Pandemic Pyramid Scheme Convictions Expose Scale of Community Fraud

A federal jury in Sherman, Texas has convicted LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering for operating a large scale illegal pyramid scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. The convictions underscore how fraudsters exploited economic distress, digital platforms and community trust at a time of heightened vulnerability across the United States.

The scheme, known as Blessings in No Time or BINT, operated between June 2020 and June 2021 and targeted more than 10,000 victims nationwide. Prosecutors established that the Moores promoted BINT through weekly live streamed broadcasts, falsely promising participants returns of up to 800 percent on a $1,400 payment, alongside guarantees of refunds if participants were dissatisfied. In reality, the structure was a classic chain referral pyramid, dependent entirely on the recruitment of new members to fund payouts to earlier participants.

Central to the case was the deliberate presentation of BINT as an altruistic, community focused initiative designed to help individuals weather the economic shock of the pandemic. The Moores framed payments as “blessings” rather than investments, masking the underlying illegality of the scheme. Evidence showed that this messaging was particularly effective within the African American community, where cultural trust and social ties were consciously leveraged to accelerate recruitment and suppress scepticism.

The scheme operated through a tiered board system labelled Fires, Winds, Earths and Water. Once a board was filled, payments flowed upward to the individual in the Water position, funded entirely by the contributions of new recruits. While participants were encouraged to believe that advancement was inevitable, the Moores positioned themselves to receive the largest payouts and diverted substantial sums directly to their own benefit. The model collapsed for the vast majority of participants, resulting in losses exceeding $25 million.

From a financial crime perspective, the convictions are notable not only for the scale of the fraud but for the associated money laundering counts. The movement and concealment of proceeds through digital payment channels illustrates how investment fraud, social media and online payment systems increasingly converge. These cases continue to test the effectiveness of transaction monitoring, fraud detection and consumer protection frameworks, particularly during periods of systemic stress.

Each defendant was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. They face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each wire fraud and conspiracy count and up to 10 years on each money laundering count. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It serves as a stark reminder that fraud typologies dressed in the language of mutual aid or community support remain a persistent threat. For regulators, financial institutions and policymakers, the convictions reinforce the importance of sustained vigilance against schemes that exploit trust, crisis conditions and digital reach to generate illicit profit.

Read the press release here.