Scam targets area women and their money
Many fall prey to pyramid scheme
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Attorney General Patricia Madrid issued a warning to
the women of New Mexico not to fall prey to a new pyramid scheme.
But the warning came too late for some women in Gallup and the surrounding
areas.
The scam has spread faster than last summer's wildfires through local
schools, governmental offices and even law enforcement agencies. While
most of the scams are given names to entice women to part from their
hard-earned dollars, some of the scams are designed to attract participants
of both sexes. Regardless of its title, it is all the same formula.
Some of the masquerades used by this pyramid scheme are: The Gifting
Circle, The Dinner Party, Women Empowering
Women, Circle of Friends or The Pit Stop, to name a few. Regardless
of what it's called the "club" or scheme is illegal.
Literature obtained from one of the scams implies that the attorney
general believes the gifting scheme is legal and that the FBI in Missouri
has declared it legal, as well. These assertions are not true.
"If you participate in this type of scheme, you will see that
they quickly collapse, leaving many with little chance of recovering
their money," Madrid said. "This is really just a con game,
preying on people's belief that they can make money quickly.
"Please don't be fooled by the 'gifting' terminology, the exclusive
invitations or the quick return promises," Madrid said. "Your
money is hard-earned; be careful with it."
Enticed with promises of doubling or tripling their money, some area
women borrowed against homes or asked relatives for money to "invest"
in what they believe is a surefire get-rich-quick plan. Amounts for
initial participation vary from as little as $100 to as much as $5,000
with promised returns depending on the original "gift,"
but run as high as $40,000. When the
borrowed money cannot be repaid, family feuds or serious financial
difficulties have resulted.
Joyce Lincoln, assistant public information officer for Madrid, said
one woman asked for her money back and was threatened with her life
by the other women involved with the group.
All of the participants who spoke with the Independent said they had
been enticed by a close relative or a person they trusted deeply.
At least one woman was approached through a church group.
Most of them explained they did not believe the scam was illegal at
the time of their enrollment and were deeply distressed and embarrassed
that they had been fooled. Several were angry at coworkers who had
enrolled them, made money on the scheme from their participation and
would neither refund their investment nor were concerned about the
illegalities of the representations.
All of those interviewed who had paid money to the group through contacts
at their work sites claimed they were afraid to try to recover any
funds for fear of losing their jobs. None of those interviewed expected
to recover their $100 much less make the promised profit.
One Gallup widow was approached by a daughter of a long-time friend
and school mate to participate in "The Gifting Circle."
Since the recent death of her husband and a bout with illness, she
was told, the other women in the group would "help" her
ease money worries. For just $100, the widow would receive several
thousand dollars in return.
The widow's $100 would be given to another needy woman from the group
who had a higher placement on the chart and waited longer for that
help. She could use that windfall to pay off her bills, she told the
Independent, and that seemed too good to pass up.
Her daughter also decided to take advantage of the opportunity and
"gifted" the group $100. But six months later, neither the
widow nor her daughter has seen any windfall, much less the initial
$100 investments.
The elderly widow also was told that since the extra money was a gift,
it circumvented federal tax laws, making it tax-free money.
"It still has to be declared as income," Lincoln said. "
And if it isn't, then it's a federal rap."
What is a pyramid scheme?
Pyramid schemes are nothing new. It is mathematically impossible for
everyone who enters to recover their investment much less make a profit.
At some point, there will not be enough new recruits to pay back those
who are already involved. Typically, those who make the money are
the promoters of the scheme. It is considered
fraudulent because a promise is made that everyone will make money.
In a pyramid scheme, unlike a multi-level marketing operation such
as Amway, there are no products and nothing is being sold. In a marketing
chain, people are receiving sales commissions for products sold.
"Gifting Circle" claims
The "Gifting Circle" or the "Women Empowering Women"
claim to be a grassroots empowerment support group shared through
a strictly oral tradition. The guidelines state that the group is
private by invitation only and exclusively for women.
According to its literature, there are two ways to "enter the
empowerment process: committing to a group by giving an unconditional
financial gift to a woman in a 'receiver position' on the fields of
plenty gifting circle, to support her in the obtainment (sic)
of a tangible goal; and committing to the group by receiving unconditional
and financial sponsorship from women participants..."
