Metro Dream Homes (Greenbelt, California: appointed, sales, lawyers)

[DCBorn]

Wow, RalphMalph you are pretty heated in your vitriolic criticism. I am familiar with Ponzi schemes though. Thanks for your concern. Seriously though I say that becaue I know people on the inside. I don't beleive they can do what they think they can so I don't invest even though I have been offered the chance so I leave it alone personally. I just say reading the newspaper and internet posts don't make you intimately aware of much of anything accept the opinions of others. There are facts like the closings of offices but people are alleged to commit crimes constantly and they do go to trial before being proved guilty. So because Maryland and or Virginia disagree with the line of Business they are in. (Metro has another definition) that don't make them crooks.

I don't defend becuase I think people will lose money but if you lose money I guess it does not matter if you lost if because the person was a crook or if they just could not execute on their promise... Have a Good One!

Originally Posted by ralphmalph

Yes, we have heard all this before. I don't think it would be fruitful to repeat all the facts in the MDH/POS/Grapevine case. Better might be for you to do a little research into Ponzi schemes. Once you clearly understand what a Ponzi scheme is, you will see that this has been a scam from day 1!

ponzi - Google Search

There are any number of links to explain the idea and the implementations of Ponzi scams. One of the common aspects is that they are all based on some sort of "honest" appearing investment plan that goes awry. In reality, there never was any *real* investment plan that had a prayer of a chance to succeed. In the case of Ponzi, he knew very quickly that his postal coupon plan would not work and continued to take millions of dollars of investors money. In the case of MDH, they knew their POS plan would not work before they started and still took millions of dollars of investors money. Why? Because Williams had tried it all BEFORE!!! There is an order against him from 2001, IIRC, to cease a similar scam and to not operate an investment plan in the future (now). He violated this order and is doing the same sort of scam now.

So, please don't insult our intelligence by trying to pass him off as a well intentioned, honest, good-doer. He has been a crook in the past, he is a crook now and he will always be a crook!!!

How gullible can people be??? Try LEARNING something! Read up on Ponzi scams and come back and tell us what facts about this mess say it is NOT a scam...

Here is a thought from me that is not a fact, just a prediction. Williams is going to jail!!! However, for those of you who have lost money in this deal, you can that to the bank!!!

[sagegriot]

DCBorn
I have to give you credit for your analysis of the situation, especially your statements regarding how MDH differs in thier opinion vs. the state on the nature of thier business. Too bad some participants don't see this scheme just cant be successful. I'm sticking with my notion that its a scandal since scam implies intent which is very very tough to prove. Either way the investors lose and there's a high chance of uncovering some criminal activity in the investigation. In reviewing the details of the C&D order, the current allegations against Mr Williams and the others only involve fines and no jail time (but that could change). I think it also stipulates solicitation activity conducted in or from Maryland.

I firmly believe that when this falls apart some participants will remain loyal to Andy Williams and feel that the problem was caused by the state's intervention rather than the scheme being doomed from the start.

[DCBorn]

Yeah, some people are loyal to the leader no matter what. I was actually originally solicited in Maryland so I know that part is true!

Originally Posted by sagegriot

DCBorn
I have to give you credit for your analysis of the situation, especially your statements regarding how MDH differs in thier opinion vs. the state on the nature of thier business. Too bad some participants don't see this scheme just cant be successful. I'm sticking with my notion that its a scandal since scam implies intent which is very very tough to prove. Either way the investors lose and there's a high chance of uncovering some criminal activity in the investigation. In reviewing the details of the C&D order, the current allegations against Mr Williams and the others only involve fines and no jail time (but that could change). I think it also stipulates solicitation activity conducted in or from Maryland.

I firmly believe that when this falls apart some participants will remain loyal to Andy Williams and feel that the problem was caused by the state's intervention rather than the scheme being doomed from the start.

[tiredofscamstoo]

Originally Posted by ralphmalph

This outfit is only barred from recruiting in MD and VA. Has anyone seen evidence that they are still recruiting in DC, NC, CA or other locations? I don't find anything on the web.

