Eric Anthony Nepute, COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act Violations, Missouri 2023

Grimy Times has learned that a Missouri businessman, Eric Anthony Nepute, and his company, Quickwork LLC, doing business as Wellness Warrior, are facing civil charges for allegedly peddling unproven COVID-19 treatments.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nepute and Wellness Warrior advertised that their vitamin D and zinc nutritional supplements could prevent or treat COVID-19 without any scientific evidence to support their claims.

The defendants also allegedly claimed that their supplements were equally or more effective than the currently available vaccines. These claims are particularly egregious, as the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives.

The COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, passed by Congress in December 2020, prohibits deceptive acts or practices associated with the treatment, cure, prevention, mitigation or diagnosis of COVID-19.

The complaint seeks civil penalties and injunctive relief to stop Nepute and Wellness Warrior from continuing to make these deceptive advertising claims.

“The Justice Department is committed to preventing the unlawful marketing of unproven COVID-19 treatments,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.

This matter is being handled by Trial Attorneys Benjamin Cornfeld and Brandon Robers of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Moore from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Kristin M. Williams, Mary L. Johnson, and Brady C. Williams represent the FTC.

The alleged violations of the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act carry severe penalties, including civil penalties and injunctive relief.

Wellness Warrior and Nepute are accused of making false and deceptive claims about their COVID-19 treatments, putting consumers at risk.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of spreading misinformation during a public health crisis.

No date for a hearing has been set.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-and-ftc-announce-action-stop-deceptive-marketing-purported-covid-19