In yet another case that may cause widespread unease in the autosurf world, three men accused of defrauding participants in a bogus debt-relief “ministry” have been found guilty of 174 counts of mail fraud, money-laundering and transporting stolen goods.
Parts of the case against “3 Hebrew Boys” were remarkably similar to events engulfing the AdSurfDaily autosurf. In 2007, for example, the defendants filed a court document that described their investment program as an effort to free people from government “bondage” and referred to the investigation as “Satan’s handiwork.”
In 2008, AdSurfDaily President Andy Bowdoin described the case against his purported Florida “advertising” firm as the work of “Satan,” comparing it to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Prosecutors said ASD was selling unregistered securities, while engaging in wire fraud, money laundering and operating a $100 million Ponzi scheme.
In 2007 and 2008, prosecutors brought essentially the same charges against “3 Hebrew Boys” — Joseph Brunson, Tim McQueen and Tony Pough.
About 100 supporters of the “3 Hebrew Boys” rallied in Columbia, S.C., in the early days of the probe, to demand that investigators leave them alone. Participants told reporters that the government did not understand the program, had overreached in its prosecutorial efforts and refused to deny it was wrong, choosing to move forward with the case in a bid to save face.
Prosecutors said the “3 Hebrew Boys” scam was targeted at churchgoers and members of the military from South Carolina and North Carolina, and also from other states. The scam got its name from the company’s website name, which was based on a biblical tale of believers who escaped a furnace by relying on their faith.
At least $82 million was consumed in the scheme, prosecutors said.
The company attempted to chill law enforcement, regulators and members of the media from scrutinizing operations, prosecutors said.
In an approach similar to one used by the AdViewGlobal (AVG) autosurf, members were forced to agree to a confidentially clause that purportedly prohibited them from discussing the company outside the confines of meeting places. Participants were threatened with a $1 million penalty for sharing information.
AVG, which has close ties to ASD, morphed into a “private association” in February 2009. Members were scolded for sharing information and calling the autosurf an “investment” program. As the company appeared to be collapsing in May and June, members were threatened with copyright-infringement lawsuits. Critics were told AVG would contact their ISPs to file abuse reports and suspend service.
Not only did the plan to force secrecy and mute criticism not work in the “3 Hebrew Boys” case, it resulted in intense scrutiny by federal prosecutors, the FBI, the IRS and other agencies. It also resulted in intense scrutiny on the state level.
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster filed civil and criminal charges, posting all the documents in the case on his website.
A court-appointed receiver also published documents, listing an astonishing array of luxury purchases made by the schemers with investors’ money. Among the items were a Gulf Stream jet, a Prevost Motorcoach and automobiles with famous names such as Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Saab, Cadillac and Lincoln.
Some of the luxury items are missing, meaning they cannot be sold to compensate victims.
Brunson, McQueen and Pough were found guilty yesterday. The jury in the case, which was heard in Columbia, S.C., returned the verdict in less than three hours, after listening to testimony for weeks.
Separately, Lee Otis Fluker was charged with perjury and convicted in 2008 for lying about his knowledge of the scheme. He was sentenced to a year in prison.
Brunson, McQueen and Pough face decades in prison and fines in the millions of dollars.
Last month, Beattie B. Ashmore, the court-appointed receiver in the case, warned victims about “companies [that] claim to offer professional services for recovering losses associated with your involvement with CCG,” one of the companies associated with the “3 Hebrew Boys” scheme.
“Please note that you are not required to respond to these letters in order to be considered for a distribution from the Receiver,” Ashmore said on the receiver’s website. “In addition, the Receiver takes no position as to any consequential effect filing a claim and recovering funds in this case may have upon any action you have taken or may take with Fraud Recovery Group or any similar type company.
“Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional legal and tax advice from a trusted advisor, and that you properly research any professional advice before acting upon it,” Ashmore said.