Yea, remember.... someone posted a letter from a DH meeting in CA stating the Dream Home program was being discontinued or something similar.

[ralphmalph]

Originally Posted by DCBorn

I am African American so the race card bothers me as well. They had a meeting Saturday and refunded the money of those who wanted it. Being familiar with it and the players though I still don't think it is a scam but I do think they are wildly overestimating the returns they can make. I been offered to go into the program and turned it down because I don't think it is viable in the long run but not because I think it is a scam. Like I said I know people on the inside.

Andy Williams was shut down in 2001 but he was never found guilty of anything crimimal because there was nothing there to find. I think people will eventually end up losing but not because of criminal wrongdoing.

If you honestly believe that Williams is not taking people's money while knowing that he can't pay the returns he is promising, I think you just don't see the picture. Anyone with a lick of sense can see that what he is promising is not just unlikely, it is impossible! So how could Williams have even a tiny amount of common sense and NOT know that he is taking new investor's money to pay dividends to existing investors? That is a Ponzi scam and is illegal as such. Do you disagree that Williams must know that he is paying old investors with the investment funds of new investors?

Are you ignoring the fact that there are NO real investments by this company? Every time anyone asks about the investments, there are no answers. The ATM machines are all but non-existent. The Fredericksburg paper interviewed the pizza shop owner who got $0 from the advertising terminal in his shop. Nowhere have we seen any indication that there are real investments... That makes MDH a Ponzi scam and means Williams is breaking the law.

To say Williams is not scamming people intentionally is saying that he is one very stupid person. Williams is not stupid, he has lots of common sense and he knows how to manipulate people. At least he can manipulate some people. I am sure that he paints a very convincing picture, but it is just that, a picture. Behind the picture is a scam.

Maryland says they are selling securities and need certain registration while Metro says it is in a different line of business.

Do you honestly believe that this is the real issue here? He was given a C&D order because it was just the easiest thing they could use to stop them from bringing in more people until they can collect and organize enough evidence to charge them. It is easy to do and effective. Next step is the investigation to find evidence of the Ponzi scam.

In 2001 he was not "convicted" because it takes a lot of work to convict someone of this sort of scam and you need the cooperation of the investors. This time I am sure the AG is going to get it, if not in MD, certainly in VA or other states.

If the Attorneys General of MD, VA and the other states do not prosecute him and his associates, they should be tried for malfeasance in office. Williams has hurt hundreds, possibly thousands of people this time and I just don't see how he can escape jail time.

I was trying to be nice to you about this. But after reading all the things you say that are just totally absurd, I can't help but to think you are either incredibly gullible or are one of the principles in this scam. If you would like to offer some evidence of the claims you make, please give us something concrete... for example, who do you know on the "inside"?

[tiredofscamstoo]

Originally Posted by DCBorn

I am African American so the race card bothers me as well. They had a meeting Saturday and refunded the money of those who wanted it. Being familiar with it and the players though I still don't think it is a scam but I do think they are wildly overestimating the returns they can make. I been offered to go into the program and turned it down because I don't think it is viable in the long run but not because I think it is a scam. Like I said I know people on the inside.

Andy Williams was shut down in 2001 but he was never found guilty of anything crimimal because there was nothing there to find. I think people will eventually end up losing but not because of criminal wrongdoing.

DCBorn - that is not true. MDH is not refunding money. They say they are, but I've been trying to get my refund for two months and all I get it the run around. I'm about to sue them.

[ralphmalph]

Originally Posted by tiredofscamstoo

Yea, remember.... someone posted a letter from a DH meeting in CA stating the Dream Home program was being discontinued or something similar.

I thought that was an email to someone already in the program in Maryland. The GPI web page is still up and advertising the same mortgage payoff program...

LOSE YOUR MORTGAGE - NOT YOUR HOME | Global Pacific Investments, LLC

Could you imagine not having to pay a mortgage note for the next several years? Our Wealth Building Seminars offer excellent strategies to help you leverage the equity in your home to allow your home's full mortgage to be paid off within the next three (3) to five (5) years.

[ralphmalph]

Originally Posted by tiredofscamstoo

DCBorn - that is not true. MDH is not refunding money. They say they are, but I've been trying to get my refund for two months and all I get it the run around. I'm about to sue them.

I don't mean to be rude, but if you don't stop ***** footing around and get a lawyer now, you won't get a dime and you will have no one to blame but yourself. You have a small chance to get something now if you act quickly enough. But you need to get an aggressive lawyer who will find a way to put pressure on Williams enough to pry some cash out of his pocket. The only other way to get any cash from Williams may be at the end of a gun! I don't even know if that will work. lol

All kidding aside, a law suit will do pretty much nothing but make a lawyer more money. You need to put pressure on him somehow to make him want to pay you before anyone else (who he is currently not paying anyway).

[sagegriot]

Here's a fairly comprehensive summary of links associated with MDH up thru the action by the state of VA. Nothing really new here for those that have been following the case, but its a handy one-stop collection of links.

The Home Equity Theft Reporter: Virginia Declares 90 Day Halt To Metropolitan Grapevine's Investor Solicitations
..................I sure would like to get details of the meeting this past Saturday!

[Rey19]

Originally Posted by DCBorn

Wow, RalphMalph you are pretty heated in your vitriolic criticism. I am familiar with Ponzi schemes though. Thanks for your concern. Seriously though I say that because I know people on the inside. I don't beleive they can do what they think they can so I don't invest even though I have been offered the chance so I leave it alone personally. I just say reading the newspaper and internet posts don't make you intimately aware of much of anything accept the opinions of others. There are facts like the closings of offices but people are alleged to commit crimes constantly and they do go to trial before being proved guilty. So because Maryland and or Virginia disagree with the line of Business they are in. (Metro has another definition) that don't make them crooks.

I don't defend becuase I think people will lose money but if you lose money I guess it does not matter if you lost if because the person was a crook or if they just could not execute on their promise... Have a Good One!

DCBorn, let me first say I appreciate your opinion, but I have side with Ralphmalph on this one. Andy knew what he was doing before he started another securities company. It was premeditated; therefore, that makes him guilty and a criminal. If you read the WP post article concerning VA and MD filing a C&D Order against MDH, they have already done the research/investigation and have concluded that the investors will loose money from this SCAM. The only way MDH will make money from this scam is to bring in new investors, which is analogous to a PONZI or PYRAMID scheme. BTW, this will not happen! The MD and VA AG will not allow this to happen! We are not talking about an automobile or motorbike being repossessed. This is about peoples lives and jobs. This will cause a tsunami that will reverberate tragically through families and communities. Lives will possibly be lost.

Let's keep in mind, this is serious stuff! Did you see how nervous the lady was on the MDH video? She was very concerned - and has a legitimate reason to be. It bewilders me how a Doctor and Retired Rear Admiral can be suckered in by an individual who has business ADHD, and who has shown a proclivity for this kind of behavior in the past. These are educated men. How did this happen? Where was the research? Did they research Andy's background and contact the Maryland Securities Division for advice and legal counsel? Did they understand that anytime you operate in promissory notes and securities you need to be insured (to protect investors) and registered. I am not business savvy, but I knew this. The Retired Rear Admiral should have know better b/c at one point in his career he possessed a Top Secret Clearance. This type of clearance teaches you to question everything, and peoples motivations. When I hear people talk about MDH (e.g., "Loyal to Andy") it sounds like a CULT. This reminds me of Jim Jones and his followers. This is the only reason I can justify educated people being suckered into a scheme, such as this one. They were busy watching "Hale Bopp Andy" and failed to see the stars: vulnerable and kind people who only want the best for their families. Check(s) should not "BOUNCE" and people should not have to plead for refunds. Where is the justice?