Utah Man Arrested After Selling Fake COVID-19 Cure, Posing as Doctor
A Utah man who posed as a medical doctor and sold products claiming to cure COVID-19 has been arrested and charged after a three-year manhunt. Gordon Hunter Pedersen, 63, was apprehended by federal agents on July 5, almost three years after he fled in 2020, following an indictment in federal court. Pedersen, from Cedar Hills, Utah, has been charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, and felony introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead.
According to officials, Pedersen began fraudulently promoting and selling a product called structural alkaline silver online at the start of the pandemic, claiming it could treat or cure COVID-19. He appeared in videos wearing a stethoscope and lab coat, asserting that the product’s frequency would destroy the virus. However, prosecutors have stated that there is no evidence to support these claims.
Pedersen also falsely claimed to be a board-certified anti-aging medical doctor with a doctorate in immunology and naturopathic medicine. Court documents reveal that he has been making false claims about his silver-based products since 2014, asserting that they can treat various diseases, including arthritis, diabetes, influenza, and pneumonia.
The products, marketed under names such as Silver Solution, Silver Gel, Silver Soap, and All-Natural Silver Lozenge, listed silver as an ingredient for consumers to ingest or apply topically. They were sold through Pedersen’s companies, My Doctor Suggests LLC and GP Silver LLC, as well as platforms like Amazon and Shopify, with the Silver Solution being sold for up to $299.95 per gallon.
In 2020, Pedersen began promoting his products as a way to treat or cure COVID-19, claiming that the silver solution had destroyed related coronaviruses and could offer protection against the Wuhan version of the virus. He assured users that his products would allow them to travel freely without fear of contracting the coronavirus. These marketing tactics resulted in a significant increase in sales for Pedersen and his companies.
The case against Pedersen is being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration’s criminal investigation office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. Prosecutors are reminding the public that there is currently no known cure for COVID-19 and urge individuals to follow guidance from reliable health officials.
It is important to note that Pedersen’s claims have been proven false, and promoting unproven treatments for COVID-19 can be dangerous. Authorities are working diligently to protect the public from such fraudulent activities and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
