MPB Today Operator Was Subject Of Inquiry By U.S. Food And Drug Administration For ‘Cell Rejuvenator’ Product That Claimed To Treat Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome
This MPB Today pitch claims a $200, "ONE-TIME" grocery purchase from Southeastern Delivery can "TOTALLY ELIMINATE" future grocery bills.
Gary Calhoun, the operator of a multilevel-marketing (MLM) program that is targeting Food Stamp recipients, Ponzi scheme victims, foreclosure subjects and people of faith, received a warning letter in 2006 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for his marketing of a product that claimed to treat multiple diseases, according to federal records.
Calhoun, who now operates an MLM program known as MPB Today and a grocery business tied to the program, was ordered by the FDA to stop violating provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The grocery business is known as Southeastern Delivery LLC.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it was opening a “review” of claims made in the MPB Today program and the associated grocery business.
The FDA’s letter pertained to a Calhoun-operated business known as Trim International and a now-defunct website known as MyTrim.com. Calhoun also operated a business known as United Pro Media LLC, which became a subject of complaints to the Better Business Bureau and was given an “F” rating, the BBB’s lowest rating on a 14-step scale.
In 2006, according to the FDA, Calhoun was marketing a product known as “TCR Cell Rejuvenator.” The agency said the product was positioned as a treatment for “Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, axonal and other neuropathies, Down’s and other syndromes.”
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) commonly is referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in recognition of the famed New York Yankees’ first baseman, the subject of the tear-jerking 1942 movie “The Pride of the Yankees,” which starred Gary Cooper. Gehrig died in 1941.
TCR Cell Rejuvenator also was positioned as a treatment for “recurrent Herpes, common cold and flu,” amid MyTrim claims it could be used “to treat patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and other infectious diseases and neurological disorders,” according to the FDA.
Meta tags on the site also referenced “prostate cancer,” the FDA said.
Calhoun was ordered by the FDA to notify it “in writing within 15 working days of receipt of this letter about the steps that you have taken to correct” violations. The company eventually went out of business.
“[T] he introduction or delivery of a new drug into interstate commerce without an FDA-approved application is a prohibited act,” the FDA advised Calhoun. “No such applications exist for this product.
“Furthermore, many of the diseases or conditions for which this product is offered are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners,” the FDA said. “Therefore, adequate directions for use for these conditions cannot be written so that a layman can use this drug safely for its intended purposes.”
The agency said Calhoun had misbranded the product because the “product’s labeling fails to bear adequate directions for its intended uses for those diseases or conditions which are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment.”
MPB affiliates claim a single grocery purchase of $200 through Southeastern Delivery can result in free groceries for life.
Read the FDA’s warning letter to Calhoun.
When will people realise that the people who start up schemes like MPB are not in it to help anyone but themselves, and have little or no business ethics or principles?
Gary Calhoun is just another of a long series of so called businessmen who find a need that cannot be solved by people, either because of lack on money, or because there are no real treatments in the case of medical conditions, and then exploit it. they exploit it to the maximum with hype, exagerations and lies. They make false claims about their products or the earning potential of their businesses, without turning a hair. They will often look you in the eye and tell you that they want to help.
In times of economic hardship these so called businessmen crawl out of the woodwork to prey on desperate or needy people. if one business fails them, then they move on to the next set of victims, like vultures circling over their prey.
They are a disgrace to honest hard working businessmen and women who are willing to make their money on the quality and integrity of their product or services, understand the concept of value for money, and are building long term businesses, within the law.
The free for all era of “anything is ok so long as you make money” has brought the world to its knees. America was built on hard work and no one laughed about having a j*o*b. It’s time people started to reject these schemes for what they are “too good to be true” and harmful to all except their perpetrators.
My favorite was his racking up over 500 personal injury product liability lawsuits over the Trim International products in a 2 year span. Then stiffed his members in United Pro Media (Trim International replacement company) by not paying them. A former employee said UPM was a Ponzi from the start, and was never a legitimate company. But Ken Russo has posted “glowing” testimonials about Gary from people who “really know him.” Sounds like Andy Bowdoin all over again, and we all know how accurate his “glowing” testimonials were. Too funny Ken.
Quick note:
Walmart’s name has gone missing from the landing page of MPB Today. So have the names and pictures of Donald Trump and Warren Buffet.
The site appears to have been done over. Also missing are the testimonials of satisfied delivery customers.
Patrick
I am happy you brought this to the forefront, Patrick. There might be some other legal eagles more than interested in Gary Calhoun and MPBToday and Southeast Delivery Services. Who knows, it may have started already.
He and his affiliates are messing with the wrong people by targeting the low income and seniors.
A “leopard never changes it’s spots” as we’ve all seen over the years. Gary Calhoun is no different.
This thread over at scam.com has some of Gary Calhoun’s history.
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?p=746600
Post #74:
That was from 2007 – I wonder if he is still interested?
Thanks for the link Tony. Looks as if this aint Calhoun’s first rodeo scamming seniors.
