A Florida father and his three children will spend years in prison after they were convicted of fraud for selling bleach as a cure for COVID-19.
Mark Grenon, 66, and his son Joseph Grenon, 36, who fled to Colombia after the federal government first announced charges against them, were each sentenced to five years behind bars, the maximum sentence agreed upon. between the United States and the South American country during the couple’s extradition.
Mark Grenon’s two other sons, Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, were each sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for conspiracy and contempt for attempting to “defraud the United States by distributing a unapproved and mislabeled drug,” the Department of Justice wrote in a press release.
They were all ordered to pay nearly $2,000 in restitution each.
“The defendants took advantage of many vulnerable populations,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Homer said at the sentencing hearing.
The patriarch argued before a judge that he was actually a victim because he had spent 1,152 days in prison.
The Grenon family allegedly refused to stop manufacturing MMS despite a government directive to that effect. Genesis II Church of Health and Healing
Grenon’s father accused the government of “kidnapping” him, according to the Miami Herald.
He asks the United States for compensation of $5.76 million for being “illegally detained.”
When asked if he would be awarded the considerable amount, the judge told him it was a “pointless question” and he would not “answer” it.
The Grenons represented themselves at their summer trial.
Jonathan, a father of five, argued that he has spent enough time in custody and should be “released to [his] family.”
Mark Grenon, 66, and his son Joseph Grenon, 36, received five years in prison on Friday, a maximum agreed upon between the United States and Colombia for extradition. The two men fled to the South American country after the federal government announced charges against them. Colombian Attorney General’s Office
“I have lost everything,” he said, according to the Miami Herald.
His brothers made similar claims, but they were all denied.
The Grenon family sold “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS), a chemical solution that turned into bleach after being ingested orally.
The solution is typically used to treat industrial water and for bleaching, textiles, pulp and paper, the Justice Department said.
“The Grenons claimed that ingesting MMS could treat, prevent, and cure COVID-19,” the Justice Department said.
The other two sons, Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, were sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for conspiracy and contempt for attempting to “defraud the United States by distributing an unapproved and incorrect drug.” labeling,” the Justice Department said.
“However, the FDA had not approved MMS for the treatment of COVID-19 or for any other use.”
The family, from Bradenton, Florida, sold the fake COVID-19 cure at the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, a fake house of worship they created to “avoid government regulation of MMS,” authorities said.
They were all ordered to pay nearly $2,000 in restitution each. Genesis II Health and Healing Church
They also claimed that MMS could cure 95% of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, AIDS and more.
In order for patients to obtain MMS, they had to make a donation to Genesis, which was set at specific amounts (acting as selling prices), resulting in the clan raising over $1 million.
At one point, the government obtained court orders to stop production of the fake cure, but the Grenons “intentionally violated those court orders and continued to distribute MMS,” the Justice Department said.
The family threatened to “collect weapons” and instigate a “Waco” if the government imposed the strike.
Prosecutors accused the family of never showing remorse for their actions.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn