Scam Watch
The pitch: Male enhancement
The scam: Enzyte is a widely advertised herbal supplement that is supposed to boost male sexual performance. But according to a federal court jury in Cincinnati, the supplement’s main function was to make wallets smaller. Last month, the jury found Steve Warshak, owner of Enzyte distributor Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, bank fraud and money laundering. His mother, Harriett Warshak, was convicted of conspiracy and other charges.
The money: During the trial, prosecutors alleged that customers of Berkeley -- which also sold products that supposedly boosted energy and aided weight loss -- had been bilked out of $100 million because of deceptive advertisements, unauthorized credit card charges and refusals to cancel orders.
The sentence: Steve Warshak, 40, could face 20 years or more in prison and the company could be forced to forfeit tens of millions of dollars.
The site: As of last week, Berkeley’s website was still functioning. At the top of the home page was a picture of Smiling Bob, the star of the company’s Enzyte television commercials.
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