For years, BINT, short for Blessings in No Time, spread rapidly through churches, social media, family circles, and community groups, promising participants an opportunity to turn a relatively small investment into life-changing money. Instead, it became one of the largest pyramid schemes in recent U.S. history, leaving thousands of victims with devastating financial losses.

Unlike traditional investment scams that promise high returns from stocks or cryptocurrency, BINT relied almost entirely on recruiting new members. Participants were told that by contributing $1,400 to join a “blessing circle,” they would eventually receive $11,200 after moving through different levels of the program. The money, however, did not come from investments or business profits. It came solely from the payments of new recruits.

How the Scheme Worked

The BINT system was organized into four levels:

• Earth – New members entered by paying $1,400.
• Wind
• Fire
• Water – Members reaching the center were promised an $11,200 payout.

Once someone at the center collected the money, the circle supposedly split into two new circles, requiring even more people to join. The process repeated endlessly.

The fatal flaw was simple mathematics. Every person who received a payout required eight new participants beneath them. Those eight required sixty-four more. Then 512. Very quickly, the number of new recruits needed became impossible to sustain.

As with every pyramid scheme, the vast majority of participants inevitably lost their money.

The People Behind BINT

Federal investigators identified LaShonda Moore and her husband, Marlon Moore, also known as DJ ASAP Dre, as the leaders of the nationwide operation.

According to prosecutors, the couple aggressively promoted BINT across the United States, presenting it as a community-driven wealth-building opportunity rather than an illegal investment scheme. Promotional events, online meetings, and social media campaigns encouraged members to recruit friends and relatives, creating an atmosphere where skepticism was discouraged and urgency was emphasized.

Authorities estimated that the operation collected between $25 million and $30 million from approximately 8,000 to 10,000 participants.

Why It Was So Convincing

Many victims did not view BINT as a scam.

Instead, they believed they were participating in a financial empowerment movement built on trust and mutual support. Recruiters often targeted people they already knew—family members, church friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

The scheme’s success depended on social pressure.

Participants who had already invested their money had a powerful incentive to recruit others in hopes of recovering their own investment. This created a cycle where victims unknowingly became promoters.

Federal Investigation

As complaints increased, federal investigators began tracing the movement of funds through bank records, payment apps, and electronic communications.

Prosecutors concluded that BINT was not a legitimate investment program but a classic pyramid scheme that relied entirely on constant recruitment.

Participants near the top collected substantial payouts, while those entering later had little chance of recovering their money once recruitment slowed.

Sentencing

In June 2026, a federal judge in Texas sentenced LaShonda Moore and Marlon Moore to 40 years in federal prison after they were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, and money laundering.

The sentences reflected both the scale of the fraud and the enormous financial harm inflicted on thousands of victims.

Warning Signs of a Pyramid Scheme

Consumers should be cautious of any opportunity that:

• Requires an upfront payment to participate.
• Pays members primarily for recruiting others.
• Promises guaranteed or unusually high returns.
• Has no legitimate product or service generating revenue.
• Encourages participants to recruit family and friends.
• Claims it is “not a pyramid scheme” while relying on endless recruitment.

Lessons from BINT

The BINT case demonstrates that financial fraud continues to evolve, often hiding behind messages of community, empowerment, or mutual assistance rather than traditional investment language.

While technology made it easier for organizers to recruit thousands of participants nationwide, the underlying model remained the same one that has fueled pyramid schemes for decades: early participants profit only if enough new people continue joining.

Eventually, recruitment slows, the money stops flowing, and the vast majority of participants are left holding the losses.

The BINT investigation serves as a reminder that whenever profits depend primarily on recruiting new members instead of selling legitimate products or services, the business model is almost certainly unsustainable—and may be illegal.