Charles B. Hensley
{{short description|American film producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles B. Hensley
| image = Charles B. Hensley photo.jpg
| caption = 2013
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = University of Southern California (PhD, 1988)
}}
Charles B. Hensley is an American businessman. In 1997 he invented and developed Zicam, a homeopathic patent medicine for the common cold.[http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=38881 Zicam: Label data], National Institutes of Health
Business ventures and legal issues
=Pharmaceuticals=
In 1997, he invented and developed Zicam, a homeopathic patent medicine for the common cold.{{Cite web |url=http://www.matrixxinc.com/ |title=Matrixx Initiatives Inc. - Overview |access-date=2010-08-27 |archive-date=2010-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828112236/http://www.matrixxinc.com/ |url-status=dead }}[http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=38881 Zicam: Label data], National Institutes of Health
In 2001, he formed PRB Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop antiviral drugs aimed at emerging viral disease. In 2011, after a six-year investigation, Hensley was charged with federal violations stemming from his marketing a drug for bird flu without FDA approval.{{cite news|last=Pfeifer|first=Stuart|title=Zicam inventor arrested, accused of illegal marketing of flu drug|url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-jun-02-la-fi-zicam-20110603-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 30, 2011|date=June 2, 2011}} Subsequently, all charges save one misdemeanor were dropped. Hensley was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 400 hours of community service.{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/04/26/inventor-of-zicam-gets-3-years-probation-for-unapproved-bird-flu-remedy/ |title=Inventor Of Zicam Gets 3 Years Probation For Unapproved Bird Flu Remedy |author= |date=April 26, 2012 |website=losangeles.cbslocal.com |publisher=CBS Local Media |accessdate=August 30, 2013}}
= Desilu =
In 2016, Hensley and his partners acquired the registered trademark for Desilu, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's defunct production company. In 2018, Desilu Studios filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CBS over the Desilu mark. CBS subsequently filed a counter-suit against Hensley, Desilu Corporation and Desilu Studios.{{Cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |date=2018-10-31 |title=CBS Lawsuit Claims "Desilu Studios" Brand Was Used To Dupe Investors |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/desilu-studios-cbs-lawsuit-i-love-lucy-star-trek-v-dupe-investors-1202493269/ |access-date=2019-08-27 |website=Deadline |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yee |first=Gregory |date=2022-08-12 |title=How Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's old studio became backdrop for an alleged investment scam |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-12/zicam-inventor-charged-with-using-lucille-ball-desilu-name-in-investment-fraud |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
On August 10, 2022, federal prosecutors in Los Angeles indicted Hensley on fraud and identity theft charges, alleging he used the Desilu name to scam investors. Hensley has been charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said Hensley collected $331,000 from investors, money that was used for his personal expenses including trips to Las Vegas.{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Wilson |date=2022-08-11 |title=Man Indicted on Fraud and Identity Theft Charges for Using Desilu Name in Alleged Investment Scam |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/desilu-fraud-identity-theft-charles-hensley-1235338496/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}