U.S. Department
of Justice
Global Resources, Inc.
This page lists current CPB case updates accessible to the public.
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Global Resources, Inc. |
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC) CLOSED Most Recent Update 4/20/10 (See end of document) 1/22/09 Update: United States v. Stewart Pope, Lisa Cohan, Larry Taylor, Frank DiMezza, and Laura Fadlon (a/k/a "Laura Sadlon") (S.D. Fla. 09-cr-20029). United States v. John Maginnis (S.D. Fla. 09-cr-20027) On January 13, 2009, an Information was filed in the Southern District of Florida charging John Maginnis with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. The case has been assigned to Judge Martinez. On January 13, 2009, a Grand Jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment against Stewart Pope, Lisa Cohan, Larry Taylor, Frank DiMezza, and Laura Fadlon (a/k/k "Laura Sadlon") containing charges relating to their roles at Global Resources, Inc. Each of the defendants listed in the indictment was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and various counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. The case has been assigned to Judge Dimitrouleas. According to the charges, Global Resources, Inc., (“Global”) purportedly sold prepaid terminal business opportunities, along with assistance in establishing, maintaining and operating a prepaid terminal business. According to the defendants and their co-conspirators, a business opportunity purchaser would earn substantial profits when members of the public purchased prepaid cell phones, phone minutes and various prepaid products and services from a distributor’s terminal. Global promoted the business opportunities to consumers across the country through television commercials and other media, touting the purported profits that could be earned by purchasing a distributorship and urging consumers to call a telephone number that appeared in the advertisements. Potential purchasers were told that for a purchase price of approximately $15,000, Global would provide three terminals, numerous prepaid cell phones, and advertising material. Global salespeople told consumers that Global would find viable, high-traffic locations to place the terminals, relocate any terminals that underperformed, only sell distributorships in a limited geographic area, and provide ongoing technical support and customer service. Salespeople also stated that Global distributors could expect to make substantial profits and earn their initial investment back in approximately six months to a year. According to the charges, these representations were all false and misleading. Defendants Lisa Cohan, Larry Taylor and John Maginnis were Global salespeople, referred to as closers. According to the charges, closers made several misrepresentations about the profits that would be generated by the business, territorial limitations, the viability of locations and ongoing customer support and technical assistance that Global would provide. The closers also gave out the names of the company’s references, who falsely claimed to be successful Global distributors. Defendant Stewart Pope was listed as Global’s president in the company’s marketing materials, communications with potential customers and disclosure documents. According to the indictment, Pope was not an owner or principal of Global; rather, Pope’s name was used to hide the involvement of Global’s true owners and principals, who, among other things, had a history of selling various sorts of failed business opportunities. Defendants Frank DiMezza and Laura Fadlon were Global references who fraudulently held themselves out as successful Global distributors, according to the charges. The indictment further charges that neither DiMezza nor Fadlon ever purchased a Global distributorship, and they were paid to lie to prospective purchasers. For more information, see the U.S. Justice Department press release dated 1/14/09. Laura Fadlon was arrested on January 14, 2009, and arraigned on January 21, 2009. Stewart Pope was arrested an arraigned on January 20, 2009. Lisa Cohan was arrested on January 15, 2009. Her arraignment is scheduled for January 26, 2009. Larry Taylor was arrested in California on January 15, 2009. His arraignment is currently scheduled for January 29, 2009. Frank DiMezza was arrested in California on January 15, 2009. His arraignment is currently scheduled for January 29, 2009. 3/18/09 Update: On February 26, 2009, Laura Fadlon pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Dimitrouleas in Ft. Lauderdale on May 7, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.. John Maginnis is scheduled for a change of plea hearing before Judge Martinez in Miami on March 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Judge Dimitrouleas granted defendants' motions to continue the trial; the new trial date is June 8, 2009. 5/19/09 Update:
On March 26, 2009, John Maginnis pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Martinez in Miami on June 4, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. On March 31, 2009, Larry Taylor pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. He is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Dimitrouleas in Ft. Lauderdale on June 9, 2009, at 1:15 p.m. On May 8, 2009, Frank DiMezza and Lisa Cohan each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. DiMezza and Cohan are both scheduled for sentencing before Judge Dimitrouleas in Ft. Lauderdale on July 20, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. On May 5, 2009, and May 14, 2009, Judge Dimitrouleas granted Laura Fadlon's motions to continue sentencing. She is now scheduled for sentencing on June 2, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. 7/22/09 Update:
On June 2, 2009, Stewart Pope pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Dimitrouleas in Ft. Lauderdale on August 11, 2009, at 1:15 p.m.
On June 2, 2009, Laura Fadlon was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $803,117 in restitution.
On June 9, 2009, Larry Taylor was sentenced to 51 months' imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $203,764 in restitution.
On June 30, 2009, John Maginnis was sentenced to 84 months' imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,276,386.26 in restitution.
On July 20, 2009, Lisa Cohan was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $253,947.15 in restitution. On July 20, 2009, Frank DiMezza was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $609,113 in restitution. *Under federal law, restitution is awarded to victims of crime without regard to the ability of the defendant to pay the restitution ordered. Therefore, orders of restitution may be entered in cases in which the defendant lacks the funds to pay the restitution ordered by the court. See 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f). However, a percentage of a defendant’s earnings both in prison and upon release will be paid to the restitution fund. 4/20/10 Update: On 8/11/09 Stewart Pope was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 3 year supervised release and was ordered to pay $4,313,090 in restitution. |
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