[…] is more than likely that you or someone you know has already been approached by an MPB promoter. MPB Today Operator Was Subject Of Inquiry By U.S. Food And Drug Administration For ‘Cell Rejuv… This one strikes me as particularly bad because of the economic situation of many of the people […]
I just received my 3rd check for $300 and 3rd Gift Card to Walmart/Sam’s for $200 each. If it is a scam, I think my $210 investment was well worth it. I love how people who can’t take risks, sit back and judge others who do! Good luck with your bashing!
Paul
What does not taking risks have to do with the ability to recognize a fraud when you see it ????
Congratulations on being one of the 14% who will get paid from this pyramid scheme. You’ve got your money so that’s alright. Nevermind the 84% who will not get paid, you’ve got yours, that’s all what is important.
Thanks for confirming that it’s an “investment”. The groceries are not important, it’s all about the money.
Playing ponzi/pyramid schemes is fraud, it is encouraging fraud and it helps to sustain fraudulent activity. Risk is irrelevant.
I see exposing the truth is hurting your recruiting or you wouldn’t need to be here. LOL.
Wow it’s sad that in our world today people think it is okay to rip off seniors and the less educated just because THEY are getting money out of it. I live in Texas and this scheme is really getting big down here with people whole heartedly throwing their hard earned money at this Gary Calhoun character. These types of people are the reason we are in the economic crisis we’re in, and will they ever learn? Can someone explain to me the legality of these schemes and how this guy continues to get away with it without indictment?
Everyone is waiting on this one to see if the FTC, the USDA, Walmart or someone else intervenes. The alternative will be that it just collapses as insufficient people join for the rest to get paid, payments slow down or stop and then Mr. Calhoun and friends either disappear or blame someone other then themselves.
It is sincerely to be hoped that they stop it first, as the number of people who are going to be hurt by this machievellian concept of making money will be hugh, and many of them will not be able to shrug off the loss.
re: wishful thinking
Where is there fraud(misrepresentation) if the people who invested $200 get a $200 Wal Mart gift card. And if these same people have invested a little bit of their time in showing 2 other people how to get free Wal Mart gift cards and are rewarded with extra income for their efforts, where is the fraud. Everyone I know who has done this is getting exactly what was promised. The most anyone can lose is $10. That is a fee for web site creation that is up and running in a matter of minutes. That’s it. Offering people honest work which amounts to people helping people sure beats sitting in front of the tv or moaning about being out of work or taking food stamps. Give me a break! As for as Mr. Calhouns’s troubles with the FDA, what’s new. Anybody, including Health Food Stores, that try to offer alternative methods such as vitamin therapy to people who are dying from drugs and their side affects have the FDA and its drug lobbyist to contend with. Perhaps, Mr. Calhoun should have been clearer about the products ability/inability to produce/enhance a person’s chances for relief from various symptoms not as a cure. But nevertheless, the outrageous
profits these drug companies make gives them enormous power to control gov agences that can ensure their monopolies. Why doesn’t the government go after all the tax evaders and law breakers in the President’s own cabinet. My point is,look at the big picture. If this man is helping people make extra money and get groceries, which he is, go pick on the big guys who are robbing the average guy blind. Namely, the government and the guys who have been in office the last number of years. The so called swindled or scammed people of faith that I heard giving their experience with mpbtoday while listening to a live conference call, were telling how they used their gifts cards to help a church in Florida that had burned down,and was encouraging people with multiple cards to give them to the food banks, soup kitchens, and anybody that needed help. Others, myself incl. have pledged the same. What are you guys doing to help others. If Mr. Calhoun is basically dishonest and has not just made mistakes in his supplement business, it will be revealed. But I see no evidence at this time to convict him of fraud in mpbToday based on the information Patrick Pretty has written in his blog.
C’mon Dianna,
Please, please, please just answer one simple question for me. Where does the money come from to supply you (and others) with the $200 WalMart certificate?
“If Mr. Calhoun is basically dishonest and has not just made mistakes in his supplement business, it will be revealed.”
It will be Dianna, it will be. Now please, can you answer Entertained’s question? The only money that anyone here has been able to see is that provided by new members. Your answer to this would be more than appreciated.
[…] was the subject of a 2006 inquiry by the Food and Drug Administration, amid allegations he was selling a product that purported to treat multiple diseases, including […]
If anyone want to know the real story they can
simply visit http://www.GaryCalhoun.com
Dale,
How does that site let readers understand the “real story” about the FDA’s issues with Gary Calhoun?
Feel free to defend Calhoun and MPB to your heart’s content. But the story above is largely about the FDA issues — and the link you left does not appear to address them at all. In fact, it looks like a Blog that has all of one post (dated June 14) and a 25-minute video for MPB Today.
Patrick
NOT EVERYONE GOT THEIR 200.00 GIFT CARD, AND ALL THEY SAY IS TO BAD!! that my friend is FRAUD!!!!