Category: The Economy
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REPORTS: TelexFree Figure Murdered In Brazil
3RD UPDATE 3:17 P.M. EDT U.S.A. Dorian da Silva Santos, described by Bloggers and in media accounts as a politician and promoter of TelexFree in Brazil, reportedly has been found murdered execution-style in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The news adds to a disturbing series of events that, since at least 2013, have become part of…
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URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Herbalife Must ‘Fundamentally Restructure Its Business,’ FTC Says In Settlement Announcement; Agency Brings Complaint In Federal Court That Alleges ‘Deceptive And Unlawful Acts And Practices’
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (13th Update 3:45 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) The FTC is going to federal court in the Central District of California, alleging that Herbalife engaged in “deceptive and unlawful acts and practices.” Separately, the agency announced a settlement with the company that will have Herbalife pay $200 million and change the way…
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BURKS TRIAL: Government Has Rested, Docket Says
Prosecutors have rested their case against Paul Burks of Zeek Rewards, according to the July 13 court docket. Lawyers for Burks asked for an acquittal, but U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. denied the motion. It appears Burks now will proceed with his defense. The trial got under way July 5. Burks, 69, is…
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ZEEK: Key Figures — And Paul Burks’ Defense
EDITOR’S NOTE: Prosecutors and Paul Burks are clashing over expert witnesses and the admissibility of certain evidence. The article below reproduces the anticipated core of Burks’ trial defense, as advanced by his lawyers. This article is not intended to be all-encompassing. Prosecutors, of course, have an altogether different take. They have posted the indictment against Burks…
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URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Zeek Receiver Moves For Summary Judgment Against Class-Action Clawback Defendants; Kenneth Bell Says Defense Expert Witness Has Found No Evidence That ‘Disproves That The Business As A Whole Operated As A Ponzi Scheme’
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (3RD UPDATE 6:11 P.M. EDT U.S.A.) On virtually the eve of the criminal trial of Paul Burks, receiver Kenneth D. Bell has asked the court presiding over a huge class-action lawsuit against 9,400 alleged Zeek “winners” for a finding the MLM program was a Ponzi scheme. Such a finding would mandate…
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DEVELOPING STORY: U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz ‘Has Been Recused’ From Prosecution Of TelexFree Figures James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler
2ND UPDATE 6:27 P.M. EDT U.S.A. A government filing dated July 1 — a Friday before the long Independence Day weekend — says U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts “has been recused” from the prosecutions of TelexFree figures James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler. The document does not say why Ortiz no longer…
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After Vemma College Flap, Herbalife Products Marketed Through One Of Largest Catholic High Schools In United States
UPDATED 3:59 P.M. EDT U.S.A. It surfaced on Twitter today in the $HLF search thread that Herbalife products are being marketed through Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. The Catholic school bills itself “the largest non-public school west of Chicago.” Herbalife is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. Hedge-fund manager and Herbalife…
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TELEXFREE: Trustee Requests Stay In Lawsuit Against MLM Attorney Gerald Nehra, Others
UPDATED 11:14 A.M. EDT U.S.A. TelexFree Trustee Stephen B. Darr has requested a stay in the lawsuit against MLM attorney Gerald Nehra, the Nehra and Waak law firm and certain other individuals or entities accused civilly of helping the judicially declared Ponzi- and pyramid scheme gain a head of steam. “The Trustee seeks this stay…
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BULLETIN: FEDS: Burks Ran Scam Prior To ZeekRewards
BULLETIN: (4th Update 9:13 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) Accused Ponzi schemer Paul Burks ran a “pyramid scheme” known as FollowMe1X2 that was a precursor to ZeekRewards, federal prosecutors say. A quote about FollowMe1X2 that appears in a prosecution filing today also appears verbatim in a post on the MoneyMakerGroup Ponzi forum dated Sept. 4, 2010, by “charlieone.”…