COVID-19 COMPANY WRONG CLAIM: Local ‘anti-COVID disinfectant’ company accused of mismarketing, owes customers $252,400

DENVER (KDVR) – Colorado’s grand jury indicted four people along with a Wheat Ridge, Microforce-based company, with five counts of theft for claiming their product could kill the coronavirus.

The indictment states Microforce owners Chad Butler, Jeffery Stewart, Michael Satchell and their business consultant Bryant Delaney, advertised their disinfection service as containing a product that could create a ‘layer of spikes’ ‘ to kill COVID-19 as well as other viruses and bacteria.

According to the indictment, the company also claims the disinfectant will be effective against the virus for 30 to 90 days.

The Denver Environmental Protection Agency’s office sent an advisory letter to Microforce in June 2020. The letter states that the EPA only allows Microforce products to act as a deodorizer, not a disinfectant.

The owners of Microforce, according to the indictment, were aware of the EPA’s advisory letter, but continued to market their product as a disinfectant against COVID-19.

Microforce’s customers include the Tri-State Transmission and Development Association, Evergreen Parks and Recreation, Valor Christian High School, Elevations Credit Union, and Glenmoor Country Club. The estimated total amount stolen from these customers from April 1 to December 31, 2020, is approximately $252,440.

“False and misleading disinfectant claims related to Coronavirus and COVID-19 put people and communities at risk,” said Special Agent Lance Ehrig of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Colorado. “As this case demonstrates, the EPA and Colorado law enforcement partners are committed to protecting public health.”

The defendants were all charged with theft to varying degrees. It should be noted that a grand jury is a formal charge against an individual guilty under Colorado law.