Authorities say he also claimed the products killed COVID-19. seasonal flu.
Baltimore, Md (KM) Federal charges have been filed against a Frederick man for selling unregistered and misbranded pesticides. Marek Majtan, 35, has been charged through a criminal complaint with mail fraud, and violating a federal law covering pesticides.
The US Attorney’s Office for Maryland says Majtan bought some unknown pesticides over Facebook Marketplace from an individual whose last known he did not know. He was doing business as Capital Cleaning Solutions, and packaged and relabeled the pesticides at his home, creating his own handmade labels and application directions. The products were advertised on the internet as compliant with CDC and EPA standards. They were sold on eBay without authorization from the EPA.
Federal prosecutors also say Majtan claimed the products were registered pesticides with the EPA< and were registered with the CDC. They said the Majtan did not obtain a company number from EPA as required before registering a pesticide, and did not submit an application for registering the pesticides with the EPA.
He claimed he sold 1,231 bottles of the product and his company was serving 323 customers.
On May 20th, 2020, the US Postal Inspection Service and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted an undercover purchase of two pesticides sold by CCS on eBay, and delivered to FedEx. Based on the undercover work, the agent served a search warrant and confiscated five additional packages sent by Capital Cleaning Services to customers in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and Illinois.
The US Attorney’s Office says the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act requires pesticides display labels which feature prominently the name, brand and trademark under which the product is sold; the name and address of the producer or registrant; and the product registration number and producing establishment number. The products must also contain labels warning or caution statement. Federal official say Majtan failed to do that.
If convicted, Majtan could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for mail fraud, and up to one-year incarceration and a $25,000 fine for a violation of the federal law covering pesticides.
“It is particularly egregious to seize on the ongoing pandemic to take advantage of the public,:” said US Attorney for Maryland Robert K. Hur, in a statement. “My office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who commit COVID-19 related frauds immediately, especially those who endanger the pubic through their actions.”
By Kevin McManus