Toxic Bleach Sold As 'Miracle' Coronavirus Cure: Feds

MIAMI, FL — A Florida dad and his three sons were accused by federal prosecutors Wednesday of making and selling tens of thousands of bottles of a toxic bleach called “Miracle Mineral Solution" as a cure for the coronavirus and other diseases.

"Not only is this MMS product toxic, but its distribution and use may prevent those who are sick from receiving the legitimate health care they need," U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Miami said in announcing the charges.

Sixty-two-year-old Mark Grenon of Bradenton and his sons — 34-year-old Jonathan Grenon, 26-year-old Jordan Grenon and 32-year-old Joseph Grenon — were each charged with conspiracy to violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and criminal contempt. If the charges result in convictions, prosecutors said such offenses typically carry prison sentences of between 14 years and 17-and-a-half years in prison.

Prosecutors said the Miracle Mineral Solution is a combination of sodium chlorite and water, which, when ingested, becomes chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach, that is typically used for industrial water treatment applications or in the manufacturing process for paper.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has fielded reports of people requiring hospitalizations, developing life-threatening conditions and even dying after drinking MMS, according to federal prosecutors.

"Making claims that unproven drugs, especially potentially dangerous and unapproved chlorine dioxide products, can cure or prevent COVID-19 or any other disease is unacceptable," Assistant Commissioner Catherine Hermsen of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations said.

Fajardo Orshan said a U.S. District Court had previously ordered the Grenons to stop distributing Miracle Mineral Solution under a civil action filed by government attorneys. The criminal charges stem from the previous order.

"We will not sit idly by as individuals purposefully violate court orders and put the public in danger," Fajardo Orshan said.

According to federal prosecutors, the Grenons sent letters to the judge in the civil case saying they would not comply with the court orders. Prosecutors said the Grenons also threatened violence in the letters.

Miracle Mineral Solution was sold nationwide through the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, which prosecutors say was not a church at all.

"Genesis’ own websites describe Genesis as a 'non-religious church,' and Defendant Mark Grenon, the co-founder of Genesis, has repeatedly acknowledged that Genesis 'has nothing to do with religion,' and that he founded Genesis to 'legalize the use of MMS' and avoid 'going ... to jail,'" according to prosecutors.

While the Grenons are accused of making claims that Miracle Mineral Solution can treat, prevent, and cure the coronavirus, prosecutors also said the Grenons previously marketed the product as a "miracle cure-all" for cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism, multiple sclerosis, HIV and other illnesses.

A warning on the FDA website advises people not to drink sodium chlorite products such as Miracle Mineral Solution.

"These products can make you sick," the warning states. "The FDA first warned consumers about the products in 2010. But they are still being promoted on social media and sold online by many independent distributors. The agency strongly urges consumers not to purchase or use these products."

The case was investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations in Miami. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael B. Homer and John Shipley have been assigned to prosecute the case.