MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey man was sentenced to five years in prison for manufacturing and selling millions in products he falsely claimed killed coronavirus germs and lied about them being registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, authorities said Thursday.
The Maple Shade man, 63-year-old Paul Andrecola, controls two companies and works for a third, all of which are based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Through the companies, Andrecola made different disinfectant products, including liquids and wipes, under the brand “GCLEAN.”
Before any pesticides are sold in the U.S., they must be registered and approved by the EPA. Products that are targeted against the COVID-19 are categorized under the agency’s “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.”
Andrecola’s products were not registered with the EPA, though he falsely marketed them as if they were. He used another company’s EPA registration on the products and created several false documents to support his claims. He and others would use the fraudulent information to persuade customers to buy the disinfectants.
Between March 2020 and May 2021, Andrecola made about $2.7 million in profits from selling the products.
“Paul Andrecola’s scheme profited on the fears of the American people during the height of concerns about transmission of COVID-19,” U.S. Attorney Phillip R. Sellinger said. “Our office is dedicated to protecting public health and prosecuting to the full extent of the law fraudsters who commit such egregious criminal acts.”
Andrecola previously pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing or selling an unregistered pesticide in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), wire fraud, and presenting false claims to the United States.
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