LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore of Frisco, Texas, were convicted in federal court of running an illegal pyramid scheme that targeted victims during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial.
Prosecutors said the Moores co-founded and operated BINT, short for “Blessings in No Time,” a chain-referral scheme that ran from June 2020 to June 2021. The operation used weekly livestream broadcasts to recruit thousands of participants nationwide during pandemic shutdowns, falsely promising 800% returns on a $1,400 investment and guaranteeing refunds to dissatisfied participants.
The Moores portrayed BINT as an invitation-only, community-based effort to help people financially during the economic downturn. Participants were told their payments, described as “blessings,” would be repaid eightfold within weeks. In reality, the program relied on continuous recruitment of new members to generate payouts, prosecutors said.
BINT operated through so-called playing boards with four levels: eight “Fire” positions, four “Wind,” two “Earth” and one “Water.” Once all Fire positions were filled, each participant was directed to pay at least $1,400 to the person in the Water position, who then received more than $11,000. Participants advanced up the board only after recruiting new members to fill the lowest level, perpetuating the scheme.
Prosecutors said the Moores placed themselves in positions that generated the highest payouts and diverted substantial participant funds to their own use. The scheme victimized more than 10,000 people across the United States and caused losses exceeding $25 million.
A jury convicted both defendants of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. Sentencing dates have not been set. Each faces up to 20 years in prison on each conspiracy and wire fraud count and up to 10 years on each money laundering count.
“While many Americans struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, LaShonda and Marlon Moore orchestrated a lucrative pyramid scheme with the sole aim of enriching themselves,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through lies and deceit, the defendants recruited vulnerable people and defrauded them of millions of dollars. The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting fraudsters who inflict substantial harm on every day Americans trying to make a living.”
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.
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