The Department of Justice announced the sentencing of a family that claimed to have a “miracle” cure for the COVID-19 virus last week. However, it contained toxic bleach.
Mark Grenon, 66, and his three sons, Jonathan Grenon, 37, Jordan Grenon, 29, and Joseph Grenon, 36, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug, the DOJ shared in a press release.
The federal jury also found that Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were guilty of contempt of court after their trial concluded this summer.
As for sentencing, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon received 151 months in federal prison, while Mark and Joseph Grenon were each sentenced to five years.
The “Miracle Mineral Solution” that prosecutors said the men manufactured, produced, and then sold to people as a cure for COVID-19 was “dangerous” and contained bleach.
The federal prosecutors said the product was sold under the guise of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, which is not affiliated with any religion and was co-founded by Mark Grenon so he could sell MMS, he admitted, the DOJ said.
Inside the solution was sodium chlorite and water, “which, when ingested orally, became chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp, and paper,” the DOJ said.
Evidence presented in the trial included photos and videos of a shed on Jonathan Grenon’s property that had dozens of blue chemical barrels in it, containing nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder.
The release shared that photos showed the labels, which had warnings on them about the product being toxic and harmful if swallowed.
The solution was sold to consumers throughout the United States. Before the Grenons claimed it would cure COVID-19, they said it would cure other diseases and disorders, like HIV, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and more, the release shared.
However, the drug was not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any use.
Since 2010, the FDA has warned that consumers shouldn’t purchase or use MMS as it could cause severe reactions.
“The FDA has received reports of consumers who have suffered from severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration, and acute liver failure after drinking these products,” the FDA said.