ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Louis County chiropractor is the first person in the U.S. charged under a new law meant to protect Americans from fraudulent claims about COVID-19.
Eric Nepute and Quickwork LLC are facing 10 counts in federal court of violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. In its case, the FTC said Nepute and his company – which operate several Nepute Wellness Center locations in St. Louis County – baselessly claimed his products with vitamin D and zinc were scientifically proven to treat or prevent COVID-19.
“I feel that I have not done anything wrong,” Nepute said in a statement to 5 On Your Side through his attorneys. “I encourage everyone to live a healthy lifestyle during this unprecedented time. My attorneys are reviewing the complaint and I have no further comments at this time.”
This is the first case the FTC has brought under the new law, which was passed by Congress in 2020.
“With this case, the Commission has quickly put to use its new authority to stop false marketing claims related to the pandemic,” Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said.
5 On Your Side first spoke with Nepute last April when a video he posted on Facebook got millions of views. In the video, he recommends viewers drink tonic water and take zinc as a “preventative” measure.
Read more: https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/st-louis-county-chiropractor-charged-false-claims-covid-treatments-ftc/63-119e5eda-c6d8-4f4a-863b-76576a13f1ec
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