NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC RADIO: Secretary Galvin Talks TelexFree, Sann Rodrigues And ‘IFreeX,’ Tells Station Accused Huckster’s ‘Current Whereabouts . . . Unknown’

UPDATED 8 A.M. EDT U.S.A. New England Public Radio has a minute-long audio report on TelexFree, iFreeX and Sann Rodrigues, including comments from Massachusetts Commonwealth Secretary William Galvin.

An NEPR text report is available here. Look under the byline of Kari Njiiri for a link to the audio report.

Rodrigues, accused in April 2014 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of fraud over his alleged role in TelexFree, earlier (in 2006) was accused of fraud by the SEC in a separate alleged pyramid scheme involving phone products. iFreeX may constitute at least his third dance in securities- and affinity-fraud schemes involving communications products.

Galvin reportedly told the station that the “current whereabouts” of Rodrigues is unknown. The charged pitchman hails from Brazil, once resided in Massachusetts and also has lived in Florida.

Rodrigues, according to the SEC, has claimed that “God” started MLM and “binary” MLM “programs.”

On Dec. 19, 2013, the PP Blog reported that TelexFree puff pieces were appearing in a publication that featured a columnist who asserted Jesus Christ was the person who inspired modern network marketers through his recruitment of 12 disciples.

Ads for an apparent cash-gifting scheme appeared in the same publication.

SEC case filings alleged that, on March 15, Rodrigues’ co-defendant Faith Sloan claimed on her website that the TelexFree compensation plan was changing and was not in final form — “[b]ut is Getting BETTER as Jesus said.”

Regulators have described TelexFree as a billion-dollar pyramid- and Ponzi scheme that operated across national borders.

Claims of divine authority or inspiration are not unusual in MLM HYIP frauds. In the 2008 AdSurfDaily case, for instance, accused operator Andy Bowdoin claimed God was on his side and compared the U.S. Secret Service to “Satan” and the 9/11 terrorists. Bowoin later was sentenced to federal prison for his $119 million Ponzi scheme.

Promos showed Bowdoin asserting from a stage in Las Vegas that he was a Christian “money magnet” and that cash would “flow” back to people who gave him tens of thousands of dollars at a time.

Affinity fraud may occur in many contexts: appeals to religious faith, appeals to common interests, appeals to common heritage, appeals to common political interests and more.