Minneapolis, MN

Men Get Prison In $300M Magazine Fraud Scheme

Published

46 mins ago

August 27, 2024

Men Get Prison In 0M Magazine Fraud Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS – Two men were sentenced to prison for their separate roles in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced Tuesday.

Anthony Eugene Moulder and Abdou-Rahmane Diallo were sentenced Monday to 120 months and 90 months in prison, respectively.

Moulder pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud on Jan. 13, 2023.

Diallo pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud on March 4, 2024.

Anthony Eugene Moulder

According to federal prosecutors, Moulder, 63, of Fort Myers ran Florida-based companies involved in fraudulent magazine sales, including Gulf Coast Readers Inc., ARCO Media Inc., KMK Magazines Inc., and Leisure Time Resources Inc.

From 2008 through 2020, Moulder purchased lists of current magazine subscribers, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, authorities said.

Moulder’s sales teams used the list and employed deceptive sales scripts to “induce victims into making large or repeat payments” to Moulder’s companies for unwanted magazine subscriptions, prosecutors said.

Moulder and his companies defrauded thousands of victims across the U.S. out of approximately $86,589,272, according to investigators.

Abdou-Rahmane Diallo

Meanwhile, Diallo, 36, of Montreal, Quebec, was a co-owner and operator of Readers Services, a Canadian-based company that carried out a telemarking fraud scheme, authorities said.

From 2011 through 2020, Diallo targeted people previously been victimized by fraudulent magazine companies and were being billed by one or more fraudulent magazine companies on an ongoing basis, according to investigators.

Diallo pretended to be from the “magazine cancellation department” and offered to pay off the victims’ “outstanding balance” and cancel their existing magazine subscriptions in exchange for a large, lump-sum payment, according to prosecutors.

In reality, the victims did not owe Diallo or his company any money, and Diallo had no power or ability to cancel the victims’ existing magazine subscriptions or any outstanding balances, according to authorities.

Diallo and other participants in his scheme defrauded more than 20,000 victims out of approximately $30 million, investigators said.

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Minneapolis, MN

The self-proclaimed ‘Founding Mother of Minneapolis Advertising’ dishes blunt truths to industry

Published

11 hours ago

August 27, 2024

Press Room

The self-proclaimed ‘Founding Mother of Minneapolis Advertising’ dishes blunt truths to industry

She also will help some nonprofits, and she continue as co-founder of MyWonderfulLife.com, a free site where users can plan their own funerals so “loved ones don’t have to.”

“I still want to stay in the game,” Kruskopf said of the consultancy. “It’s in my blood. I’m not ready to sit in a Barcalounger.”

She also is helping clients transition to SixSpeed. Between the two merged entities, clients include 3M, Minnesota Public Radio, Cargill, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Polaris, Red Bull, Titleist and Target.

“I was just looking at where I was in life,” Kruskopf said of her decision to sell. “It was the right opportunity at the right time.”

The way the acquisition unfolded reflects the nature of the advertising community here, said Kruskopf, who had been speaking with industry counterparts about her next chapter. Discussions leading to the acquisition began after she met SixSpeed’s Kevin Reilly at a one of the regular gatherings of Twin Cities agency CEOs.

“The one thing about Minneapolis that is so different is that Minneapolis is a very collaborative town,” Kruskopf said. “Everybody wants the future of Minneapolis advertising and marketing to keep rising.”

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Minneapolis, MN

2 teens arrested for killing 15-year-old girl in Minneapolis

Published

21 hours ago

August 26, 2024

Press Room

2 teens arrested for killing 15-year-old girl in Minneapolis – CBS Minnesota

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Two teenagers are facing charges connected to the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old girl.

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Minneapolis, MN

Celebrate National Dog Day on these Twin Cities patios

Published

1 day ago

August 26, 2024

Press Room

Celebrate National Dog Day on these Twin Cities patios

Any day is a great one to give your pup some extra love, whether that’s a delicious treat or trip to a favorite dog-friendly patio. But Monday is National Dog Day, so what are you waiting for?

More public destinations than ever welcome dogs, but Mary Tan of Whisker Media, a Minnesota pet public relations firm, looks especially for patios where there is a good amount of space between each table for her furry friend. Tan also likes to stay off to the side near a wall, if available.

“I love that everything is pet friendly, but you still need to be respectful of people who have allergies or people who don’t like dogs,” Tan said.

Tan keeps a close eye on her pet, especially on hot days like Monday, with temperatures reaching toward 90. A cooling pad for a pup to lie on is a necessary tool in a pet-owners toolkit, even in Minnesota, she said.

“It’s just way too hot, especially if you have a big, fluffy dog,” Tan said. “If you’re going to take your animal to a dog friendly patio or something, be an advocate for them.”

The creekside Minneapolis brewery has lots of room for patrons and their furry friends.

The restaurant patio in Edina has ample space for pets.

Dogs are allowed on the patio and inside the Minneapolis Linden Hills taproom.

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