I watched a new show on the OWN about the Sons of Perdition, the FLDS boys who run away from their homes. And one of the families that take FLDS boys in are Jeremy Johnson and his wife. They are LDS and you can see their scriptures on their night stand when the camera was in their room. My neighbor also was talking about him and how he scammed a ton of people. Supposedly he is worth around 300 million.

I started to research him and found out the government is coming down hard on him for running a huge internet credit card scam. Apparently people would be tricked into signing up for free ebay money making service, or government grants but they got charged immediately after signing up for "free". By the time they checked their bank statements and figure out what happened he would already move on to the next batch of victims.

Now he is in hot water with authorities which also froze all of his assests including houses, cars, helicopters, house boats etc.. My neighbor also heard he moved somewhere to south america to evade police. I may not be %100 on all the details but I was hoping someone here knows a little more.

Gotta love Mormon scammers.

Stealing is ok if you use it for righteous purposes, right?

and since he hasn't been convicted (correct?) tscc will GLADLY accept it!

God LOVES a ward & stake with Good Stats!

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705364802/Federal-judge-freezes-assets-of-iWorks-Jeremy-Johnson-in-alleged-Internet-fraud-case.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2011 07:21PM by guynoirprivateeye.

I like the part where Johnson, having gotten in trouble with one of his first credit card scams, responded by forming more than fifty false-front companies so that he could continue to pass money into his bank account without alerting the Feds.

Sounds sorta like the 2011 version of the Kirtland Anti-Banking scam...

If your saying that "any scam is like any scam" then I suppose you are correct. Other than that they have nothing in common.

I watched Sons of Perdition and I thought that he felt so fake. I think he kicked the boys out beacuse 1 or more of them became closer to his wife and he did like the FLDS-fathers and "protected" his family even if she was interested too.

Hope he gets convicted so he can learn about real justice.

Amen

I'm ever amazed at how little of the detail most anti-mormons are. Very lazy lot, actually.

Or don't. And then call other people lazy.

Are you a lurker? A troll? BIC?

I'm guessing it's very hard for you folks to let go of the idea that Jeremy Johnson was a hero.

BC Wrote:
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> I'm ever amazed at how little of the detail most anti-mormons are. Very lazy lot, actually.

We're not lazy about using correct grammar.

Well at least they are LOOKING for the "details". TBMs won't even look at the BIG PICTURE, let alone the "details".

FYI.

Utah man works to fulfill promise, helps in haiti
http://www.mormontimes.com/article/1150/Utah-man-works-to-fulfill-promise-helps-in-Haiti?s_cid=search_queue&utm_source=search_queue

FTC files fraud complaint against St. George helicopter pilot
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705363395/FTC-files-fraud-complaint-against-St-George-helicopter-pilot.html

More indictments on others involved in his scams:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51636750-78/bank-gambling-poker-indictment.html.csp

You can also go to the FTC website and read the allegations. A few months ago, it was up to 80 pages.

Mormon scammers are a dime dozen. The religion/culture makes members ripe to prey upon.

A TBM friend on FB posted a pic of some MLM guy's mansion in Utah with caption "blessed for living the word!" To which I replied - this dude was convicted of multiple felonies including fraud and tax evasion. Living the word indeed. The Mormon word.

The Church is Troo but some of the members aren't- famous last words, these are jsut the ones I found recently..if you have any to add - please do.
We all know who the biggest MLM scammer of all is.


Val Southwick Ponzi Scheme - Bishop
.......................................................
Shawn Merriman Ponzi Scheme- Bishop
..........................................................

Anthony Vassallo "In California, the SEC said Vassallo told investors, many of whom he met in church, that he had developed a software program that allowed him to buy and sell options that generated profits of 3.5 percent a month with little risk."

.....................................................

Kleenmaid collapse - " What's more, chairman Andrew Young and his brother Brad were Mormons and that added to their image as upright and ethical members of the community."
..............................................................

