By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
FRISCO, Texas — A Texas couple has been sentenced to 40 years each in federal prison after being convicted of operating a $30 million pyramid scheme that targeted thousands of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LaShonda Moore, 38, and her husband, Marlon Moore, 39, were found guilty in January 2026 of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering related to a scheme known as “Blessings in No Time.”
Federal prosecutors said the couple used livestreams and social media platforms during pandemic lockdowns to recruit participants across the country. They allegedly promised investors an 800% return on a $1,400 contribution and claimed participants could receive refunds if they were dissatisfied.
According to court records, the program operated between June 2020 and June 2021 and relied on a recruitment-based structure known as “playing boards.” Participants were placed into tiers labeled Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water, with new recruits required to pay money to those at higher levels.
Authorities said the operation depended on a constant stream of new participants to generate payouts, a hallmark of illegal pyramid schemes.
Investigators estimated that more than 10,000 people nationwide participated in the program, resulting in losses exceeding $30 million.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Federal prosecutors argued that the scheme enriched those at the top while leaving many participants with significant financial losses.
The lengthy prison sentences reflect the scale of the fraud and the number of victims affected by the operation.