FBI, Homeland Security Establish Site, Questionnaire For TelexFree Victims

In this TelexFree promo, former President James Merrill posed with a giant SUV.

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have established a website for individuals who believe they were defrauded by TelexFree, an alleged pyramid- and Ponzi scheme the Massachusetts Securities Division says gathered more than $1.2 billion.

Here is a link to a statement by the FBI and DHS. The page includes a link to a questionnaire.

Alleged TelexFree co-owners James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler have been charged criminally with wire-fraud conspiracy. Merrill, 53, of Ashland, Mass., is jailed in the United States. Wanzeler, 45, of Northborough, Mass., is alleged to have fled to Brazil. The U.S. Department of Justice describes him as a fugitive.

TelexFree, Merrill, Wanzeler and six other alleged TelexFree managers, executives or promoters also are defendants in a major civil prosecution by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

By some accounts, TelexFree had between 700,000 and 1.5 million participants.

From the FBI/DHS statement (italics added):

The large number of possible victims necessitates that we ask for your assistance by completing the secure questionnaire online. Your responses are voluntary, but would be useful in the federal investigation and to identify you as a victim.

The office of U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the criminal cases against Merrill and Wanzeler.