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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"47a2c13f-33ca-4b45-9c42-f8d99107a236","kind":"publish","page_slug":"blessings-in-no-time-bint","published_at":"2026-06-28T17:11:49.780Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Blessings in No Time (BINT)","sections":[{"content":"LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore were convicted by a federal jury on January 9, 2026, in Sherman, Texas, in the Eastern District of Texas. They were found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering. On June 9–10, 2026, a federal judge sentenced each defendant to 480 months (40 years) in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered the Moores to pay more than $4.3 million in restitution to victims. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Theodore Kneller and Adam Stempel of the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. of the Eastern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation.","heading":"Criminal Convictions and Sentencing","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Eastern District of Texas — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Texas couple sentenced for running an illegal pyramid scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/texas-couple-sentenced-for-running-an-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs — Texas Couple Who Operated an Illegal Pyramid Scheme Are Convicted of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-who-operated-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and"}]},{"content":"BINT operated as a chain-referral pyramid scheme using a four-tier \"playing board\" structure with positions labeled Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water. New participants paid at least $1,400 — referred to internally as a \"blessing\" — to the individual occupying the Water position. A single board contained eight Fire positions, four Wind positions, two Earth positions, and one Water position. Once all eight Fire positions were filled, the Water participant received payments exceeding $11,000, and remaining board members advanced upward while two new boards were created, each requiring eight additional recruits. This structure was mathematically unsustainable, as every advancing participant required exponentially more new recruits. The Moores positioned themselves strategically on multiple boards to receive disproportionate payments and diverted substantial funds directly to themselves. Participants were falsely promised 800% returns on their $1,400 investment within weeks and were told guaranteed refunds would be available if they were unsatisfied, both of which were false. Some participants paid as much as $62,700 across multiple board entries. The scheme ran from June 2020 to June 2021 and was promoted through weekly live-stream video broadcasts that reached thousands of participants nationwide during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.","heading":"Scheme Mechanics and Operation","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs — Texas Couple Who Operated an Illegal Pyramid Scheme Are Convicted","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-who-operated-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and"},{"credibility":2,"name":"KERA News — Frisco couple gets 40 years for $30 million COVID-era pyramid scheme targeting thousands","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-06-10/frisco-couple-gets-40-years-for-30-million-covid-era-pyramid-scheme-targeting-thousands"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FTC — Blessings in No Time: A blessing or a pyramid scheme?","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2021/06/blessings-no-time-blessing-or-pyramid-scheme"}]},{"content":"Federal investigators and prosecutors determined that BINT disproportionately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Christopher Altemus Jr. stated that \"the scheme was crafted to prey on trust within the African American community, exploiting cultural and personal ties.\" Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a June 2021 civil lawsuit, stated that BINT \"scammed Texans out of money by exploiting their deeply-held religious faith during a national crisis.\" The scheme presented itself as an invitation-only, community-oriented initiative and made fraudulent claims of altruism. Participants were also allegedly prohibited from posting truthful, non-defamatory reviews or information about BINT on social media, according to the FTC complaint.","heading":"Targeting of the African American Community","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"CBS News Texas — North Texas couple sentenced for $30 million pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texas-couple-40-year-sentence-pandemic-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Texas Attorney General — Paxton Sues BINT for Pyramid Scheme, Exploiting African American Community","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-sues-bint-pyramid-scheme-exploiting-african-american-community"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Texas couple sentenced for running an illegal pyramid scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/texas-couple-sentenced-for-running-an-illegal-pyramid-scheme"}]},{"content":"Prior to the federal criminal prosecution, BINT faced multiple civil regulatory actions. In June 2021, the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Arkansas jointly filed a complaint against BINT Operations LLC and the Moores, alleging an illegal pyramid scheme that targeted African Americans and financially vulnerable individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton separately filed a civil lawsuit against BINT. On July 26, 2023, the FTC, Arkansas, and Texas OAG collectively secured a $10.76 million Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction against the Moores and BINT Operations LLC. Under the settlement, the Moores were required to contribute between $450,000 and $2.5 million toward a Texas-administered victim fund. The injunction permanently banned the Moores from operating or participating in any multi-level marketing program. These civil actions preceded and were separate from the criminal prosecution that resulted in the 2026 federal convictions and sentencing.","heading":"Civil Regulatory Actions (FTC, Texas OAG, Arkansas AG)","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"FTC — Blessings in No Time case proceedings","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2123043-x210020-blessings-no-time"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Texas OAG — Texas OAG Secures $10.76 Million Judgment Against Pyramid Scheme Operators","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/texas-oag-secures-1076-million-judgment-against-pyramid-scheme-operators-who-exploited-consumers"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Arkansas AG — Settlement in Blessings In No Time Pyramid Scheme Case","type":"regulatory","url":"https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/attorney-general-griffin-announces-settlement-in-blessings-in-no-time-pyramid-scheme-case/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Secret Service — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2026/06/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"}]},{"content":"On November 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas returned an indictment charging LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The indictment detailed BINT's playing board structure and alleged the Moores defrauded thousands of participants of more than $10 million. The U.S. Department of Justice's DOJ Victim Notification System (VNS) listed the entity BINT Operations LLC as a named party in the criminal case.","heading":"Federal Indictment","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Secret Service — Couple Charged for Operating Multimillion-Dollar Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2023/11/couple-charged-operating-multimillion-dollar-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Criminal Division — BINT Operations LLC VNS case page","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/bint-operations-llc"}]},{"content":"Federal prosecutors established that BINT defrauded more than 10,000 individuals nationwide of more than $30 million between June 2020 and June 2021. Victims were primarily recruited during COVID-19 pandemic economic hardship. Participants spanned the United States and were recruited through nationally broadcast weekly livestreams. The vast majority of participants lost their initial $1,400 investment; some participants paid as much as $62,700 in total board-entry fees across multiple BINT boards. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated: \"This fraud scheme exploited people out of their hard-earned money at a time when they needed it most.\" The court-ordered restitution of more than $4.3 million represents only a fraction of the total losses sustained by victims.","heading":"Victim Impact and Scale","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Eastern District of Texas — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CBS News Texas — North Texas couple sentenced for $30 million pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texas-couple-40-year-sentence-pandemic-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Washington Post — BINT couple sentenced to 40 years each for pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/13/blessings-no-time-stars-sentenced-40-years-each-pyramid-scheme/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Eastern District of Texas — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs — Texas Couple Who Operated an Illegal Pyramid Scheme Are Convicted of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-who-operated-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and"},{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Secret Service — Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2026/06/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Secret Service — Couple Charged for Operating Multimillion-Dollar Pyramid Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2023/11/couple-charged-operating-multimillion-dollar-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Texas couple sentenced for running an illegal pyramid scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/texas-couple-sentenced-for-running-an-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation — Texas couple who operated an illegal pyramid scheme are convicted","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/texas-couple-who-operated-an-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-of-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Federal Trade Commission — Blessings in No Time case proceedings","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2123043-x210020-blessings-no-time"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Texas OAG — Paxton Sues BINT for Pyramid Scheme, Exploiting African American Community","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-sues-bint-pyramid-scheme-exploiting-african-american-community"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Texas OAG — Texas OAG Secures $10.76 Million Judgment Against Pyramid Scheme Operators","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/texas-oag-secures-1076-million-judgment-against-pyramid-scheme-operators-who-exploited-consumers"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Arkansas Attorney General — Settlement in Blessings In No Time Pyramid Scheme Case","type":"regulatory","url":"https://arkansasag.gov/news-release/attorney-general-griffin-announces-settlement-in-blessings-in-no-time-pyramid-scheme-case/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Criminal Division — BINT Operations LLC VNS case page","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/bint-operations-llc"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Washington Post — BINT couple sentenced to 40 years each for pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/13/blessings-no-time-stars-sentenced-40-years-each-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CBS News Texas — North Texas couple sentenced for $30 million pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texas-couple-40-year-sentence-pandemic-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"KERA News — Frisco couple gets 40 years for $30 million COVID-era pyramid scheme targeting thousands","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-06-10/frisco-couple-gets-40-years-for-30-million-covid-era-pyramid-scheme-targeting-thousands"},{"credibility":2,"name":"FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth — Texas Couple Sentenced in $30M Pyramid Scheme Fraud","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-couple-sentenced-40-years-30-million-pandemic-pyramid-scheme"}],"summary":"Blessings in No Time (BINT) was an illegal chain-referral pyramid scheme operated by LaShonda Moore (38) and Marlon Moore (39) of Frisco, Texas, from June 2020 to June 2021. The scheme defrauded more than 10,000 people nationwide out of more than $30 million by falsely promising 800% returns on $1,400 investments, and specifically targeted the African American community through weekly livestream broadcasts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2026, a federal jury convicted the Moores on conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering charges; in June 2026, they were each sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $4.3 million in restitution.","timeline":[{"date":"2020-06-01","event":"Blessings in No Time (BINT) begins operating as a chain-referral pyramid scheme, promising 800% returns on $1,400 investments.","source":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-who-operated-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and"},{"date":"2021-06-01","event":"BINT scheme operation ends after approximately one year; estimated total victim losses exceed $30 million.","source":"DOJ Eastern District of Texas","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"},{"date":"2021-06-15","event":"Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files civil lawsuit against BINT for operating a pyramid scheme exploiting the African American community.","source":"Texas Office of the Attorney General","source_url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-sues-bint-pyramid-scheme-exploiting-african-american-community"},{"date":"2021-06-01","event":"FTC and State of Arkansas jointly file complaint against BINT Operations LLC and the Moores, alleging an illegal pyramid scheme targeting African Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.","source":"Federal Trade Commission","source_url":"https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2123043-x210020-blessings-no-time"},{"date":"2023-07-26","event":"FTC, Texas OAG, and Arkansas AG secure $10.76 million Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction against the Moores and BINT Operations LLC, banning them from all multi-level marketing activity.","source":"Texas Office of the Attorney General","source_url":"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/texas-oag-secures-1076-million-judgment-against-pyramid-scheme-operators-who-exploited-consumers"},{"date":"2023-11-08","event":"Federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas returns indictment charging LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.","source":"U.S. Secret Service","source_url":"https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2023/11/couple-charged-operating-multimillion-dollar-pyramid-scheme"},{"date":"2026-01-09","event":"Federal jury in Sherman, Texas convicts LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering.","source":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-couple-who-operated-illegal-pyramid-scheme-are-convicted-conspiracy-wire-fraud-and"},{"date":"2026-06-09","event":"LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore are each sentenced to 40 years (480 months) in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $4.3 million in restitution, followed by three years of supervised release.","source":"DOJ Eastern District of Texas","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/texas-couple-sentenced-running-illegal-pyramid-scheme"}]},"v":1}