Miami — After being detained in Colombia, a man accused of peddling dangerous industrial bleach as a cure for the coronavirus through his Florida-based church has been brought back to the United States.
Following his recent extradition, Mark Grenon, 64, made his first court appearance in Miami federal court on Thursday, according to court documents.
Grenon and his three adult sons were charged with two charges of criminal contempt and one count of conspiracy to conduct fraud last year.
The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing is headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, and is led by Grenon as its archbishop.
According to officials, the church produced, advertised, and sold chlorine dioxide as a “Miracle Mineral Solution.
“The Grenons assert that the remedy may treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer, autism, malaria, and COVID-19.
When the church disobeyed a Miami federal judge’s order to stop selling the drug in 2020, Grenon was apprehended in Colombia a few months later.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the Grenons’ solution when consumed transforms into a bleach that is frequently used for cleaning pulp and paper, industrial water, and textiles.
According to authorities, consuming these goods can be lethal and is equivalent to drinking bleach.
Attorneys for Grenon who could comment on the allegations were not listed in court documents.