Crime Doesn't Pay

Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment and arrest of a man who defrauded more than 50 individuals in at least six states including Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Nevada, and Georgia by falsely holding himself out as the CEO of an online fitness magazine and soliciting investments in his fictitious company. MARK ANDREW MOORE, 40, has been indicted on charges of grand larceny, securities fraud, scheme to defraud, and tax fraud. The crimes charged in the indictment occurred between March 2007 and April 2009. The investigation leading to today’s indictment and arrest revealed that MOORE claimed to be the Chairman, President, ... Read Full Story

I saw a great article in Time today entitled: How to Spot a Ponzi Con Artist? Follow the Yachts by Robert Chew. (see article here .) I must admit after talking recently to many of the folks who were scammed by Gordon Grigg, I would hear similar tales of loss and lifestyle - their loss and his lifestyle. While many of my readers are regulars I am constantly reminded of the new faces who read this blog for the first time. Knowing that, this blog entry will be less about others and more about my past. From the past one can learn much about ... Read Full Story

Facebook - on of the fastest growing social networking sites can be awesome or can be a curse. Started by a young man who wanted to keep up with his friends, Facebook has become an outstanding tool. Likewise, like any tool, how you use it determines whether it will serve you or hurt you. As a business ethics speaker I talk to college groups all around the country about effective uses of Facebook and other social networking sites. The creative application of Facebook could make the difference in whether you get that first job (the one you really want) or don’t. The question is ... Read Full Story

I want to make this clear - I am pro business! I think that free enterprise is the life blood of our economic system and I fully support people making lots of money. But, I have to question whether the payment of upwards of $165 million in bonuses to AIG employees is ethical or just insane? QUESTION ONE: The arguement in favor of AIG paying the bonuses is that the contracts that generated the bonuses were established before the economic meltdown and before AIG accepted government bailout money. Employees who work(ed) for AIG therefore should be entitled to payment under the terms of their ... Read Full Story

In what will likely become the biggest investment fraud in US history, Bernie Madoff is set to enter a plea of guilty at a US District Court in Manhattan on Thursday. According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Litt and Lisa Baroni a plea hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2009. According to a CNN report: Madoff’s attorneys Ira Sorkin and Daniel Horowitz confirmed to CNN that Madoff is waiving his right to a grand jury indictment and that there have been ongoing negotiations regarding a possible settlement. “We obviously have talked to the government,” said Horowitz. “And we have been professional with each other.” ... Read Full Story