The literature further claims that all gifts are "deemed to be
within the boundaries of the Federal Tax Laws."
Although these guidelines were created to attract women, the same
scheme has also emerged in Gallup to draw participants of either gender.
Legal ramifications for participation
Pyramids are illegal. Participation in a pyramid is a fourth degree
felony which carries a possible 18 months in prison. In addition,
a $10,000 fine for each violation can be assessed. Participants can
also file a lawsuit to recover the lost money.
McKinley County District Attorney's office said there were no charges
being filed nor ongoing investigations.
Gallup Police Department Chief Danny Ross said his department constantly
receives complaints from disgruntled participants.
He refers the callers to the state attorney general's office. Ross
said his department does not have the manpower to investigate and
prosecute the widespread scam.
| Top |
Symphony will delight music lovers
GALLUP — Many area music lovers aren't the only ones eagerly
anticipating this week's performances by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.
Roger Melone, the orchestra's conductor, said he's looking forward
to once again performing for local audiences and especially one audience
in particular the children of Zuni.
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the symphony will perform in Gallup
at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, 415 E. Green. The concert is sponsored
by the El Rancho Hotel, the Cathedral and The Independent. Admission
is free. The following evening at 7:30 p.m., the orchestra will perform
in Grants at the NMSU-Grants theater. The concert is sponsored in
part by the Grants State Bank, and
tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Youth concerts will be held at Zuni High School on Tuesday afternoon
and at Rehoboth Christian School on Wednesday morning.
In a phone interview, Melone discussed the upcoming performances.
The first piece of music for the adult concerts will be Overture to
Norma by Bellini, the 19th century opera composer. The piece was chosen,
said Melone, because it creates a "rousing opening," and
it uses the entire tour orchestra.
Next is the Violin Concerto in e minor, op. 64 by Mendelssohn. Krzysztof
Zimowski, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra's Concertmaster will be
the featured soloist. Originally from Poland, Zimowski began playing
with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in 1986 and was appointed Concertmaster
in 1999.
"He's one of the best in the business," praised Melone.
After Intermission, the orchestra will perform the Symphony no.88
in G major by Haydn, music which only uses select instruments in the
orchestra.
The final piece, Capriccio Espagnole, op. 34, is by the Russian composer
Nikolai Rimsky- Korsakov. According to Melone, the work is Rimsky-Korsakov's
interpretation of Spanish dance music. Many of the great composers,
he explained, tried their hand at writing Spanish-styled music because
of its "contagious" sound.
Melone described Rimsky-Korsakov's composition as "a concerto
for the whole orchestra" and "a real show off piece"
that dramatically features soloist Zimowski and different orchestra
sections.
Melone believes one of the most important missions of the New Mexico
Symphony Orchestra is to perform at youth concerts and expose students
to music and instruments they may have never heard or seen before.
Last year's youth concert in Zuni was particularly memorable, he said.
After a hectic morning of running behind schedule and dealing with
bad weather, the orchestra
finally set up in a crowded school gymnasium. To Melone's delight,
the children proved to be a strikingly attentive audience.
"It was one of the most amazing experiences," Melone said.
"I can hardly wait to return."
The music of the youth concerts will have an Olympic theme, he explained.
The first piece will be contemporary composer John William's Olympic
Fanfare and Theme, the music that opens the Olympic games. Next will
be The Orchestra Games, which
introduces students to the different instruments in an Olympic-style
musical competition. The final piece will be Rimsky-
Korsakov's Dance of Tumblers.
Melone is also looking forward to the orchestra's performance in Gallup's
Sacred Heart Cathedral, an event that always results in
a standing room only, packed house. The Cathedral's atmosphere, combined
with the huge crowd and everyone's anticipation, he
said, creates an evening with "real electricity in the air."
For information about purchasing tickets for the Wednesday evening
concert in Grants, contact the Cibola Arts Council at (505) 287-7311.
| Top |
Vi-aggravation: Thoughts on being an
older guy in America
Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor
I am back at "Casita de Juanita." That is what I call my
house here in Gallup. I've never named a house before, but since I
don't call this house home and I need to call it something, I have
settled on Casita de Juanita.
