PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The founder of a Pennsylvania-based company was indicted in federal court for allegedly trying to sell pesticides and claiming they kill COVID.
ViaClean Technologies, LLC, and its founder, James Young, 46, were charged by indictment with conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”), United States Attorney David Metcalf announced.
Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was also charged with FIFRA violations.
ViaClean and Young allegedly conspired with others to sell registered pesticides, which were used to inhibit the growth of odor-causing and stain-causing bacteria, fungi (mold and mildew), and algae, using false and misleading claims that they kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Both men made their initial appearance in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 26. ViaClean will have its initial appearance on Sept. 5.
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All defendants are also charged with misdemeanor FIFRA violations for selling the pesticide products by making claims that differed from the approved master labels for the products, Metcalf added.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
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