Pennsylvania company, founder charged after claiming pesticide products kill COVID-19

(WHTM) — A Pennsylvania company and its founder were charged for allegedly fraudulently claiming their pesticide products were effective at killing the COVID-19 virus.

The United States District Attorney’s Office announced that ViaClean Technologies, LLC and its founder, James Young, 46, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 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”).

An accomplice, Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was also charged with FIFRA violations.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ViaClean Technologies and Young allegedly conspired with others to sell registered pesticides using false and misleading claims about the products.

Officials alleged the company knowingly misled potential customers by claiming that their pesticide products, which were used to inhibit the growth of odor-causing and stain-causing bacteria, fungi (mold and mildew), and algae, were effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Young and Storrie made their initial appearances in the Philadelphia federal magistrate court on August 26. ViaClean Technologies, LLC will have its initial appearance on September 5, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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.