A Cherry Hill businessman falsely claimed that his company's pesticide products could be used to protect against the virus that causes COVID-19, authorities said.

James Young, 46, and his firm, ViaClean Technologies LLC, knowingly misled customers about products intended for use against odor-causing and stain-causing bacteria, algae and fungi, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia.

An indictment alleged that Young and ViaClean duped customers from January through October 2020 "in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the public desire for products that would protect people from infection by virus."

One customer, identified only as a commercial real estate firm, bought hundreds of gallons of a pesticide that offered no protection against any virus, it said.

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