One Prosper, Texas, couple is having a less-than-blessed week. LaShonda Moore, 35, and Marlon Moore, 37, are accused of running an “illegal pyramid scheme” called Blessings in No Time. The couple allegedly targeted the Black community during the COVID-19 pandemic, profiting off their scam to the tune of $10 million.
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On Wednesday, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas indicted the couple on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. If they’re convicted, they face decades behind bars.
The couple, who appeared on Oprah’s show “Family or Fiance,” allegedly portrayed themselves as good Christians helping the Black community build generational wealth. But the indictment reveals a much darker story.
According to the Department of Justice, the couple allegedly conned thousands of victims by telling them that they could expect 800% guaranteed returns. The government also alleges that they said participants could get refunds if they were unsatisfied with the program.
So, how exactly did this alleged scheme work? Well, according to the government, participants created a payment scheme with “playing boards,” with eight “Fire positions, four Wind positions, two Earth positions, and one Water position.” Participants in the starter/fire position could advance by paying at least $1,400 to the person in the Water position and recruiting two additional Fire positions.
As the DOJ explains it, eight new participants would have to join one of those games for someone in the fire position to get paid. And if you know anything about pyramid schemes, you know that eventually, you run out of people to recruit.
The Moores are alleged to have placed themselves and family members in the Water position in multiple of these “playing boards,” ensuring that they would get paid. What’s more, they purportedly also made money from monthly user fees, which were required to participate in “Blessings in No Time.” The Black community was allegedly the target of this scheme.
The couple declined to comment on previous stories about Blessings In No Time. The Root reached out to an attorney listed on previous court records but did not hear back by the time of publication.
This isn’t the first time their company has been in legal trouble. The Texas Attorney General secured a nearly $11 million judgment against Blessings In No Time and a permanent ban on them from operating the company in July. The state of Arkansas and the FTC also won a sizable judgment.
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