Mortgage Fraud - Sentenced were Bradley Grant Kitchen of Provo, David R. Bolick of Sandy, Steve Wells Cloward of Orem, Ron K. Clarke of Provo, and Jeffery David Garrett of Provo.......... The men were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2007 on charges they conspired to create a multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme involving a Utah County development that was originally thought to total $18 million in fraudulent loans.
................................................................
Ted James Johnson Jr-
Investors believed in Giles County businesses
People who gave money to Ted James Johnson Jr. said he seemed to know what he was doing......It was not the cost but the deceit that bothers him, Charles Wayne Gentry said gently from the witness stand Thursday in federal court in Roanoke.
He'd gathered his savings, sold his house and store and counseled his wife and brother-in-law to put in their inheritance -- $724,000 in all -- only to see the money disappear in the collapse of Mountain Investments and Dogwood Farms, two businesses run by a pair of Giles County financial advisers indicted last year on 42 charges tied to securities fraud....
Johnson's investors included fellow Mormons from Giles County and beyond, teachers and university professors, and businessmen.

..........................................................

A major Utah investment fund has collapsed, leaving more than 268 creditors owed $168 million.
Of that total, investors in the Waterford Loan Fund from Utah and 19 other states are owed $100 million, according to preliminary figures compiled by a contract manager for the company and attorneys. Assets were listed at $40 million.

.......................................................
Leticia Avila -

"Leticia Avila used her LDS Church connections and the promise of cooperation from a high-ranking immigration official to con $4,000 apiece from undocumented immigrants attempting to get legal visas, according to more than two dozen affidavits from victims.
Many of the alleged victims say what is most upsetting is that they were betrayed by someone who preyed on their religious faith. They trusted Avila because she was a fellow member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Spanish-speaking branch in Millcreek. In some cases, it was a local church leader who suggested they talk with Avila about becoming legal. "

.............................................................
Rick Koerber

"Federal prosecutors on Tuesday accused an Alpine man of defrauding investors in a multimillion dollar real estate scheme.

U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman said Rick Koerber collected more than $100 million from investors but spent much of it on expensive cars, restaurants, movie making and his own housing. Tolman announced a three-count indictment of Koerber on Tuesday.

The number of victims, most of whom live in Utah, could be in the hundreds, said Tolman. But investigators have yet to determine which of Koerber's investors are "purely victims" and who may have "facilitated the crime," he said.

Koerber, who dubs himself a "Capitalist, Mormon, Dad" on his Web site, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Koerber was an ardent backer and donor to the school voucher movement in 2007. "
.............................
New York Times article on Daren Palmer, faithful Mormon in Idaho Falls, who agreed this week to plead guilty in a $78 million dollar scheme where he conned his family and his fellow Mormons.

http://is.gd/inUQmH
.....................................
SALT LAKE CITY -- A Lindon man suspected of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme and defrauding investors out of more than $18 million pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court on Thursday.

Jeffrey Lane Mowen, 48, entered the plea as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two additional charges of wire fraud, as well as charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, tampering with a witness and retaliating against a witness.

Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah, said though Mowen will be sentenced later, his penalty has already been determined.
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Wayne Ogden from Ogden, Utah. Active LDS at time of multi-million dollar ponzi scheme.
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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a securities fraud lawsuit last month against Salt Lake City-based Art Intellect Inc. and its three principals, Patrick Merrill Brody, Laura A. Roser, and Gregory D. Wood.

In its original complaint, the SEC says Art Intellect, which operates under the name Mason Hill, collected more than $2.5 million from about 75 investors since April, 2009. The company reportedly claimed that the funds would be used to buy and rehabilitate distressed real estate in Ohio, Florida, and Kansas, and that the company would find renters for each of the properties. The properties were not identified in the lawsuit.

Investors, who were allegedly asked to submit a deposit of $20,000 per property, reportedly were promised returns of 10 percent to 30 percent, with monthly net rental profits of $650 to $1,000.

