Posted on 09/21/2006 3:00:33 PM PDT by SmithL
CINCINNATI -- The maker of dietary supplements that claim to improve everything from sexuality to memory defrauded thousands of customers and banks of at least $100 million, federal authorities say.
A federal indictment names Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, its owner and president, Steven Warshak, and five other individuals, including Warshak's mother, on charges that include conspiracy, money laundering, and mail, wire and bank fraud. They are accused by federal authorities of luring customers with free-trial offers and money-back guarantees, then billing their credit cards without authorization.
Warshak, who has 107 counts against him, denies the accusations and will continue to operate the company, his attorney said Thursday.
The company, which recently said it has 5 million customers worldwide, is known for its "Smiling Bob" ads that depict a man whose life gets better after he uses the company's Enzyte for "natural male enhancement." The company markets nationally a variety of other products claiming to help everything from night vision to memory to female libido.
The company, based in suburban Forest Park, also used false advertising, the indictment charges. In one example, Wednesday's indictment cited ads placed in Penthouse and other male-oriented magazines that claimed Enzyte was developed after years of study by two doctors, one at Harvard and the other at Stanford.
"The company president and others made up information in their advertisements, such as endorsements by doctors that did not exist, and results of customer satisfaction surveys that had never been conducted," U.S. Attorney Greg Lockhart said.
Customers with complaints were told to write to a director of customer care who did not exist, the indictment alleges.
The Food and Drug Administration, Internal Revenue Service, postal inspectors and other agencies participated in the investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
LOL!
Lets see:
Felon.
Fraud.
Snake-oul salesman.
Deceiver.
Thief.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have our next democrat candidate for President!
Poor Bob, he's hanging his head now.
Well, there went a significant source of Court TV's advertising revenue. I swear, every time I turned it on there for a while, sure enough in a few minutes I'd hear, "This...is Bob!"
}:-)4
that was our last Democrat candidate for President.
Are those the same people who used to overflow my email inbox with their ridiculous spam every morning? If so, I hope the judge throws the proverbial book at them, a big heavy book with a hard cover and sharp corners.
Who buys this stuff?
Bob be smilin' large 'n' steppin' easssy, mon!
> "The company president and others made up information in their advertisements..."
Gee, ya think????
(Now where's that squirrel pic...?)
"Natural male enhancement"? This little guy, for starters...
Pity this isn't in "News". It might do some people good to be reminded how successful an obvious fraud can be.
As for "Smiling Bob" I noticed in the new commercials he is grinning with a new younger prettier wife, apparently having dumped the middle aged one from the earlier commercials who had remained by his side though the many unenhanced years. So besides anything else Bob is a swine.
For this more then anything else I hope Bob gets a good long stretch.
Glad to hear it. I absolutely hate the "smiling Bob" commercials and always suspected Enzyte was worthless and they were just fleecing the ignorant.
Customers with complaints were told to write to a director of customer care who did not exist, the indictment alleges.I wonder if customers who don't exist will come forward with testimonials, unless they already have.
LOL -- now I know, huh?
LOL!
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