Florida family members sentenced for online church scam selling fake COVID-19 cure
A Florida man and his three adult sons have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to sell a toxic industrial bleach as a fraudulent cure for COVID-19 through their online church. In a federal court in Miami, Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, received a sentence of 12 years and seven months in prison, while Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, were each sentenced to five years. The court records indicate that all four were found guilty by a jury in July on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States and deliver misbranded drugs. During the two-day trial, the Grenons chose not to speak.
The prosecution referred to the Grenons as “con men” and “snake-oil salesmen.” The family’s Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, based in Bradenton, Florida, was responsible for the sale of their so-called Miracle Mineral Solution, which fetched a total of $1 million. The Grenons promoted the solution through videos, claiming it to be a remedy for 95% of known diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimer’s, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, according to prosecutors.
However, the substance being sold by the Grenons was actually chlorine dioxide, as confirmed by authorities. When ingested, this solution transforms into bleach, typically used for purposes such as treating textiles, industrial water, pulp, and paper, as stated by the Food and Drug Administration. Ingesting this solution is equivalent to consuming bleach and can prove fatal.
In 2020, a federal judge in Miami ordered the church to halt the sale of this substance, but the order was blatantly disregarded. The arrest of Jonathan and Jordan Grenon took place in Bradenton, located just south of the Tampa Bay area. On the other hand, Mark and Joseph Grenon fled to Colombia, where they were subsequently arrested and extradited back to the United States.
In addition to the fraud convictions, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were also found guilty of violating federal court orders mandating the cessation of Miracle Mineral Solution sales in 2020. However, the contempt charges related to these violations were dropped against Mark and Joseph Grenon as a condition of their extradition from Colombia.
