It's All In The Crowd You Hang Out With

Well, the image above is looking for criminals, and it seems we have found a doozie in Wood River!

Glenn and Starla Green were awarded the President's Award at the August 2008 YTB Convention in St. Louis. They are Level 2 Directors with YTB and Kim Sorensen, the apparent good judge of character that he is, awarded them the prestigous President's Award.

Fast forward to this week, YTB is promoting and encouraging attendance at the Millionaires Mindset Conference on February 21st in Dallas. If you want more details on this conference, you can visit their site, Millionaire Mindset Conference.

On the surface, this appears to be just another scheme organized by fellow Directors Dave and Marlis Funk to grab $10 a piece from unsuspecting RTAs. (Or maybe it is to pay for the fuel in their rolling YTBmobile.) I am not sure of the intent, but one thing is for sure with YTB. If you scratch the surface a little bit, you will always find the dirt.

Well, it seems that Glenn Green has plenty of it. Back in December of 2006, the Houston Press News did an expose on this Millionaire Mindset Conference. Glenn Green does not come into play until the bottom of page 4 when he threatens the reporter several times. One of the threats was to not investigate him. Well, as any good reporter would do, he investigated. And here's what he found:

Except the ten-year sentence for theft in 1990, according to Harris County Court records. Green was released after one year. According to an affidavit by a Texas Department of Public Safety officer, the theft worked like this: Green gave an accomplice an American Express card in Green's ex-wife's name. The accomplice charged multiple purchases of $49.99 at a Chevron station, when "in fact, no merchandise had been bought." The accomplice then gave the cash to Green. During April and May 1990, the charges exceeded $20,000.

At the time Green was popped for that crime, he was on probation for forgery for two earlier charges out of Brazos County, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons. He was sentenced to ten years for those, which he served concurrently with the Harris County sentencing.

Also falling short of the Glenn Green Investigative Worthiness Standard was the ten years deferred adjudication in 1993 for fraudulent transfer of a motor vehicle. According to the investigating officer's notes, part of the case record in Harris County Court, Green bought and sold over a dozen cars, promising to pay off the leases, when he had no authorization from the lenders.

All but one of the 20 associated charges were dropped. He was also ordered to pay $31,233 in restitution

Harris County court records also show that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo sued Green and his wife, Starla, in 2002. The suit was for nonpayment of $107,000 Glenn and Starla bid on a champion steer and a grand champion barrow pig named Cowboy in the 1999 Rodeo auction.

"I know that the money spent here goes for a great cause," Green is quoted as saying in the Rodeo's press release.

Then Starla chimes in about the 17-year-old Brownfield Future Farmer of America who spent four hours a day after school tending to Cowboy: "[He's] very deserving. We were prepared to do what it took."

Everything, that is, except actually pay what they bid. A Harris County judge ordered the Greens to pay the full amount, plus legal fees.

Rodeo Vice President Leroy Shafer says the Greens never paid the money -- the largest debt of any one entity in the show's history. He says it was the first time in the Rodeo's history that a grand champion was involved in a bad purchase, and the first bad purchase of two champions in one year. (The highest bidder's money goes to whoever shows the animal, any charities the bidder earmarked money for, and the Rodeo's scholarship fund. Shafer says the Rodeo was able to pay the $25,000 promised to Cowboy's exhibitor, as well as the approximately $1,000 Green had earmarked for the Houston Women's Shelter.)

Green now works for a multilevel-marketing travel package company called Your Travel Biz.

Wow, Coach and Kim really take that Yale to Jail thing seriously. Penn State to State Penn. First there was Chris Paraldi, then Phil Piccolo and now this. This man has it all. I mean what more could YTB want in a Director. Someone whom they promote and encourage others to emulate. I wonder if all of the non-profit associations YTB is supposedly managing are aware that one of their directors stiffed a non-profit for over $100,000? Maybe in the interest of being transparent, they will add this to their "Facts" About YTB website!

Just to recap, here is the rap sheet on Glenn Green:

• Theft
• Forgery
• Fraudulent Transfer of Motor Vehicles
• Breach of Contract with a Non-Profit where he failed to pay then $107,000

NOTE: To all the Directors and Coach's Corner Members (and esteemed guests) currently in Wood River for the "Best Director's Meeting Ever"--watch your wallets!

Blockbuster Ho Hum Announcements From YTB

Here are the 10 ho hum announcements from the "Tailgate Party of the Century!" This was an extra long call and featured tons of pre-recorded applause and a few people positioned to look like a lot at the car dealer next to YTB. Of course it was replete with the required weekly homage paid to Coach, Kim, Scott, and Andy.

1. YTB’s Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes
-Enter to win a trip for two to Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour in the Bahamas!
-Register all your friends and family by clicking on the Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes banner on your booking engine. (Uhm, this is illegal you cannot register people to receive mailings and for contests without their permission. Have you ever heard of the Can SPAM Act? But this does make sense since YTB specifically states that any client or prospect entered into the system belongs exclusively to YTB)
-The more people who register for the sweepstakes from your travel site, the more chances you have of winning the trip for yourself! (And the more people YTB will have to solicit for whatever they want in the future.)
-Continue to register every month for the next Trip of a Lifetime! (And we will feature a new sweepstakes every month!)

2. Mark your calendars for the First Tuesday Travel Parties!
-Host your own Travel party the first Tuesday of every month! (Per the call, this will be followed by an "opportunity meeting", so make sure that your guests are aware that you are not only inviting them to learn about travel, but that they are going to get the pitch to join a pyramid scheme.)
-A live webcast will announce the winners of the Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes and the details of the next sweepstakes prize!
-Each travel party will be themed (such as "Springtime in Paris") according to the feature destination of the Sweepstakes.

