Philadelphia Company and Its Founder Charged With Fraudulently Claiming That Pesticide Products Were Effective at Killing Covid Virus

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf 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”). Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was also charged with FIFRA violations.

Young and Storrie made their initial appearances in federal magistrate court in Philadelphia this afternoon. ViaClean Technologies, LLC will have its initial appearance on September 5.

The indictment alleges that ViaClean Technologies, LLC and Young conspired with others to sell registered pesticides using false and misleading claims about the products, knowingly misleading potential customers by claiming that the 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. 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.

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.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.