That way I can say, "I am back at Casita de Juanita," to
my wife's message machine back home after my long drive. Somehow it
doesn't sound as far away as saying, "I'm back in Gallup."
That way, we both feel better.
It is a nice little house and I like it. Juanita is my landlady. I
like her, too. I am thinking about having a little sign made to hang
on the front of the house.
Someday, I would like to be going through a box of stuff from deep
in a closet and find a photograph of me and Juanita, standing in front
of that sign. I'm sure I would smile, nudge my wife and say, "Remember
Casita de Juanita?" And we would be off and talking, the way
older people sometimes do.
Older people!?! What am I saying? Just because our ages add up to
a number a little larger that 100, we are not older people.
Not. I repeat, N.O.T. We are not even thinking about being older people.
Not me, not my wife. Older people? We don't even look our ages. Do
we, dear?
My landlady is an older person (a charming and energetic older person;
I would like to end up that charming and full of energy when I am
her age). The guy who hired me is an older person (with a devilish
little older guy smile; I would like to have that, too, when I get
to be his age). My parents are older people (the kind of older people
determined to be old; they spend a lot of time
rumaging through photographs searching for their lost lives these
days. Not exactly the old age I have planned, but who knows).
Older people are grandparents well, we are grandparents, too but they
look like it. They are older people, not us.
We are not becoming our parents. Are we, dear?
Dear?
Hmmm. She must be off getting her hair tinted or something. (Not that
I expect it, but women do that stuff. They have for years.)
The question is: Should I be off getting my hair tinted, too?
My face lifted? My body sculpted? My pecs implanted?
My hair clubbed? My booty buffed? My Vi-agra-ed?
Does she expect it?
According to a new book I just read, she just might.
The book is called Looking Good and the author is a California
historian named Lynne Luciano (her cover photo looks like it was done
at one of those glamour shots booths at the mall, a rather odd choice
for a book about the dark side of looks, but maybe she just enjoys
being a girl).
She describes the book as, "a journey through the world of male
vanity...a world of steroid abusers and compulsive runners, anorectics
and bulimics, men who are losing their hair and potency, and patients
getting face-lifts, buttock lifts, and silicone implants all in pursuit
of youth, sex appeal and success."
She describes how, in a recent year, men spent $3 billion on grooming
aids and fragrances, $800 million on hair transplants, $400 million
on hairpieces, $4 billion on health club memberships and, when nothing
else works, $500 million on plastic surgery at least half of that
invested somewhere below the belt because lots of guys figure that
even with Viagra they come up short.
In other words, it is the sad tale of how American men since the end
of World War II have been sucked into the same youth and beauty trap
women have been caught in for years.
But it is not a lament about what has happened to men in a world where
how you look often is more important that what you can do. Instead,
it is a book about how difficult it is to enjoy being a grownup man
or a woman in a world where youthful looks seem to be everything.
Together men and women spend more annually on diet, health and beauty
than the nation spends on education and social services combined.
Now, there is a statistic that should help put your priorities in
order or at least make you want to.
Youth, sex appeal and success.
Are you prepared to live in a world where that's all there is? If
you were, would you be sitting here reading this? In a world where
looks are everything, why are you still in Gallup? Why am I? What
does that say about us?
Have you noticed how much time your son or daughter is spending in
front of the mirror lately? Does it make you feel like laughing or
crying? When you finally get into the bathroom and look in that same
mirror (and you know you do), does it make you want to laugh or cry?
Does that look like the face of a person ready to live in a world
where looks are everything?
Of course not. And it never will.
The youth, sex appeal and beauty industry thrives on hope, hard cash
and insecurity. It always has and it always will.
The truth is none of us ever will be ready to live in a world where
looks are everything.
Still we are haunted by another idea: We cannot afford to be older
people.
That is why most of us will go on living in our own private Gallups,
why I keep driving back to Casita de Juanita, why we tint our
hair, paint over our bald spots, and endure all the vi-aggravation
of trying to grow old like a modern American man, trying to look good,
dreading and longing for the day when we can live like older people
do.
| Top |
Thoreau season ended by Portales
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
HOBBS — The Thoreau Lady Hawks ended the season with a loss to
Portales at the Regional B Tournament in Hobbs on Friday night at
the Lea County Events Center. Portales beat the Lady Hawks 56-49.