3. YTB Great Escapes
-Find the best travel destinations on the planet for an unbelievable price!
-Travel Site Owners, login to your Travel Portal now and click on the YTB Great Escapes banner to take advantage of these fantastic travel destinations!

4. All new FAM Trip to the Bahamas!
-Take in the sights and sounds of the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour on this spectacular FAM trip February 6-9, 2009!
-This trip normally costs up to $800. But, your price on this FAM is only $340 per person based on double occupancy (This is really not a FAM at all. This is a negotiated group rate. However, most RTAs likely do not know the difference. Plus YTB makes commission)
-Includes private beach party, shore excursions, diving, snorkeling and
much more!
-Sign up now! Only a limited number of rooms are available!

5. "Taking Care of Business" at the 2009 Convention
-With this year’s theme, we’re going to show the world what "Taking Care of Business" really means in a Rock and Roll atmosphere!
-Register now in your Back Office for only $125 per person!
-Don’t wait! Price goes up April 1, 2009! (Coach pleaded with everyone and said everyone ought to bring 8 to 10 guests with them because you simply cannot know YTB until you attend this meeting.)

6. Coach’s Specials extended!
-There’s still time to take advantage of the half-price Affiliate Special and the extras included in the RTA Special!
-Don’t wait! Coach’s Specials end on February 28! (I guess the initial program was not too successful. On the call they did not specify an ending date and said it woudl be going forward till further notice...well I guess this is the notice.)

7. New Sizzle Call in English and Spanish!
-Get your prospects on the line now!
-3 minute call gives exciting overview
-Dial toll-free 1-800-985-1858
-Press 1 for English and 2 for Espanol (This was an interesting segment. We were told that it was a 90 second call, not a 3 minute call, but Scott suggested that you ask everyone you see if they have 90 seconds. And if they have any interest at all, you can invest in giving them the DVD or the magazine, otherwise move onto the next person you see. He said there was no reason that everyone you see can't call this line. It is now in Spanish and it is now toll free. There is nothing to lose.)

8. New DVD with Spanish Subtitles!
-Let’s Get Started is the 10-minute version of the Affiliate Presentation on a DVD with optional Spanish subtitles.
-Get your copies today from Shop YTB! Sold in packets of 50 for $50 plus shipping.

9. Blockbuster Announcement- Aisle 19
-Travel Site Owners --Tell all your customers about YTB’s exciting new partnership with Aisle 19, the "cash back portal" that works with 600 retail stores such as Walmart, Target, Old Navy, Macy’s and many others to earn cash back on your purchases.(They neglected to mention that this is also available to EVERYONE and also for free, so there is no value add to the proposition)
-Aisle 19 is by invitation only, so start spreading the word today and earn commission on virtually all your referrals’ purchases! (Coach called a play and said all reps will now be able to sell travel stores left and right because of this. He said to expect your downline of 10 to grow to one thousand in a few weeks. Good luck with that! Please take not that this effectively installs YTB/Coach as the top pyramid sitter in Aisle 19 with a HUGE downline. Actually a pretty ingenious way to come up with some quick cash.)
-There will also be commissions paid to the PowerTeam Leader and six generations of Dream Team.(The pitch to give your customers is to be happy. When they ask why you are so happy, tell them you made money when they purchased on your mall. Then explain how they can make money. Good luck with that too!)
-To access your Aisle 19 "cash back portal," simply visit www.aisle19.com/login.aspx where you will be prompted for a username and password. For your user name, simply put YTB (all capital letters) in front of your YTB username - for example: YTBjohnsmith. Your password is YTB (also in capital letters) in front of your YTB password - the one you use to log in to your Back Office and Travel Portal. For example: YTB12345. From there, begin shopping and earning cash back on your purchases!(Coach called another play. He challenged everyone on the call or listening at the tailgate parties across the country to go out in the next 48 hours and shop online, get your discounts and earn a commission. Coach, judging from your drop in RTAs it appears they cannot afford the $50 a month to you, why do you assume now that they can just go out and spend surrepticiously to further line your pockets?)

10. $6,000 Guarantee Goes Live in Canada on Friday, January 16, 2009!
- Watch for details to come!

Meet Mr. Ponzi

There was an article on the AP wire today that I thought was very interesting, and eerily similar to a cause near and dear to this blog. As many know, Bernard Madoff has been arrested and accused of running the world's largest Ponzi scheme. The experts that were interviewed for this AP article were quick to point out some commonalities of the con men who run the schemes.

• They seem trustworthy because of their charm, their command of finance and the unshakable confidence that they portray
• A Ponzi scheme, or pyramid scheme, is a scam in which people are persuaded to invest in a fraudulent operation that promises unusually high returns.
• People who run Ponzis generally fall into two categories: hucksters like Ponzi who plan to cheat investors and get out quickly, often fleeing the country, and people who start a legitimate investment venture but lose money, then try desperately to cover it up and dig themselves into a deeper and deeper hole.
• "Looking successful is the key because everyone's first question is going to be, `If this is such a great deal, then why are you wearing a cheap suit?'" said Eric Sussman, a former federal prosecutor from Chicago who helped on about a dozen Ponzi cases. "They have to have all the accoutrements of success."
• The Madoff debacle appears to be typical of Ponzi schemes in another way: They are typically orchestrated by people who look to their own churches.
• "Any Ponzi scheme is built on trust. People can't ask too many questions."

Wow, does this sound liek a familiar story? Perhaps the most telling was the opening line.....

They're smart and charming. They have an aura of success about them and exude respectability. Above all, they instill confidence.

Which is, after all, why they are called con men.