The Wall Street Journal reported that a federal grand jury indicted (Formally and officially accused) TelexFree LLC co-founders and owners James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler Wednesday on fraud charges tied to allegations that their company operated a massive pyramid scheme.
The indictment expands upon the original criminal case against Messrs. Merrill and Wanzeler, who in May were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the alleged pyramid scheme, which prosecutors say caused total losses of more than $1 billion, including promised returns to investors.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, the indictment adds eight counts of wire fraud stemming from transfers of about $10 million in TelexFree funds to the two men’s personal accounts.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
“The defendants devised, and intended to devise, a scheme to defraud, the purpose of which was to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, promises and omissions,” reads the indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court in Worcester, Mass.
Lawyers for Messrs. Merrill and Wanzeler couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. However, the men have maintained their innocence since the original charges were filed. And in court papers, Mr. Merrill has
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Jeunesse Welcomes World-Renowned Distributors Paula Pritchard & Kathy Robbins
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Jeunesse has proudly welcomed world-renowned network marketing mentors Paula Pritchard and Kathy Robbinston its leadership ranks, along with members of their organization, The Global Partners Group.
Business partners for more than 25 years, Paula and Kathy have helped guide the growth of a multitude of multimillion-dollar companies, motivating and developing thousands of distributors in the U.S. and international markets. Upon meeting with Jeunesse co-founder Wendy Lewis earlier this year, the two iconic leaders admit to being immediately intrigued. “There was no hype,” said Paula. “Wendy was humble, and she seemed to really appreciate the network marketing industry as well as her distributors.”
Equally impressed with the results after trying the Jeunesse line of youth-enhancing products, Paula and Kathy visited the Jeunesse global headquarters in Altamonte Springs, Florida—and brought 26 of their team leaders with them. “We did not want to make the decision alone,” said Kathy after a day of introductions to Jeunesse executives and products. “They all agreed that this was where we needed to go.”
Paula and Kathys’ initiation into Jeunesse coincides with a continued period of remarkable growth for the company, whose monthly sales revenue reached a record-breaking $40 million in June and whose distributor enrollment for the month totaled
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Primerica Says New Canadian Licensing Program Can Hurt Its Business
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Life insurance giant Primerica Inc. says proposed new Canadian regulations could hurt its business.
The Canadian government is proposing to implement a new life insurance licensing examination program across Canada in early 2016. Duluth, Ga.-based Primerica (NYSE: PRI) reported Monday that “If this new licensing program is implemented under the terms set forth in the agreements, we believe it would increase the cost, time and ability of applicants to obtain their life insurance licenses in Canada.”
“Primerica is supportive of reasonable and fair changes to Canada’s licensing program,” the company reported. “However, we believe the new licensing approach will create unnecessary barriers to becoming life-insurance licensed in Canada and will negatively affect access to life insurance products by middle income Canadians. The new testing program was developed by the regulators outside of normal processes and we believe without proper authority.
We are hopeful that the regulators will consider our concerns in good faith and make changes to the program that will ensure the new licensing program is appropriately designed to protect Canadian consumers and the ability to serve them.”
Primerica reported that last year, its Canadian operations represented approximately 7 percent of its new life-licensed representatives, approximately 10 percent of its total life-licensed representatives (at
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Limitless Worldwide Expands Into Asia
by Nicole Dunkley • • 0 Comments
Limitless Worldwide™ has been making a name for itself in the network marketing industry. Although it’s a relative newcomer, its line of science-backed products, partnerships with athletes and celebrities, patent-pending TriBrid Overlay Compensation Plan™ and NSF Certified for Sport® formulations have all helped set it apart. And now the company is expanding internationally with upcoming plans to begin making its products available in Asia.
The international expansion is building on all of the success Limitless Worldwide has experienced over the last year. Thousands of distributors and customers have recognized everything Limitless has to offer and have joined its ranks.
The company has introduced a number of exciting, highly researched products. And Limitless has even had the opportunity to partner with celebrities and athletes to help spread the message about its breakthrough, science-based product line and business opportunity!
The move into Asia will, however, lead to some changes for the Limitless product line. “We’ve conducted a huge amount of research to make sure we represent our company accurately to the Asian market,” says Melyn Campbell, who — along with her husband, Steve — cofounded Limitless Worldwide.
“We want to make sure our branding and messaging help Asian consumers and business owners understand just what it is
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Vox Media: Herbalife Science Is Definitely Garbage
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Vox Media is one of the USA’s largest and fastest growing online publishers. Based in Washington DC, Vox owns and operates sites in distinct vertical categories: general news, sports, technology & culture, gaming, dining & nightlife, shopping & fashion, and design & real estate.
According to Vox:
On the Herbalife website, there’s a section dedicated to “science videos,” where various company stakeholders boast that they “guarantee the very best science” behind their products, which are all “science proven.”
Dig a little deeper, however, and it seems the evidentiary underpinnings of Herbalife’s wares boil down to only four very weak studies that can barely be called science, let alone the “very best science.” If this is Herbalife’s prime research and development, then the company’s science is definitely garbage and customers should question the health claims on its products.
A look at Herbalife’s clinical trials
On a dedicated science website, Herbalife cites four clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of its products:
1) The first clinical study compares weight and fat loss in two groups of obese men and women: the first went on a diet involving protein enriched Herbalife meal-replacement shakes; the second dieted with a standard Herbalife shake. While the study shows that both groups
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Dennis Bay – World Ventures Hits $1 Million In 12 Months
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Dennis Bay from Sinagapore made over 1 million dollars USD in the past 12 months as World Ventures distributor. On his website Dennis stated:
“Dennis graduated from the National University Of Singapore in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. While in school, Dennis read a book called “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki and that set him off on the path of entrepreneurship. ”
He started his own web design business part time and also started a network marketing wellness home business. Before he graduated, he had already built a 6 figure annual income from his businesses at the age of 23.
Dennis travelled the world teaching people how to start their home based businesses, coaching thousands of people throughout Asia, from Singapore to Malaysia, Indonesia and all over Greater China. He even started his own online business club that coached thousands of people from over 40 countries.
I’m actually the 1st Director in the entire Asia for Worldventures which is a multimillion dollar travel marketing company from the USA.
About WorldVentures:
WorldVentures is the leading international direct seller of vacation club memberships. WorldVentures is on a mission to help people achieve more fun, freedom and fulfillment in their lives, and to
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Daniel Sistrunk Joins LyfeStart International
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
LyfeStart International welcomes Daniel Sistrunk as a LyfeStart Executive Advisor. Daniel Sistrunk has three decades of experience in the network marketing industry. In previous positions, he has secured thousands of customers and direct sales representatives, generated millions in annual revenue, and has been recognized as top recruiter and top income earner.
“I was drawn to LyfeStart, International because it’s a company of inclusion. It’s the first nutritional network marketing company founded and managed by a group that looks like the United Nations,” he says. “Just as I advocate owning a business as a direct path to financial success, by joining LyfeStart, I’m applying that same philosophy.”
Daniel has achieved success by empowering others to achieve goals that promote long-term economic success. This emphasis on offering others opportunity is what drew him to LyfeStart’s mission of helping others, and has made him a tremendous advocate of direct sales as a path to financial independence.
Raised by a mother who bought a home and was able to offer her children a college education because of direct sales, he believes strongly that business ownership is the pathway to long-term success.
“Creating opportunities for people to own their own business is incredibly valuable to society,” he says.
“And then
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TriVita To Refund $3.5 Million In Product Claims Settlement
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
In its ongoing campaign to combat exaggerated health claims, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a settlement with cactus juice marketer TriVita. The Arizona-based company agreed to refund consumers $3.5 million, settling FTC allegations that TriVita deceived consumers with unsupported claims about the health benefits of its Nopalea wellness drink.
Advertisements for Nopalea, which sold for up to $39.99 plus shipping and handling, billed the product as “Inflammation Relief without a Prescription.” The company’s frequently aired infomercials claimed the “prickly pear” fruit drink would treat a wide variety of other health conditions as well.
According to the FTC release, one featured TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew, linking inflammation to allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and diabetes.
In an ad featuring celebrity endorser and former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, the former Sports Illustrated model claims, “If you’ve suffered from inflammation or chronic pain for years, there’s something that can help,” the FTC release quotes.
The agency also charged TriVita with failing to disclose its connections to the individuals featured in a separate infomercial. The ad featured testimonials by satisfied customers who were in fact paid employees of the company.
“These kinds of unfounded claims are unacceptable, particularly when they impact consumers’ health,” Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau
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MonaVie Adds Nutritionist Mark Macdonald To Its Scientific Advisory Board
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
MonaVie announces today that nutrition and fitness expert Mark Macdonald joins its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The addition of Macdonald will help ensure the company has the right expertise to support current product development plans and necessary substantiation for research and development.
No stranger to MonaVie, Macdonald has been with the company as its nutrition and fitness expert since 2011, and was influential in helping formulate MonaVie’s RVL and CORE line of products.
“It’s an incredible honor to be added to MonaVie’s Scientific Advisory Board,” Mark said. “For more than 20 years I have dedicated my life to empowering others and showing people what is truly possible with their health. As an educator, expert, and motivator I know that partnerships are the key to changing the course of the international health crisis.”
Macdonald joins current SAB members, Dr. Jun Nishihira, specializing in biochemistry, from Japan, and Dr. Hervé Rogez, a food science expert, from Brazil.
Mark added, “Since its inception, MonaVie has been on the front line in developing cutting edge products designed with a specific purpose—products that are focused on enhancing one’s health and truly ‘filling in the gaps’ of where most of us fall short in our daily nutritional needs. Together we will continue making a
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Mary Kay Event Expecting 30,000 Attendees
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Mary Kay Inc.’s 2014 seminar that kicked off Wednesday is expected to bring more than 30,000 attendees to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, generating $32.1 million and 2,4000 jobs into the city of Dallas.
This year marks the 40th anniversary that Dallas has hosted Mary Kay’s signature 18-day event. The seminar ends Aug. 2.
Last year’s seminar celebrated the Addison-based cosmetic company’s 50th anniversary and drew more than 50,000 international attendees. The estimated economic impact of last year’s seminar was $49 million.
For the Dallas convention center, the seminar is among a list of almost 20 major events that combined are expected to draw more than 250,000 guests to the venue.
So far this year, events at the center have generated more than $200 million, counting the impact of the Mary Kay Seminar. Top events hosted this year, include the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which drew 50,000 attendees and generated $43.03 million, and Mary Kay’s seminar.
Last year, events generated a total of $1.6 billion for the city.
Check out the slide show for images from Mary Kay meeting seminars through the years.
Here is a timeline highlighting Mary Kay’s history in Dallas:
Mary Kay Seminar
1963 – Beauty by Mary Kay opens for business in Dallas.
1964 –