Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, COVID-19 Treatment with Bleach, Florida 2020

MIAMI, Florida - In a shocking case of health care fraud, a federal judge in South Florida has ordered the immediate shutdown of a website selling an unapproved and potentially deadly bleach product marketed as a 'miracle' treatment for COVID-19.

The defendants, Genesis II Church of Health and Healing (Genesis) and its principals, Mark Grenon, Joseph Grenon, Jordan Grenon, and Jonathan Grenon, have been selling a product called Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) through their websites, claiming it will cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent Coronavirus, which includes COVID-19, as well as other diseases including Alzheimer’s, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, among others.

MMS is a chemical product which, when combined with the included activator, creates a powerful bleach product that the defendants market for oral ingestion. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously issued public warnings to consumers that MMS can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration.

The Justice Department sought emergency and preliminary relief from the court, citing the defendants' blatant disregard for public safety and the FDA's warnings.

“We will zealously pursue perpetrators of fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Not only are these products potentially harmful, but their distribution and use may prevent those who are sick from receiving the legitimate healthcare they need.”

The complaint alleges that defendants' disease-related treatment claims are unsupported by any well-controlled clinical studies or other credible scientific substantiation. Additionally, the complaint asserts that MMS’s labeling is false and misleading and that since defendants make disease-related treatment claims about MMS in the absence of any clinical data, the products are misbranded.

The defendants are accused of violating federal law, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, by distributing unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs in interstate commerce.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of health care fraud and the importance of relying on proven medical treatments.

Defendant Information:

Defendant: Genesis II Church of Health and Healing

Criminal Charges: Health Care Fraud, Misbranding of Drugs

City and State: Miami, Florida

Exact Date: April 8, 2020

Sentence or Outcome: Temporary Injunction Halting Sales

Dollar Amounts: None

Defendant Principals:

Mark Grenon, Joseph Grenon, Jordan Grenon, and Jonathan Grenon

Accused of: Participating in the health care fraud scheme

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers about the dangers of MMS, stating that it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration. The FDA has also issued a Warning Letter to the defendants, notifying them that they are violating federal law by distributing unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs in interstate commerce.

The case highlights the importance of relying on proven medical treatments and the dangers of health care fraud. The FDA remains committed to protecting the public from unapproved and potentially deadly products, and the Justice Department will continue to pursue those who seek to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain.

The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing and its principals have been ordered to stop selling MMS, and the website has been shut down. The case serves as a warning to others who may seek to profit from the suffering of others during this pandemic.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/justice-department-seeks-end-illegal-online-sale-industrial-bleach-marketed-miracle