Texas Reality TV Couple Gets 40-Year Sentences for $30 Million Pyramid Scheme
Two Texas reality TV personalities, Lashonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, were each sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of running a pyramid scheme that took in $30 million from more than 10,000 victims at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sentencing was made public in recent days. The couple, who live in Frisco, Texas, were convicted in January 2026 of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the indictment and court filings, they launched Blessings in No Time, known as BINT, in 2020 and operated it from June 2020 to June 2021, during a period when millions of Americans were losing jobs and facing financial strain. The scheme was promoted as an invite-only, altruistic community in which participants “blessed” one another with payments of at least $1,400. Victims were told that a $1,400 payment would yield an 800% return within weeks and that dissatisfied participants could get a full refund, promises that were false.
In practice, BINT used a four-tier “board” structure with eight “fire” positions, four “air” positions, two “earth” positions and one “water” position. Once eight new people filled the “fire” spots, each paid $1,400 to the person in the “water” slot, who collected more than $11,000, and the cycle continued as everyone else moved up and recruited more participants. Prosecutors said the Moores placed themselves in the most lucrative positions and diverted substantial payments to themselves.
The couple’s public profile helped the fraud work, authorities said. They had appeared on Oprah Winfrey Network’s reality series Family or Fiancé, and Marlon Moore was also known as DJ ASAP. They used that recognition to build trust, hosting weekly livestreams for thousands across the United States and presenting BINT as a way to help communities during lockdown. Authorities said the scheme was deliberately aimed at the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties. Assistant Attorney General A. Tyronne Dobbins said the Moores “stole $30 million from struggling Americans exactly when they needed money most,” while U.S. Attorney J. R. Combs said that “playing with other people’s money while promising unrealistic returns is theft.”
