Don Lapre accused of running $52 Million Dollar Scam (Remember this guy?)

[Soul Crusher]

TV pitchman Donald Lapre accused of running $52M scheme

Updated 6/15/2011 3:06 PM | PHOENIX (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a Phoenix-based TV pitchman accused of running a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthless Internet-based businesses to more than 200,000 people.

Federal prosecutors say Donald Lapre is charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering. He's accused of overseeing and promoting the opportunity through his company called "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

During the course of the scheme, the government says at least 220,000 victims were defrauded of nearly $52 million.

Lapre was often seen on television giving his hard-luck life story and how he was able to turn his life around. He refers to himself on his website as "The King of Infomercials."

Lapre has not responded to an e-mail seeking comment.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Soul Crusher]

[Soul Crusher]

[Soul Crusher]

[Voice of Doom]

In America, there's a sucker born every minute - P.T. Barnum

[The True Adonis]

No different than the supplement "industry".

[Soul Crusher]

No different than the supplement "industry".

I always wondered why if he was making millions he was still in that tiny florida apartment.   

[Fortress]

Guys like Paul Gardiner (Muscletech) should be enjoying a jail cell, too.

[Soul Crusher]

Phoenix infomercial pitchman Donald Lapre found dead
by Eddi Trevizo - Oct. 2, 2011 09:47 PM
The Arizona Republic
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U.S. Marshals said Donald Lapre, a Phoenix-based infomercial pitchman, was found dead in his cell Sunday at a federal-contract facility in Florence.

Lapre was being held on fraud charges linked to his vitamin-selling business. He was arrested in Tempe earlier this year.

Lapre was found about 8:30 a.m., unresponsive in an apparent suicide attempt, said Matt Hershey, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal.

Officials refused to say which Florence facility Lapre was in and did not immediately know if he was alone in his housing cell.

Prison officials gave lifesaving measures until Florence police and paramedics arrived, said Hershey.

Lapre was wanted by law enforcement after he failed to appear at his U.S. District Court arraignment in June on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, promotional money laundering and transactional money laundering. A federal grand jury indicted Lapre on fraud-related charges for promoting his vitamin-selling business, Greatest Vitamin in the World of Phoenix. The indictments alleged that the business signed up 226,794 people who were promised lucrative commission checks for selling vitamins and recruiting others to the business.

Customers and investors spent nearly $51.8 million, but only 5,000 victims were paid about $6.4 million in commission, according to a statement released in June by the U.S. Department of Justice. Lapre collected at least $2.2 million from the business from 2004 to 2007.

Officials did not detail how Lapre may have killed himself, and said they likely would not release the name of the facility in which he was held.

Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice stated Lapre may have suffered from anxiety and depression and warned that he may have had suicidal thoughts.

"We are not yet releasing how he might have injured himself. More likely tomorrow there will be more information," said Hershey.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/10/02/20111002phoenix-lapre-dies-prison.html#ixzz1Zk2OFmr1

[OneMoreRep]

No different than the supplement "industry".

x2

"1"

[jesusbod]

He died for you bitches...