However, the SEC alleges that the funds were used for Mason Hill's operating expenses, as well as to pay for "lavish trips" and personal expenses for Mr. Brody and Ms. Roser. Funds from later investors also were reportedly used to buy properties and make payments to earlier investors.
--------------------
n March 23, 2011, it filed a complaint against Mike Watson Capital, LLC, a company based in Provo, Utah. The SEC also named Michael P. Watson, a resident of Mapleton, Utah, and Joshua F. Escobedo, a resident of Spanish Fork, Utah as defendants. According to its press release the SEC has alleged that Watson and Escobedo “raised more than $27.5 million from more than 120 investors through Mike Watson Capital’s issuance of promissory notes… Watson and Escobedo told investors that returns were generated by real estate investments, and backed by substantial equity and cash flow produced by company properties. In reality, the properties never generated sufficient income to cover investment interest or redemptions, and therefore investor returns were paid primarily from new investors’ funds.” The SEC alleged that the company owes more than $19 million in unpaid principal and interest on its promissory notes to investors, its real estate portfolio has tanked, and commercial banks have foreclosed on at least nine properties. This one looks pretty grim for the people who initially invested $27 million of their hard-earned money with these two Utah County guys -
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http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/51503972-79/investors-clark-complaint-payday.html.csp
A Hyde Park man has been accused in federal court of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme under the guise of an online payday loan company.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday filed a complaint in U.S. District Court against John Scott Clark, 58, and his businesses, Logan-based Impact Cash and Impact Payment Systems. The SEC alleges that between March 2006 and September 2010, more than $47 million was raised from 120 investors who were promised lavish returns for funding payday loans.

According to the complaint, Clark sold securities through both companies that totaled $47 million. About $4 million of that allegedly was raised for equity investments in the companies, while the rest came from investors who agreed to provide capital to the companies for payday loans.
---------------

Raymond P. Morris, 42, of Draper, conducted an unregistered offering and operated the Ponzi scheme “at least” between March 2007 and January 2009. The scheme defrauded “at least 90 investors” and was a Ponzi out of the gate, the agency said.Three other Utah men, including attorney Luc D. Nguyen, 40, of Draper, helped the fraud spread by conducting no due diligence, recklessly repeating assertions made by Morris as though they were truthful and coming up with their own lies to drive money to the scheme, the agency alleged.Also charged were James L. Haley, 49, of Draper, and Jay J. Linford, 49, of Orem.
---------------------
PROVO - The aftermath of a massive Ponzi scheme that may have affected hundreds in Utah County has turned into a nasty tangle of overlapping court cases.
The questions are as basic as who is a victim and who is a perpetrator. And the answers likely won't come any time soon.
Prosecutors last October secured a temporary restraining order from 4th District Judge Fred Howard freezing over $2 million in assets belonging to several people connected with the California payday lending company Money & More.
Prosecutors in April filed an array of securities fraud and money laundering charges against five people: Larry O. Bosh, of St. George; D. Shawn Benson, of Ivins, Washington County; Michael J. Smith, of Mona, Juab County; David Q. Poulsen, of Salem; and Gale Robinson, of San Jacinto, Calif., the owner of Money & More.
-----------------------------------
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-

A Utah money manager accused of running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence.
Jeffrey Mowen entered the plea in Salt Lake City's U.S.
udge Dee Benson set sentencing for April 15.
As part of the plea agreement, Mowen will forfeit any assets gained from the scheme, including 29 cars that were not sold at public auction.
Defense attorney Stephen McCaughey says in exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a murder-for-hire charge.
Prosecutors contend Mowen defrauded investors of millions of dollars and tried to arrange the killing of four witnesses. He was arrested last April in Panama.
------------------------
SEC: Two Utah County Men Ran Ponzi Scheme
Ballard Spahr partner Brent R. Baker is representing one of two Utah men accused in federal court of running a $27.5 million Ponzi scheme. Mr. Baker's client is accused of posing as a broker for a Provo-based business, according to a complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. Baker said his client wasn’t aware that the business was running a Ponzi scheme and has been cooperating with the SEC investigation. He "is looking forward to putting this behind him," Mr. Baker said.
--------------------------

Utah Ponzi Scheme Revealed

His name is John Scott Clark, and according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, he’s a Ponzier. The Utah man and his two funds, Impact Cash and Impact Payment Systems, scored $47 million from gullible investors, including three hedge funds that should have known better.

Wonder if BC is still "ever amazed"?


Golly Neds, sure hope the mormon "church" returned all of its ill-gotten tithing gains.


I'm sure they did, they're a "twoo church" after all ...

New info today about him. He will be held until trial.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/cc847f9f058441f88020656420ae242c/UT--Utah-Businessman-Arrested/

Reading most of the comments here, you'd get the idea that only Mormons are scammers. I realize that 'exmormon.org' participants probably have some kind of axe to grind, but give me a break. Any body around here hear of any bad stuff in the world that didn't involve members of Mormon church?

when people brag about knowing them by their fruits, well its fun to show the worms.

