Man Convicted For Selling Fake Disinfectants He Falsely Claimed To Be Effective Vs Coronavirus

Maple Shade, New Jersey, -- Maple Shade, New Jersey -- A New Jersey man was convicted for defrauding more than 75 victims in a $2.7 million nationwide scheme in which he sold disinfectants he falsely claimed to be effective in killing coronavirus, prosecutors have said.

The 63-year-old businessman from Maple Shade, identified as Paul Andrecola, admitted to selling disinfectant wipes under the brand name "GCLEAN" and making false claims that the products could kill coronavirus, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey noted in a news release Thursday.

Andercola was found guilty on charges of knowingly distributing or selling an unregistered pesticide in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), one count of wire fraud and one count of presenting false claims to the United States.

The court found out that Andrecola, who has three companies based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, manufactured various disinfectant products, including liquids and wipes that were not approved by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be effective against coronavirus, the New York Post reported.

However, Andercola carried out his scheme by selling the products with a fake EPA stamp. He placed another company's EPA registration numbers on his company's products.

Using these fraudulent misrepresentations, Andrecola made more than 150 sales of the products to several customers, including government agencies, from March 2020 to May 2021, the investigation revealed.

The court learned that "GCLEAN" products were unregistered pesticides under FIFRA and none of the products were included on EPA's "List N: of disinfectants for Use against SARS-CoV-2."

"Paul Andrecola's scheme profited on the fears of the American people during the height of concerns about transmission of COVID-19. Our office is dedicated to protecting public health and prosecuting to the full extent of the law those who commit such egregious criminal acts," U.S. Attorney Paul Sellinger said, as per the news release.

Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division said Andercola's scheme endangered the health of those who trusted his products. "Andrecola not only cheated dozens of people out of millions of dollars but also endangered the health of those who relied on his fraudulent virucidal products," Kim said.

According to the officials, this is the largest pandemic fraud case connected to unregistered pesticides nationwide.

As part of the plea agreement, Andrecola has to forfeit the proceeds he received from the sale of the illegal products, which amounts to around $2.74 million. He has also agreed to make full restitution for all losses resulting from his commission of the charged crimes.