A Texas couple who used reality TV fame and religious language to pitch a “blessing” circle during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been convicted of running a massive pyramid scheme that drained $25 million from thousands of victims.
On Thursday, a federal jury found LaShonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, guilty of orchestrating the “Blessings in No Time” (BINT) scam. Prosecutors say the couple preyed on financial anxieties during the lockdowns, promising desperate investors 800% returns that never materialized.
“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.
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The “Elements” of Fraud
According to evidence presented at trial, the scheme operated between June 2020 and June 2021. The Moores pitched BINT as an exclusive, altruistic community designed to help people weather the economic storm of the pandemic. Through weekly livestreams, they told potential recruits that a “blessing” payment of $1,400 would turn into more than $11,000 in a matter of weeks.
The system relied on “playing boards” themed around the elements. New recruits joined as “Fire,” paying their $1,400 to the person in the “Water” position in the center. Once the “Water” participant collected eight payments, they cycled out, and the board split, forcing everyone else to recruit more people to move up the ranks from Fire, to Wind, to Earth, and finally to Water.
Prosecutors argued the math never added up for the participants—only for the Moores. To ensure they profited, the couple positioned themselves and family members at the top of the boards (in the “Water” spots) to collect the bulk of the cash, diverting funds that were supposed to go to the community back into their own pockets.
Betrayal of Trust
Investigators highlighted that the Moores specifically targeted the African American community, leveraging their polished image and past reality TV appearances to build a façade of legitimacy.
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“The Moores used a polished image… but behind the scenes, they orchestrated a multi-million-dollar pyramid scheme,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Dallas Field Office. “This scheme deliberately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties.”
The fallout was extensive. More than 10,000 people across the country bought into the “blessings,” only to lose their money. U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs called the operation a “betrayal of trust” and noted that the conviction serves as a “win” for the thousands of victims who suffered significant losses.
Facing Decades in Prison
The jury convicted the Moores on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering.
The couple now faces serious time behind bars. They could receive up to 20 years for each fraud-related count and an additional 10 years for each money laundering count. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
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