Got it! I can see the fruits. Thanks

Interesting perspective

An underlying issue is the perpetual boasting mormons do about how "moral" their culture is, how "generous" mormons are about sending aid to the needy, how "wonderful" the mormon priesthood is, etc, etc, etc.


Mormon society produces its share of murderers, rapists, molesters, scammers, and the like. And that makes their hyperbolic BS about the benefits of mormonism all the more silly.

Utah was, at one time, leading the nation in white collar crimes (per capita). FYI. So yes, these things do happen elsewhere, they just happen more here.

Well done ANON2DAY --But one thing is apparent --All the names on the list GOT CAUGHT-- Not too smart !!!. Super salesmen --lousy planners and businessmen...

JB

Really? This is a basis on which to judge an entire religion that does much good throughout the world and has many members who are good people and good citizens?

Should I judge all Jews because Bernie Madoff happens to be Jewish. One of the ten commandments states; "thou shalt not steal". A major tenant of the Judaism.

How about Ken Lay of Enron infamy? An avowed Christian.

Shall I condem Catholicisim because of John Gotti, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, or any number of Catholic Mafioso.

How about the thousands of Protestants who murderd and raped Native Americans for hundreds of years? Protestantism must be bad because of a hundred thousand bad apples.

Finally how about all of Islam because some murderous bastards decided to fly airplanes into two towers?

Please. You can have your beef with Mormonism, but we're all subject to tempation regardless of your professed religion (even if it's your own design), and we all don't make the right choices. This is not a reason to dislike mormons.

I don't think so.

Enjoy your MLM schemes.

I suppose that 'technically' you're "correct"; we sholdn't condemn the LDS church ('ChurchCo') because of what the Scammers do, BUT:

when the church fights return of Scammed money to investors/victims... because 'they were given & accepted in Good Faith'... that's a HINT.

in my divorce, wife submitted False info to the court; I showed the FALSE info (signed & sworn by her) to our Bp., and he Promply EXCUSED it...

You're right, it's not (so much) that people take advantage of others;
it does happen with Other People in Other Churches (how do THEY react?)

It IS what - how CHURCHCO reacts (or Not) in response.

Oh; we should also remember: Utah law, written by ChurchCo members, PROTECTS CHILD ABUSERS! those who 'confess' to their leaders (a home teacher is called by the church; same as a Bp, SP) are SHIELDED by ChurchCo!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2011 04:21PM by guynoirprivateeye.

Our point is that the Mormon value system includes permission to lie BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP DOES IT. They are also not transparent and honest in their dealings with their fellow man.

When I was Catholic, they published the parish budget every week in the bulletin. So even though they hid and protected sexual predator priests, they were honest in that parish on that day.

There is no ward, ever, who publishes their budget so that LDS people can see if they are using the money for the purpose they said. They collect for the "poor" then send it to Salt Lake City where it becomes a drop in the ocean. An ocean which belches forth on the beach Beneficial Life, the City Creek Mall and many other (hidden) failed real estate investments, like condominiums.

Thousands of influential leaders in Mormondom know the church is deceitful in its handling of tithing funds. This is value training that has much more influence on people's lives than a General Authority droning in General Conference for the riffraff to be honest in their dealings.

And do they regret leaving old people in poverty in their remaining years? Are they repentant. Nope. "They knew the risk." is the common refrain. Mormons prey on their own--even the Osmonds were not immune. This type of religious cannibalism, affinity fraud, is not as common in other religions.

Should they be held accountable for the bad apples following the example of the bad apples at the top? The government seems to think so. You seem to be in favor of continuing to clip the leaves of evil, the individual scammers, instead of asking why, oh why is PROVO, UTAH the scam capital of the country when it is the most Mormon of any county in America? Could there be something in the religion? Something not found in Judaism or Islaam?

Any social scientist worth his salt would think it was worth investigating as a serious question of culture and ethics propelling a subcult to behave in a way which is not practiced in the rest of the country.

Mormons are not weird - Mormons are normal my sweet behind.

Wake up, Mormon Defender, and think like a scientist.

Anagrammy

when I clicked the links, today's date was shown on the newspaper... (more than 1 article).

is this accurate? did both the articles appear on the same day?

Haiti in one article, Scam in the other.

I think the MLM thing is kind of like a Mormon Freudian slip or something.

:)

funny thing. Even when husband and I were TBM we had a rule to NEVER do business with mormons. We saw them ripping each other off over and over.