A Florida man and his three sons are facing federal charges in Miami for selling toxic bleach as a cure for COVID-19 under the entity Genesis II Church of Health and Healing to avoid government regulation.
What We Know:
- Mark Grennon, 62, and his sons Jonathan Grennon, 34, Joseph Grennon, 32, and Jordan Grennon, 26, have been manufacturing and marketing their own version of a Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite and water, as a treatment for preventing and curing countless diseases, including COVID-19. The FBI determined the main solution in their magical cure is generally used as an industrial cleaner for swimming pools.
- The men have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to violate the federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, and criminal contempt.
- The four men were caught after they set up an entity called the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. Grennon’s website claimed their solution cured cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and COVID-19. The Grennons have allegedly sold tens of thousands of bottles of the solution nationally and to local residents.
- Federal agents raided the Genesis II Church in Bradenton and found 50 gallons of muriatic acid, 8,300 pounds of sodium chlorite, and 22 gallons of MMS ready for distribution. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that sodium chlorite-based products like MMS can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Additionally, drinking bleach could be fatal.
- “We continue to protect the public from criminal conduct that takes advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Miami U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said in a news release. “Not only is this MMS product toxic, but its distribution and use may prevent those who are sick from receiving the legitimate healthcare they need.”
- Florida is currently one of the top five states with the highest numbers of positive coronavirus cases, setting a record of 11,000 new cases on Saturday. States like New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have enforced self-quarantine rules to anyone coming from a high infected state like Florida.
The men could face a maximum sentence between 14 and 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
