littleroundman
06-20-2011, 05:19 PM
Phoenix promotor of the 'Greatest Vitamin in the World' charged with defrauding over 220,000 victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2011
PHOENIX - A federal grand jury in Phoenix has returned a 41-count indictment against Donald Lapre of Phoenix, for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Promotional Money Laundering and Transactional Money Laundering. The indictment, returned last week, alleges that the 47-year-old Lapre oversaw and promoted a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthless Internet-based businesses to over 220,000 victims through his company "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."
Lapre was summoned yesterday to appear for an arraignment at 1:30 p.m. June 22 before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson in Federal Court in Phoenix.
"This indictment goes to show that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is," said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "Mr. Lapre used incessant nationally televised info-mercials to hawk his vitamins and worthless websites as a way to get rich quick without working hard. His scams swindled a sea of victims, but thanks to the efforts of the Postal Inspection Service and the IRS, he will face justice."
"Home-based business opportunities have a certain appeal, especially in today's economy," said Pete Zegarac, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Consumers should be cautious of schemes which promise to bring in large amounts of money with little or no effort on their part."Read the full press release by the US Attorneys Office HERE (http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/PR_06152011_Lapre.html)
Or download the Indictment in .pdf format HERE (http://www.casewatch.org/doj/lapre/indictment.pdf)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2011
PHOENIX - A federal grand jury in Phoenix has returned a 41-count indictment against Donald Lapre of Phoenix, for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Promotional Money Laundering and Transactional Money Laundering. The indictment, returned last week, alleges that the 47-year-old Lapre oversaw and promoted a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthless Internet-based businesses to over 220,000 victims through his company "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."
Lapre was summoned yesterday to appear for an arraignment at 1:30 p.m. June 22 before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson in Federal Court in Phoenix.
"This indictment goes to show that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is," said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "Mr. Lapre used incessant nationally televised info-mercials to hawk his vitamins and worthless websites as a way to get rich quick without working hard. His scams swindled a sea of victims, but thanks to the efforts of the Postal Inspection Service and the IRS, he will face justice."
"Home-based business opportunities have a certain appeal, especially in today's economy," said Pete Zegarac, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Consumers should be cautious of schemes which promise to bring in large amounts of money with little or no effort on their part."Read the full press release by the US Attorneys Office HERE (http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/PR_06152011_Lapre.html)
Or download the Indictment in .pdf format HERE (http://www.casewatch.org/doj/lapre/indictment.pdf)