Arkansas and the Federal Trade Commission have announced a $450,000 settlement with a reality TV couple who ran an alleged pyramid scheme, state Attorney General Tim Griffin announced.
The money will be used to provide some restitution to the victims of LaShonda and Marlon Moore of Prosper, Texas. As part of the settlement, the FTC has banned the couple from operating a multi-level marketing business.
In a related lawsuit over the pyramid scheme, the state of Texas received a $10.76 million judgement against the couple.
Arkansas, Texas and the FTC in 2021 accused the couple of taking tens of millions of dollars from victims through a scheme known as “Blessings in No Time.” The couple marketed their organization as a faith-based wealth building group, promising victims a return of 800% for a minimum investment of $1,400.
The Moores had appeared on “Family or Fiancé” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and according to authorities, they used that affiliation to enhance the appearance of credibility.
The scheme used playing boards that directed participants to recruit new members and “bless” different levels of the board, which simply meant giving the Moores more money, according to the lawsuits. Most of the 8,000 victims in the scheme lost every dollar they contributed.
In a statement, Griffin said the Moores targeted African Americans and people struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the scheme cost Arkansans hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I hope this outcome serves as a warning that scams like this do not pay off —for the scammer or the victim — and justice awaits those who prey on the needy,” he said.
Sign up for Daily E-news
