Seattle coronavirus 'vaccine' peddler agrees to refund customers amid state lawsuit

Johnny T. Stine, a microbiologist who claimed to have created a coronavirus "vaccine" in half a day, has agreed to repay customers in response to a lawsuit filed by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

Stine had publicly admitted to injecting an undisclosed number of people with the substance, including his own son, who was a minor at the time.

A lawsuit, filed by Ferguson on June 12 in the King County Superior Court, accuses Stine of violating the state's Consumer Protection Act and preying "upon consumers’ fear of COVID-19 and desire to prevent the disease and return to normal economic and cultural life in order to promote and sell an untested and unapproved product."

Stine, who owns the company North Coast Biologics, had said in a Facebook post in March that he would administer the supposed vaccine for $400 to the first 100 people to request it. He later told KUOW that he had been contacted by roughly 350 people inquiring about the injections, prior to being contacted by state officials.

READ: This Seattle man peddled a coronavirus 'vaccine.' He says he's injected himself and others

Under a consent decree Stine entered with the state, he must provide within 30 days the names and contact information of buyers, and the amount of money he charged each of them for his so-called vaccine. He will be obligated to repay customers if they request a refund.

The agreement also compels Stine to pay at least $8,500 to the state for expenses incurred during its investigation of his claims. He could be ordered to pay an additional $30,000 if he is found to be out of compliance with the consent decree's terms.

Stine was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Ferguson's office on April 23, after KUOW had reached out to state officials with questions surrounding his claims.

Conventional scientists at the forefront of the coronavirus response have estimated that a vaccine won't be available until sometime next year. Various clinical trials are currently underway.

Stine did not return KUOW's request for comment by the time this story was originally published.