Philadelphia-based company ViaClean Technologies, LLC, and its founder, 46-year-old James Young of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, find themselves in the midst of serious legal troubles. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) against them, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office. Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, also faces charges related to the case.
According to the indictment, ViaClean Technologies and Young, along with Storrie, were allegedly engaged in selling pesticide products under pretenses – promising customers that these products could kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus when they actually could not. In an effort to seem legitimate, substances, which were only approved for controlling odor and stain-causing bacteria, fungi, and algae, were touted as effective against the virus responsible for the global pandemic. Both Young and Storrie were arraigned in federal magistrate court in Philadelphia on the afternoon before the announcement.
These serious allegations call into question the integrity of ViaClean Technologies’ business practices during a time when public fear and the demand for effective sanitization were at an all-time high. With the judicial wheels now in motion, ViaClean is scheduled for its initial appearance on September 5. The case has been handed over to Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams, following investigations conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The company, its founder, and Storrie now face misdemeanor FIFRA violations for the sale of these products by making claims that differed from the approved master labels.
