A Frisco couple was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years each in federal prison for orchestrating a pyramid scheme that prosecutors said defrauded more than 10,000 people across the country of over $30 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LaShonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, were convicted by a jury in January 2026 on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering tied to a program called “Blessings in No Time,” or BINT, according to a Department of Justice press release.
The operation ran from June 2020 to June 2021, prosecutors said, and was promoted through weekly livestream broadcasts that reached thousands of viewers during pandemic shutdowns. The Moores marketed BINT as an invitation-only community designed to help people struggling financially, in which members make “blessing” payments to other participants.
Participants were told they could earn an 800% return on a $1,400 buy-in and were assured refunds if they were unhappy with the program, according to court documents and trial evidence.
How the scheme worked
Authorities said the program used “playing boards” divided into four tiers: eight Fires, four Winds, two Earths, and one Water. Those in Fire positions paid at least $1,400 to the person in the Water spot. After a Water participant collected eight payments totaling more than $11,000, members advanced and were required to bring in recruits to keep the structure going.
Prosecutors said the Moores placed themselves on the boards in positions that funneled large sums to them and diverted significant amounts of participant money for personal use.
Officials respond
“At the peak of the pandemic, LaShonda and Marlon Moore launched an investment fraud scheme and cheated struggling Americans out of $30 million,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This fraud scheme exploited people out of their hard-earned money at a time when they needed it most. Opportunistic fraudsters like the Moores belong in prison.”
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas said the sentence was warranted.
“The Moores’ get-rich-quick scheme has earned them a well-deserved stay in federal prison,” Combs said. “Playing games with other people’s money while promising unrealistic returns is stealing and will be prosecuted and punished.”
Eric Shen, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group, said his agency will continue pursuing similar cases.
“The harm caused by greed-driven, deceptive investments promising returns too good to be true cannot be overstated,” Shen said. “The mission of the USPIS continues to aggressively investigate such schemes and hold fraudsters fully accountable.”
Christina Foley, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dallas Field Office, said the defendants exploited a moment of national uncertainty.
“The Moores took advantage of trust and hope during a time of national crisis, causing significant harm to thousands of victims,” Foley said. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: the Secret Service remains steadfast in our mission to investigate and disrupt these schemes, and those who prey on vulnerable communities for personal gain will be held fully accountable.”
Christopher J. Altemus Jr., special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Dallas Field Office, said the couple leaned on a carefully crafted public image to attract victims.
“The Moores used a polished image and a reality TV appearance to build trust, but behind the scenes, they orchestrated a deceptive pyramid scheme built on fake ‘playing boards’ and false promises of 800% returns,” Altemus said. “This scheme deliberately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation handled the investigation.
