Promotor of the 'Greatest Vitamin in the World' indicted

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Phoenix promotor of the 'Greatest Vitamin in the World' charged with defrauding over 220,000 victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2011
PHOENIX - A federal grand jury in Phoenix has returned a 41-count indictment against Donald Lapre of Phoenix, for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Promotional Money Laundering and Transactional Money Laundering. The indictment, returned last week, alleges that the 47-year-old Lapre oversaw and promoted a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthless Internet-based businesses to over 220,000 victims through his company "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

Lapre was summoned yesterday to appear for an arraignment at 1:30 p.m. June 22 before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson in Federal Court in Phoenix.

"This indictment goes to show that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is," said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "Mr. Lapre used incessant nationally televised info-mercials to hawk his vitamins and worthless websites as a way to get rich quick without working hard. His scams swindled a sea of victims, but thanks to the efforts of the Postal Inspection Service and the IRS, he will face justice."

"Home-based business opportunities have a certain appeal, especially in today's economy," said Pete Zegarac, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Consumers should be cautious of schemes which promise to bring in large amounts of money with little or no effort on their part."

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Read the full press release by the US Attorneys Office HERE

Or download the Indictment in .pdf format HERE

I read an article this morning (on yahoo) that said he was arrested after he failed to appear in court.

I remember watching his advertisement on television and I always thought it was a scam. And the way he talked . . . he sounded so fake.

It's sad that people lost so much money . . . around $52 million dollars. I'm glad they caught him.

Phoenix infomercial pitchman Donald Lapre found dead

by Eddi Trevizo on Oct. 02, 2011, under Arizona Republic News
U.S. Marshals said Donald Lapre, a Phoenix-based infomercial pitchman, was found dead in his cell Sunday at a federal-contract facility in Florence.

Lapre was being held on fraud charges linked to his vitamin-selling business. He was arrested in Tempe earlier this year.

Lapre was found about 8:30 a.m., unresponsive in an apparent suicide attempt, said Matt Hershey, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal.

Officials refused to say which Florence facility Lapre was in and did not immediately know if he was alone in his housing cell.

Prison officials gave lifesaving measures until Florence police and paramedics arrived, said Hershey.

Lapre was wanted by law enforcement after he failed to appear at his U.S. District Court arraignment in June on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, promotional money laundering and transactional money laundering. A federal grand jury indicted Lapre on fraud-related charges for promoting his vitamin-selling business, Greatest Vitamin in the World of Phoenix. The indictments alleged that the business signed up 226,794 people who were promised lucrative commission checks for selling vitamins and recruiting others to the business.

Customers and investors spent nearly $51.8 million, but only 5,000 victims were paid about $6.4 million in commission, according to a statement released in June by the U.S. Department of Justice. Lapre collected at least $2.2 million from the business from 2004 to 2007.

Officials did not detail how Lapre may have killed himself, and said they likely would not release the name of the facility in which he was held.

Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice stated Lapre may have suffered from anxiety and depression and warned that he may have had suicidal thoughts.

“We are not yet releasing how he might have injured himself. More likely tomorrow there will be more information,” said Hershey.

Full story here: http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-new...re-found-dead/

Why would they call it a suicide 'attempt' if he apparently succeeded?

They can't give a definitive answer without an official post mortem report as to cause of death

Thus the disclaimer: "apparent suicide attempt"

That will save the taxpayers a bundle. Hallelujah!!!!!!

Soapboxmom