"I feel that throughout the entire game my girls played good,"said
Lady Hawk coach Jori Flom."It was probably one of their best
games all year long. We just didn't finish off our free throws like
we should have and I felt our rebounding was very poor. I feel that
those two things were the key to us not winning the game."
Thoreau had a total of 22 rebounds to Portales' 30 and the Hawks finished
7-for-12 at the line.
Entering the third quarter of the game, the Lady Hawks were trailing
33-23, but Thoreau battled their way back into the game.
Hawk Kaytaundra Francisco opened the quarter with a three-pointer,
but Jaytha Calpepper answered back with a jump shot.
Thoreau then went on a seven point run, leaving them down, 35-33.
Francisco hit another trey, Lisa Ramone assisted a play to Cindy Morgan
and Tammy Shorty grabbed a rebound for a put back.
Portales scored again with Calpepper assisting a play to Olivia Boan,
the Lady Hawks tied the game with Morgan forcing the ball in on a
drive followed with a lay-up with both teams at 37-37.
Portales ended the quarter with Boan connecting a jump shot and a
basket from Laci Lee assisted from Roni Gomez, with Portales leading
41-37 going into the final quarter of action.
Kristi Harp opened their fourth quarter for Portales on a drive to
the basket, but Hawk Ramona assisted Marticia Holiday for a basket
before Portales pulled away on four points.
Gomez sank a jump shot and Harp sank a pair of free throws, putting
Portales back up 47-39.
Hawk Cindy Morgan went 1-for-2 at the line before Portales added two
more baskets to their lead.
Lee assisted a pass to Harp and Boan assisted Lee for a basket, widening
Portales' lead to 51-40.
Hawk Francisco came back with an assist to Ramone, but Boan connected
a jump and Hawk Ramone sank a trey, with Thoreau still trailing 53-45
with only 1:30 left in the game.
Portales added a pair of free throws from Lee and Erika Cook going
1-for-2 at the line to their score, before Thoreau ended with a drive
for a lay-up from Casandra Ping and Tonya James with a steal for a
basket to end the game with Portales winning 56-49.
Hawk Francisco led the effort with 12 point, all four treys, five
rebounds, two steals, three assists and a blocked-shot. Ramone added
10 points, four steals and an assists and Ping walked away with six
rebounds, three assists and a blocked-shot.
Harp led Portales with 16 points and Lee added 10 points.
"I feel my girls did a really good job. Throughout the season
the team had overcome a lot of adversity with Cindy (Morgan), Kaytaundra
(Francisco) and Lisa (Ramone) being injured, the girls overcame that.
I think that shows a lot of character and strength on their part.
I am just really proud of my girls,"coach Flom concluded on her
team's
season.
2A Fort Sumner 51, Zuni 28
Helen Hammontree scored 26 points as Fort Sumner defeated Zuni, 51-28,
Friday in a Class 2A regional girls game at Hobbs.
Fort Sumner (19-4) led throughout the game after taking a 22-13 lead
at halftime.
Zuni (12-11) scored just two points in the first quarter and struggled
with its offense all day. The Thunderbirds' trio of Erica Eriacho,
Talana Johnson and Matiya Dosedo each scored seven points.
1A Grady 71, Mescalero 28
Aeric Verble scored 20 points and Grady's girls dominated from start
to finish in a 71-28 win over Mescalero in Friday's Class A regional
at Hobbs.
Grady (19-4) meets Elida (22-3) in Saturday's regional finals, but
regardless of the outcome of that game both teams advance to next
week's State Tournament in Las Cruces. Elida beat Mountainair 69-50
in the other regional game here.
Mescalero (10-13) scored just two points in both the first and third
quarters. Grady outscored Mescalero 18-2 in the first quarter and
23-2 in the third quarter.
Nicole Dolan with nine points and Rosie Smith with seven led Mescalero's
scoring.
Five Grady players scored in double figures. Jennifer Bowman followed
Verble with 13 points.
| Top |
Shiprock eliminated in regionals
Ramah, Navajo Prep advance to state
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
GALLUP — Ramah and Navajo Prep are in, Shiprock is out.
The first day of the Region D Tournament hosted by Gallup High School
saw the Lady Mustangs and Lady Eagles earn berths to next week's state
tournament in Las Cruces, while some familiar faces were eliminated.
Ramah (15-10) beat San Jon (12-15) 66-53 to earn its first ever state
tournament berth. They will face Tatum (20-5), 42-40 winners over
Carrizozo (21-4), at 5:45 this evening for the regional title.
Navajo Prep (20-5) staved off a stubborn Santa Rosa (16-9) ballclub,
82-66 and will have played Coronado this morning. Coronado beat former
Gallup coach Jimmy Samaniego and the Jal Lady Panthers 58-50...
| Top |
Arizona panel urges sampling census
adjustment
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona's children, minorities and poor will pay
the price if the U.S. Census Bureau doesn't adjust its raw census
data, Rep. Ed Pastor says.
The Democratic congressman urged Commerce Secretary Donald Evans on
Friday to use mathematically adjusted figures for funding purposes.
The difference would be about $200 million over 10 years, Pastor said.
"When you are compassionate, when you want to help kids, you
take education, health and overall quality of life into account,"
Pastor said after assembling an oversight panel which also urged use
of a sampling method to rectify the figures...
| Top |
Schools hoping for a good response to survey
Bill Donovan
Staff writer
GALLUP — County residents with school-age children will get
another chance next week to give the state their opinion about the
local education system.
But if history repeats itself, only about one out of three parents
will take the few minutes to fill out the Quality of Education survey,
despite efforts by county education officials to increase participation.
"The response level is between 35 and 40 percent for the entire
district," said Angelo DiPaolo, assistant to the superintendent
for the Gallup-McKinley Public School System.
The survey, which asks parents to respond to 20 statements to give
an idea about how they feel about their local school system, is
required under state law...
| Top
|
Domenici to NAPI: Shape up
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
GALLUP — New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici supports continued operation
of the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry as a tribally owned and
managed enterprise, and believes its dire financial status can be
reversed given sweeping organizational
changes to profit mode.
But the long-time Republican senator also said if the tribal farm
continues to lose money at its current pace of about $2 million per
year, it is unlikely he will support reauthorization of funds needed
to complete NAPI's water delivery system, the Navajo Indian Irrigation
Project. NIIP construction is funded by the U.S. Department of the
Interior.
"I could not ask my colleagues for more federal investment in
a project that consistently loses millions of dollars, unless the
Navajo leadership really turns things around," Domenici said.
"This should be a lucrative business for the people of the Navajo
Nation..."
| Top
|
What to do if you've lost money in a pyramid scam
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Have you lost money in a pyramid scheme?
While promoters of pyramid schemes may not volunteer to refund money,
people can file civil actions against them.
Forms for filing complaints are available from the magistrate court
clerk. The clerk can assist in explaining forms and procedures but
not give legal advice.
When filing a complaint, if a jury trial is desired, a $25 jury
fee and $50 jury deposit is required. At the conclusion of the case,
the deposit is applied toward the total costs. Should a case be
settled prior to a jury trial, the deposit is refunded...
| Top |
Murdered man's car found
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The vehicle of a man murdered in Batesville, Mississippi
was found abandoned Thursday near Gallup's port of entry on Interstate
40.
New Mexico State Police Capt. Glenn Thomas said the body of the victim,
William Keelin, 82, was discovered by the police in his hometown about
10 a.m. Friday.
When state police initially ran a check on the silver 1992 Lincoln
Towncar Thursday morning, the vehicle had not been reported stolen,
he said.
However, he said, when they ran a second check about 9:30 p.m. Keelin
had been reported as a missing person...
Contact the Gallup
Independent
Please send the Gallup Independent feedback on
this website and the paper in general.
E-mail: gallpind@cia-g.com
By mail:
The Independent
PO Box 1210 Gallup, NM 87305
500 N. 9th Gallup, NM 87301
All contents property of the
Gallup Independent.
Any duplication or republication requires consent of the
Gallup
Independent.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to
gallpind@cia-g.com
E-mail the webmaster at
martyr_dom@hotmail.com
for problems concerning the website ONLY.
