GA Woman Charged For Selling Pesticide As Protection: Coronavirus

FAYETTEVILLE, GA — A Georgia woman made her initial appearance on federal charges of illegally importing and selling an unregistered pesticide, Toamit Virus Shut Out, through eBay, claiming that it would help protect individuals from viruses including coronavirus.

Rong Sun, aka Vicky Sun, 34, of Fayetteville, was charged with a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, and made her initial appearance Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman.

According to the charges, Sun sold an unregistered pesticide, Toamit Virus Shut Out, through eBay, claiming that it would help protect individuals from viruses. The pesticide was marketed as “Virus Shut Out” and “Stop The Virus.”

Additionally, the listing stated that “its main ingredient is ClO2, which is a new generation of widely effective and powerful fungicide recognized internationally at present. Bacteria and viruses can be lifted up within one meter of the wearer’s body, just like a portable air cleaner with its own protective cover.” It also stated that “In extraordinary times, access to public places and confined spaces will be protected by one more layer and have one more layer of safety protection effect, thus reducing the risks and probability of infection and transmission.”

The listing further claimed that Toamit is “office and home essential during viral infections reduce transmission risk by 90 percent.”

“In an event of this magnitude, the public needs facts, not fiction, on the best ways to protect themselves from viruses,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We must all remain vigilant against unsubstantiated or false claims that products ward off viruses. Those marketing such illegal products should beware they may end up on the radar of federal investigators, and be vigorously prosecuted.”

Sun took advantage of the current worldwide crisis to sell an illegal product with the claim that it protects individuals from viruses, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak of the Northern District of Georgia.

“The sale of this product not only violates several federal laws, it also gives people a false hope. During a global crisis, like we are experiencing right now, it is incredibly dangerous and reckless to exploit people’s fear for profit,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prioritize our efforts to protect Americans from COVID-19 fraud.”

Reliance on fraudulent products may increase the spread of COVID-19 and exacerbate the current public health emergency, said Susan Bodine, Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

“EPA and our law enforcement partners are working hard to keep these illegal products off the shelves, off the internet, and out of this country," Bodine said. "We ask American consumers to help by checking the list of approved products found at epa.gov/coronavirus before making any purchases.”

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA, regulates the production, sale, distribution and use of pesticides in the United States. A pesticide is any substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. The term “pest” includes viruses. Pesticides are required to be registered with the EPA. Toamit Virus Shut Out was not registered and it is illegal to distribute or sell unregistered pesticides. In addition, Sun allegedly imported the pesticide from Japan, violating the anti-smuggling law and then sent it via U.S. Postal Service priority mail.