The Florida family bleach scam, one of the most startling deceptions to emerge amidst the pandemic, has met its legal reckoning.
Operating behind the guise of the Genesis II Church, a family in Florida touted a toxic bleach concoction as the ultimate miracle cure for COVID-19, ensnaring vulnerable individuals desperate for solutions in the challenging pandemic landscape.
The Genesis II Church COVID-19 Cure
While the pandemic spurred genuine global research efforts into finding a cure for the virus, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing took a fraudulent detour.
Spearheaded by Mark Grenon and his family, the organization marketed their so-called "Miracle Mineral Solution" (MMS). This solution, far from miraculous, was a dangerous blend of sodium chlorite and water.
On ingestion, this concoction morphed into chlorine dioxide - a potent bleach used predominantly for industrial applications.
The Florida family bleach scam wasn't merely about the sale of a hazardous product. The trial exposed shocking evidence, including photographs and footage of a shed in Jonathan Grenon's backyard in Bradenton. This shed was brimming with blue chemical drums, holding an astonishing 10,000 pounds of the harmful sodium chlorite powder, complete with labels cautioning against consumption.
Countering COVID-19 Fake Cures
The name Grenon's Miracle Mineral Solution became synonymous with the dangers of COVID-19 fake cures. To the uninformed consumer, it promised a way out.
The Grenons made lofty claims, stating that their MMS could combat not just COVID-19 but also diseases as severe as Alzheimer's and leukemia. The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, recognized the peril and acted swiftly.
The DOJ's prosecution was exhaustive. Mark Grenon, 66, and his sons - Jonathan, 37, Jordan, 29, and Joseph, 36 - confronted the consequences of their dangerous deception.
As a result, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were handed a stiff sentence of around 12 1/2 years. In contrast, the elder Grenons, Mark and Joseph, were sentenced to five years each.
Their audaciousness was evident even during the trial. In a blatant disregard for the legal system, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon defied court orders, going to the extreme of threatening an uprising against the presiding judge, invoking memories of the infamous "Waco" incident.
FDA's Stance and the Grenons' Downfall
Since 2010, the FDA persistently cautioned against MMS, labeling it as one of the most dangerous COVID-19 fake cures. This cure had severe health implications, leading to acute liver failure, severe dehydration, and, tragically, some deaths.
The Grenons' operation wasn't merely a health threat but a financial scheme. They extracted over $1 million from MMS sales, cleverly masqueraded as donations to their church.
The Genesis II Church, devoid of any authentic religious affiliation, was merely a strategic tool designed by Mark Grenon to evade the law. The law's pursuit was relentless. Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were arrested in Florida following a 2020 court order to halt sales.
Mark and Joseph Grenon, opting for evasion, fled to Colombia. However, their freedom was short-lived as they were arrested and extradited back to the U.S.
In a world grappling with the complexities of a pandemic, the story of the Grenons serves as a potent reminder of the lengths some will go to exploit public desperation.
As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, the lessons from the Florida family bleach scam and other COVID-19 fake cures underline the importance of rigorous due diligence and the perils of unchecked misinformation.
