BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombian officials said they arrested two Florida men wanted in the United States for illegally promoting a bleach-like chemist as a miracle cure for new coronavirus and other diseases.
The Colombian prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that Mark and Joseph Grennon had been arrested on the beach in the city of Santa Marta and were sending their “miracle mineral solution” – chlorine dioxide – to consumers in the United States, Colombia and Africa.
The seven Americans had died from the use of the substance.
Mark Grenon is the archbishop of Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, founded in Bradenton, Florida, which focuses on the poisonous chemist as an intentional sacrament that he believes can cure a wide variety of diseases ranging from cancer to autism and malaria. and now COVID-19..
A federal ruling in Miami ordered the self-proclaimed church in April to avoid promoting the substance, but this was ignored.
The organization has also operated in Mexico, Australia and countries. Despite opposition from doctors and fitness experts, the Bolivian Congress recently legalized the use of the substance.
A federal offender filed in July accused Mark Grenon, 62, and his sons, Jonathan, 34, Jordan, 26, and Joseph, 32, of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and contempt.
Last month, Miami Federal Court records mentioned lawyers from any of the Grenons. They face a maximum of 14 to more than 17 years in crimes if they are convicted of all charges.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the solution sold through the Grenons becomes bleach when ingested, which is sometimes used for things like the remedy of textiles, commercial water, pulp and paper.
Authorities said drinking bleach could be fatal.
The FDA said in a press release last August that “ingestion of these products is equivalent to drinking bleach. Consumers do not use these products and parents do not give these products to their children for any reason. The FDA has not approved the solution to any health problems.” related use.
The federal complaint states that the Grenons first agreed to comply with U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ order to avoid promoting the solution, and then replaced her tone in podcasts and emails addressed to the sentencing on herself.
“We will not participate in any of your orders, invocations, etc. UNCONSTITUTIONAL”, is read in an email from Mark Grenon. “Again and again, I wrote you all this. ArrayArray does NOT have authority over our Church.