Utah Fraudulent Doctor Arrested After 3-Year Evasion for Selling Unverified COVID-19 Cure

Gordon Hunter Pedersen Apprehended in Utah County for Mail and Wire Fraud Related to Fake Coronavirus Cure

Utah Fraudulent Doctor Apprehended After 3-Year Manhunt for Selling Unverified COVID-19 Cure

SALT LAKE CITY — A Cedar Hills man, Gordon Hunter Pedersen, 63, who had been evading authorities for nearly three years after allegedly selling a bogus coronavirus cure, has been arrested in Utah County. Federal agents located Pedersen last month, subsequent to a warrant issued for his arrest in August 2020. He now faces a range of charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with fraudulent intent.

Alleged COVID-19 Cure Scam Unveiled

The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Pedersen exploited the internet to market a product dubbed "structural alkaline silver," claiming it could dismantle the membrane of the COVID-19 virus, rendering it ineffective in infecting the human body. This unproven product raised alarm due to its unverified claims amid the pandemic.

Fake Credentials and Deceptive Claims

Pedersen bolstered his credibility through YouTube videos where he falsely identified himself as a "board certified Anti-Aging Medical Doctor" with a PhD in immunology and Naturopathic Medicine. In 2020, authorities asserted that while Pedersen might not have been the sole perpetrator of such scams in Utah, he was the most prominent, prompting federal intervention to dismantle his operation.

John Huber, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah in 2020, commented, "You have a modern-day snake oil salesman from the Wild West who rolls into town and says, 'This is the cure-all that's going to stop all your ails and viruses and things that are going to get you.' We think that claim is outlandish."

Fraudulent Claims Beyond COVID-19 Cure

Pedersen's fraudulent enterprise extended beyond the sale of the COVID-19 cure. He also claimed his company's products could treat various other diseases including arthritis, diabetes, influenza, and pneumonia. These misleading assertions added to the severity of the charges against him.

Legal Proceedings and Accountability

Pedersen, who had remained on the run since 2020, is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon. The charges he faces highlight the consequences individuals might face for exploiting public health concerns with deceptive medical claims.

As authorities continue to crack down on such scams, the case serves as a reminder to exercise caution and skepticism when encountering products or treatments that make extraordinary claims about their efficacy, especially during times of heightened health concerns.