Four members of a Florida family have been found guilty of a disturbing scheme where they sold a toxic industrial bleach as a fake COVID-19 cure through their online church.
The verdict was delivered by a federal jury in Miami, and the convicted family members include 65-year-old Mark Grenon and his sons, 37-year-old Jonathan, 35-year-old Joseph, and 29-year-old Jordan. They were charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and deliver misbranded drugs, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Their sentencing has been scheduled for Oct. 6.
During the two-day trial, the Grenons chose to represent themselves but opted not to address the court or jury, as reported by the Miami Herald. Following the jury's decision, Joseph Grenon stated their intent to appeal the conviction.
Prosecutors strongly criticized the Grenon family, referring to them as "con men" and "snake-oil salesmen." They revealed that the family's church, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, made around $1 million by selling their so-called "Miracle Mineral Solution," which they touted in videos as a cure for numerous diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimer's, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis.
However, the so-called "Miracle Mineral Solution" was, in reality, chlorine dioxide – a dangerous substance used for industrial purposes, such as treating textiles, industrial water, pulp, and paper. The Food and Drug Administration clarified that ingesting this solution is akin to consuming bleach, and it can have fatal consequences.
In 2020, a Miami federal judge issued an order for the church to stop selling the harmful substance, but the Grenons disregarded the injunction. Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were arrested in Bradenton, near the Tampa Bay area, while Mark and Joseph Grenon fled to Colombia. They were eventually apprehended and brought back to the U.S. to face charges.
Apart from the fraud convictions, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were also found guilty of violating federal court orders that prohibited the sale of the "Miracle Mineral Solution" in 2020. As part of their extradition from Colombia, U.S. authorities dropped the same contempt charges against Mark and Joseph Grenon.
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