The federal conviction of LaShonda and Marlon Moore finds a Frisco, Texas, couple guilty of running Blessings in No Time (BINT), a COVID-era pyramid scheme that reportedly took more than $25 million from over 10,000 people through promises of huge returns and invitation-only livestream recruitment.
A jury in Sherman, Texas, convicted LaShonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, for orchestrating a chain-referral scheme that operated from June 2020 to June 2021. Prosecutors say the operation used weekly live-stream broadcasts to recruit thousands of participants across the country during pandemic shutdowns.
BINT presented itself as a community-focused program where members paid “blessings” of at least $1,400 to help others, while promising an eightfold return in a matter of weeks. Victims were allegedly told they could earn 800 percent returns on each $1,400 payment and even promised a refund if they were unsatisfied.
According to the government, the playing-board structure drove the fraud: boards held positions labeled Fires, Winds, Earths, and Water, and once Fire positions filled, each Fire paid the Water position. A Water participant then received eight payments totaling more than $11,000, after which lower-level participants were pushed up and required to recruit more people to sustain payouts.
Prosecutors say the Moores placed themselves on boards so they would cash out as Water participants and also diverted substantial sums directly for their own benefit. The scheme is alleged to have victimized more than 10,000 people and inflicted more than $25 million in losses nationwide.
“While many Americans struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, LaShonda and Marlon Moore orchestrated a lucrative pyramid scheme with the sole aim of enriching themselves,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through lies and deceit, the defendants recruited vulnerable people and defrauded them of millions of dollars. The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting fraudsters who inflict substantial harm on every day Americans trying to make a living.”
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs described the operation as a betrayal of trust aimed at large numbers of people. “The defendants, through their operation of the Blessings in No Time (BINT) pyramid scheme, defrauded over 10,000 individuals of more than $25 million, using false promises and misleading statements to recruit participants,” said Combs. “The defendants’ actions were a betrayal of trust, and the Justice Department will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who engage in such schemes. I commend the efforts of our investigative partners and the team who worked to bring about a “win” for the victims who suffered great losses at the hands of these defendants.”
Investigators stressed the social tactics that fed the fraud, noting a polished public image and even a reality TV appearance that helped the scheme gain credibility. “The Moores used a polished image and even a reality TV appearance to build trust, but behind the scenes, they orchestrated a multi-million-dollar pyramid scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “This scheme deliberately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties. Today’s conviction sends a clear message: if you abuse trust and exploit communities for personal gain, you will face justice.”
Enforcement agencies involved included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation, and prosecutors with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section handled the trial. “The harm caused by greed-driven, deceptive investments promising returns too good to be true cannot be overstated,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service continues, to aggressively investigate such schemes and hold fraudsters fully accountable.”
LaShonda and Marlon Moore were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering. Their sentencings have not been set, and each faces statutory maximum penalties of 20 years on the conspiracy and wire fraud counts and 10 years on each money laundering count.
The case encourages anyone who believes they were victimized to come forward; authorities set up a victim assistance line at (888) 549-3945 to connect people with resources. Prosecutors emphasized ongoing efforts to identify victims, recover assets where possible, and pursue justice for those harmed by pandemic-era fraud schemes.
