Home / Crime and Justice / Texas Couple Jailed for $25M Pandemic Pyramid Scheme
Texas Couple Jailed for $25M Pandemic Pyramid Scheme
11 Jan
Summary
- Couple convicted for multi-million dollar pyramid scheme.
- Scheme defrauded over 10,000 victims nationwide.
- Operation targeted African American community for recruitment.
A federal jury in Sherman, Texas, convicted a Frisco couple, LaShonda and Marlon Moore, on charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering for running a fraudulent pyramid scheme. The operation, Blessings in No Time (BINT), ran from June 2020 to June 2021 and victimized over 10,000 individuals across the United States, resulting in losses exceeding $25 million.
The Moores lured participants through online broadcasts during the pandemic, promising up to 800% returns on a $1,400 investment. The scheme was structured with playing boards requiring continuous recruitment of new members to fund payouts to earlier participants. Prosecutors highlighted that the scheme deliberately exploited cultural trust within the African American community.
LaShonda and Marlon Moore face significant prison sentences, with potential penalties of up to 20 years for conspiracy and wire fraud counts, and 10 years for money laundering. The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, underscoring the severe impact of such deceptive investment schemes.
