Derges asked to resign from state House

Faced with a 20-count criminal indictment, state Rep. Tricia Derges has been asked to resign from her elected position by the state House of Representatives' top leader.

House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, yesterday issued a call for her to step down after removing her from committee assignments, according to a news release.

"The legal process will ultimately determine her guilt or innocence, but this is clearly a time for her to spend with her family as she focuses on her legal issues, and for the people of the 140th district to move forward with selecting a replacement who can effectively advocate for their interests," Vescovo said in the release, noting he spoke with Derges and the caucus.

Derges, a Republican who represents Christian County, was indicted this week on federal charges of alleged wire fraud and illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of her health care clinic operation.

Derges has maintained her innocence in public posts on her Facebook page.

"I will keep helping those in need and standing for the rights of all of us," Derges said in a Feb. 1 post, comparing her legal situation to David vs. Goliath in the Bible. "Lies and twisted words mean nothing. Truth and righteousness mean everything."

The post has since been removed or is no longer public.

The indictment unsealed Monday alleges Derges defrauded patients of nearly $200,000 through her Ozark Valley Medical Clinic practice by falsely claiming to use stem cells in regenerative medicine to treat COVID-19. Additionally, she allegedly violated the Controlled Substances Act by distributing Oxycodone and Adderall online to people without valid prescriptions, and the indictment accuses her of making false statements to federal agents. Prosecutors said the supposed stem cell treatment was marketed as a potential cure for COVID-19.

Derges in November was elected to a two-year term in the Missouri House of Representatives. She had been appointed to House committees overseeing health and mental health policy, professional registration and licensing, and small businesses.

Derges also is the founder of Springfield nonprofit Lift Up Someone Today, which provides medical and dental services with a mission “dedicated to the care of our poverty-stricken and homeless neighbors," according to past reporting. Derges in 2018 won the Humanitarian Award from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc.