The
Lariat
“Fraud” Group
Where Have Our Responsible Law Enforcement Gone?
By Edward Snook
Investigative Reporter
Two
editions ago we published an article titled, “The Lariat Group,
Another Debt Elimination Scam.” This article garnered quick attention
from the absolutely fraudulent directors of this criminal enterprise.
They were quick to send the US~Observer a “demand for retraction”
letter which we publisher in our last edition. Obviously we denied
their demand letter. The director’s names are Robert Chamberlain
(the King-Pin), Gary Douglas Holmes and Butch McIntyre.
The
US~Observer is continuing to receive complaints from victims of the
Lariat Group’s fraud. Generally they are women, some of whom report
to have been financially destroyed by this trio who claim they are in
the Lord’s service as they convince people they can eliminate
the debt they have accrued. In other words and according to these deceitful
individuals, people can simply wipe out debt that they have agreed to
pay in return for mortgages, credit cards, etc. My bible states that
Satan is the father of all lies, so it is an easy chore to conclude
that they are simply lying about serving God in order to more easily
infiltrate their victim’s pocketbooks and bank accounts, all for
their own gain.
In
February, 2006 the US~Observer was informed that the Lariat Group had
decided to stop their programs due to the bad publicity provided by
the US~Observer. We went to their web-site and found the following:
“From
The Director’s Desk:
The Directors
regret to inform our members, that the Lariat Group is going to phase
out of operation.
This is primarily
due to circumstances brought about by egregious privacy violations,
malicious and unfounded accusations. Our continuing desire is for our
members’ success, but at this point, it has been decided that
it's in the best interests of all the members for the ministry of the
Lariat Group to come to a close.”
First
off, the Lariat Group’s only “ministry” is to deceive
people into a state of mind where they are able to openly steal from
them. Amazingly we were informed in March, 2006 that the Lariat Group
was actually continuing their fraudulent solicitations of seemingly
unwary people. The following email was sent to Lariat Group members
on March 3, 2006 by the same Directors that stated (above) they were
going to cease operations:
Sent: Friday,
March 03, 2006 6:22 AM
Subject: Mortgage Release Program update from Gary Holmes
Happy Friday
Everyone!
Here is the
latest update regarding the Mortgage Release Program from the Dorean
Group. This only needs to be reviewed if you are a participant or a
referring member to assist a participant. The contact information to
reach Dr Fred, Scott and Kurt is enclosed with this update for your
convenience and use. We are prayerful of a successful conclusion and
judgment in favor of all the participants, please continue to be positive
and pray for the same result as it will not be too much longer before
we here the news. Great success in all that we do!
In His service,
Gary
We
were sent another email dated March 8, 2006 from Lariat Group Director
Gary Holmes to Lariat Group members regarding affiliate program (fraud)
“Mortgage Alternatives.” The head of this group states,
“As I had indicated in the previous update letter, we had “guardedly”
hoped that something would have been in place by February but that will
not be the case.” Here we go again, it’s always next month,
in the near future, pray about it, let’s hope something happens
soon, etc. Wake up people (future victims of fraudulent scams); if something
sounds too good to be true…it is, 99% of the time. All you are
buying into when you associate yourself with scam artists is a program
wherein you will hear excuse after excuse after excuse and then you
will realize they have stolen your hard earned money.
Please
note that the Lariat Group has attempted to disguise themselves by claiming
they are just brokers attempting to direct people to debt elimination
programs. Make no mistake; they are making untold thousands of dollars
off their end of the scams they present their customers! In every program
that scam artists get people to buy into, there is one common denominator:
the programs never work and when debt is scheduled to be eliminated
or money is due it never happens. Then the fraud promoters begin their
long line of excuses. We see this in the above emails sent by Lariat
Group Director Gary Holmes: “We are prayerful of a successful
conclusion and judgment in favor of all participants.” See what
I mean? And what about, “it will not be too much longer before
we hear the news.” The truth is all participants have been literally
screwed. They bought into a scam and now they are told to “be
positive and pray.”
The
US~Observer has been exposing similar scams for years and it’s
time that law enforcement gets with the program and prevents the Lariat
Group’s number of victims from escalating. Attorney General Hardy
Myers office was notified months ago, as was the IRS and FBI. All have
apparently been too busy chasing their tails to stop this illegal activity.
With each new victim the listed agencies must share in the culpability.
Please go to our “Letters to the Editor” section of this
edition and hear what the public has to say about the “godly”
Lariat Group.
Please
see our previous article:
The
Lariat Group: Another Debt Elimination Scam?