Colombian officials say they have 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 Grenon were arrested on the beach in the city of Santa Marta and were sending their “Miracle Mineral Solution” – chlorine dioxide – to customers in the United States, Colombia and Africa.
The seven Americans had died from the use of the substance.
Mark Grenon is the Archbishop of the Genesis Health and Healing Church II, founded in Bradenton, Florida. The church targets the poisonous chemist as an intentional sacramento that believes it can cure a wide variety of diseases ranging from cancer to autism, malaria and now COVID-19.
Last month, several agencies were called to Genesis II Church for Health and Healing as part of search warrants and a federal ordinance, CBS Miami reported. Hazmat discovered 50 gallons of muriatic acid, 22 gallons of “miracle mineral solution” and 8,300 pounds of sodium chlorite, the season reported.
A federal ruling in Miami ordered the self-proclaimed church in April to avoid the promotion of 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 Grenon 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 don’t use these products and parents don’t give those products to their children for any reason.” The FDA has not approved the solution for any health-related use.
The federal lawsuit states that the Grenons first agreed to comply with U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ order to avoid promoting the settlement, and then replaced their tone in podcasts and sentencing emails.
“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 them all this Array … you do NOT have authority over our Church.”