Frank Richard Ludlow, 59, a British man was charged with smuggling into the United States mislabeled drugs supposedly to be a treatment for those suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Ludlow was charged with one count of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison.

            Beginning on March 1, as the coronavirus global health crisis worsened, Ludlow repackaged preexisting “Trinity Remedy” kits as “Trinity COVID-19 SARS Antipathogenic Treatment” kits, even though the kits had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat COVID-19 – or for any other use. Ludlow, who is not a doctor, allegedly smuggled the kits from the United Kingdom to the United States by shipping mislabeled parcels containing the kits to individuals in California and Utah. Ludlow's business relationship with his Utah connection dates back to May 2017 when he sold her “Trinity Remedy,” a “miracle cure” for her severe medical issues. The “cure” – later rebranded as “Trinity Mind, Body & Soul” – allegedly contained vitamin C, an enzyme mix, potassium thiocyanate, and hydrogen peroxide. Consumers were instructed to add 18 ounces of water, say a prayer, drink half of the solution, take a probiotic along with bee pollen, and then ingest the remainder of the solution, according to the affidavit.

            Between May 2017 and March 2020, Ludlow sold his Utah connection between 300 and 400 of these “treatments” for $50 per kit, many of which she gave away, but some of which she sold for as much as $200, the affidavit states.  In February or March of 2020, Ludlow began selling kits named “Trinity COVID-19 SARS Antipathogenic Treatment,” and these kits had the same ingredients as “Trinity Mind, Body & Soul,” according to court documents. Ludlow allegedly shipped the kits from the United Kingdom to Ogden, Utah and to the Forestville, California home of the Utah woman's boyfriend. Ludlow allegedly also shipped kits to the Draper, Utah home of his Utah connection's parents. Federal law enforcement intercepted the kits before they reached their intended destinations.