Enzyte Manufacturer Sentenced To 25 Years in Prison

[BenBurch]

NOT SAFE FOR WORK LINK; http://www.avn.com/law/articles/32031.html

CINCINNATI - Don't expect to see much of Smilin' Bob anytime in the near future.

You know Bob: He's the guy at the suburban pool party who loses his trunks, and when he climbs out, all the women point and stare at his (unseen) cock, while other men look vaguely fearful - or who looks supremely confident watering his lawn with a large hose, and all the neighbors whisper about how much he's changed recently ... since he started taking Enzyte, "the once-daily tablet for natural male enhancement."

Of course, the stuff doesn't work - none of these non-prescription "supplements" actually increase the length or girth of a penis beyond its normal erect state - and Steve Warshak, owner of Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, which manufactures Enzyte, found out yesterday just how much his fraudulent advertising of the product is going to cost him. Based on Warshak's conviction last February on 93 counts of mail fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel sentenced him to 25 years in prison, fined him $93 million, and forfeited $459 million - that's nearly half a billion dollars - of his and his company's assets to the government. By comparison, as the Wall Street Journal's Dan Slater notes, WorldCom's Bernie Ebbers got 25 years, while Enron's Jeff Skilling got 24 years and four months. Somehow, the guy who makes phony sex drugs just doesn't seem quite that culpable.

<SNIP>

[CurtC]

I once saw one of those commercials featuring "Bob," but I had the impression that "male enhancement" meant something along the lines of a natural, no-prescription Viagra. I had no idea the intent was increasing the size of the penis. Humph.

[AgeGap]

About a year for every millimetre promised. I'll stick to the homeopathic penis enlargement pills.:D

[dudalb]

Ah , Bob, the most infamous TV commericial Woo Peddler since the good old days of everybody's favorite Jamamcian Psychic, Madame Cleo.
Bob, btw, is not going to prison. He can plead he was just an actor the same as the actress who was "Madame Cleo" did.
Nice to see one of these frauds get what is coming to him.

[Ikarus]

"fined him $93 million, and forfeited $459 million - that's nearly half a billion dollars - of his and his company's assets to the government"

That is a whole lot of money... Which means they must've made a whole LOT of money! Penis enlargement works? Maybe not for you, but it does for the US budget.
"This public builing was indirectly funded by men with small penises, who got screwed, but probably only figuratively".

[Gravy]

You above are all missing the fact that the convictions aren't for making false claims about Enzyte. The product remains for sale. The commercials (in altered form since the last court order) are still running and they're taking orders on the website. Perhaps they'll crack down more on the implied message, but if there's such a lawsuit in the pipes it hasn't been decided yet.

These convictions are for fradulent business practices, particularly relating to the company's money-back guarantee policy, and for money laundering.

[Dr. Imago]

Sort of like Al Capone getting busted for tax evasion, no?

~Dr. Imago

[PopeTom]

Based on Warshak's conviction last February on 93 counts of male fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy and money laundering,...


I'm surprised that no one had fixed that yet.

[Pipirr]

You above are all missing the fact that the convictions aren't for making false claims about Enzyte. The product remains for sale. The commercials (in altered form since the last court order) are still running and they're taking orders on the website. Perhaps they'll crack down more on the implied message, but if there's such a lawsuit in the pipes it hasn't been decided yet.

These convictions are for fradulent business practices, particularly relating to the company's money-back guarantee policy, and for money laundering.

"Enzyte. The once daily tablet for natural male enhancement."

Yep, I just saw a commercial for it on Spike.

[negativ]

Note that Enzyte also copied their fraudulent "Smilin' Bob" after the REAL fraudulent "Bob" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._"Bob"_Dobbs).

I *DO* wish the Subgenius Foundation would go after the Enzyte guys for trademark infringement, because it would be a hoot to hear lawyers arguing about "Bob".

[cwalner]

"fined him $93 million, and forfeited $459 million - that's nearly half a billion dollars - of his and his company's assets to the government"

That is a whole lot of money... Which means they must've made a whole LOT of money! Penis enlargement works? Maybe not for you, but it does for the US budget.
"This public builing was indirectly funded by men with small penises, who got screwed, but probably only figuratively".

You mean "The erection of this building was extended thanks to Enzyte" Hmm they may have a case on appeal.

[kerikiwi]

These convictions are for fradulent business practices, particularly relating to the company's money-back guarantee policy, and for money laundering.

Which does not offer anywhere near the comic potential ...