Robert C. Eardley said they had sent three shipments of the device across interstate lines, with misleading information.<ref name="ThePalladium-Item1949" /><ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950c" /><ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950b">{{Cite news |date=1950-05-16 |title=Health Device Useless, Expert Says at Trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-health-device-useless-e/172409636/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |newspaper=[[Chicago Daily Tribune]] |page=10 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |volume=CIX |issue=118 |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> During the federal trial in 1950 presided over by judge [[John P. Barnes]], it was demonstrated by American nuclear physicist [[Bernard Waldman]], using a [[Geiger counter]], that the Zerret contained no radioactive material.<ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950c" /><ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950b" /> Several physicians testified that the object was useless.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1950-05-13 |title=3 Doctors Deny Healing Device Aided Patients |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-3-doctors-deny-healing-d/172409617/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |newspaper=[[Chicago Daily Tribune]] |page=8 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |volume=CIX |issue=114 |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> Physiologist [[Anton Julius Carlson]] testified that the devices had no therapeutic value. A chemical analysis was done on the contents of the Zerret, and its contents were found to be the same as Chicago tap water.<ref name="McNeel1963" />{{sfn|Sifakis|1993|p=171}}{{sfn|Janssen|1993|p=329}} Stanakis and Ferguson were tried by a [[jury]], which delivered its verdict on May 17, 1950.<ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950d" /> They were found guilty and [[convicted]] of [[fraud]],{{sfn|Hogan|2016|p=295}} specifically of entering a misbranded therapeutic device into interstate commerce.<ref name="EnquirerandNews2">{{Cite news |date=1950-05-22 |title=Pair Convicted in Sale of Fake Healing Gadget |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-pair-convicted-in/172850233/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |newspaper=[[Enquirer and News]] |location=Battle Creek |page=16 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="ChicagoDailyTribune1950e">{{Cite news |date=1950-05-19 |title=Medical Quacks Found Guilty in Federal Trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-medical-quacks-found-gui/172849394/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |newspaper=[[Chicago Daily Tribune]] |page=17 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |volume=CIX |issue=119 |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> Ferguson was sentenced to two years in federal prison and Stanakis was sentenced to a year.{{sfn|Janssen|1993|p=329}} Ferguson served only a year in prison.{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}