Man admits to scamming victims out of millions by selling pesticide to kill coronavirus

A New Jersey businessman on Thursday admitted to selling $2.7 million of pesticide he fraudulently claimed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had recognized to be effective against the Chinese coronavirus.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Paul Andrecola, 63, of Maple Shade pleaded guilty to "one count 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."

At the height of the pandemic, Andrecola made more than 150 sales of pesticide in which he made the false claims about its properties, per the DOJ. Among his duped customers were a number of emergency service providers, government institutions, schools, and healthcare companies.

Andrecola faces a maximum of 26 years in prison under the three counts to which he pleaded guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 11 of this year.

“This announcement represents the largest pandemic fraud case related to the sale of unregistered pesticides charged nationwide,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in New Jersey.