Peter Popoff: Miracles or manipulation?

DARREN CUNNINGHAM

Fox 17

January 5, 2018

WEST MICHIGAN -- Steve Lyles said he found letters written by his father to Peter Popoff Ministries. He described them as heartbreaking letters that detailed his father's desperation to beat stage IV cancer. Lyles said Popoff promised his father he'd live another hundred days with only one catch, and that was to send Popoff money.

You may have seen Popoff's commercials. Peter Popoff Ministries promises 'miracle water' and other items that can heal your body or cause you to reap financial blessings.

Lyles said, "He was claiming that if you send him enough money that he's got a miracle phone line to God, and he can just pick up this phone line, talk to God and you'll be cured as long as you send him enough money."
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Lyles said his father, Vernon, received a money pouch and a plastic glove from Popoff.

"And that if you rub it over your body and send [Popoff] money, you'll be cured. I don't think God works that way," Steve Lyles recalled.

He said his dad, who lived in Rothbury, was diagnosed with prostate cancer 6 years ago.

"Earlier this year [2017], we discovered that it went to stage IV," he said.

Lyles said desperation set in for his father as Vernon learned he had months to live. Vernon Lyles sent Popoff more money before passing away months ago.

"We're still getting letters for this guy to have money sent to him for my father. So my father can be cured," Lyles said.

Lyles said his brother made the initial discovery of their dad's communication with Popoff Ministries when checking his father's mail. The brothers learned their father had sent about $70.

"I reached out to you just to let everybody know that this is going on and for those of us that have elderly and sick parents, we've got to watch out for this. My dad and I were best friends and he never told me," Lyles said.

The FOX 17 Problem Solvers called and left a message for Popoff Ministries. An online search reveals numerous complaints and accusations of Popoff being a charlatan. In the mid 80s, Johnny Carson aired a segment exposing one of Popoff's alleged schemes. He then declared bankruptcy and listed nearly 800 creditors, but Popoff made a comeback in the 90s.

"I don't know how he lives with himself," Lyles said.

"All that he is is someone who's looking for people who are in their last hours, grasping at straws, looking for anything to stay alive a little bit and sucking money out of 'em," he added.

John Masterson, with the Better Business Bureau said, "These guys know how to hit the pressure points and sell it hard, and they're hoping that you really don't look into it or think about it or consider what you're doing and just write a check."

So before sending any money the BBB has a suggestion.

"Always just take a second, research, think about it, and then make your decision," Masterson suggests.

Again, Lyles said his brother checked his father's mail and made the discovery that he'd been writing Popoff. It's a warning to be aware of what your loved ones may be doing.

http://fox17online.com/2018/01/05/miracle-or-manipulation/

Man, 70, accuses Miami Gardens pastor of taking his dream home

Edward Fuller searched for attorney to fight pastor Eric Readon in court

Jeff Weinsier - Investigative Reporter
Local 10
May 18, 2017

VIDEO

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Edward Fuller is one of several people who contacted Local 10 News after an investigation aired about the business practices of Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon.

He claims the pastor has taken him for over $500,000 and tricked him into signing over his dream house.

All claimed they were not repaid.

Fuller said he took  his case to Miami-Dade police but was told that, because he willfully signed papers and was not forced to, it was a civil matter.

He has yet to find an attorney to take his case.

Fuller, 70, has plans, the permits and the pictures from the home.

"I can walk through this house blindfolded and tell you exactly where everything is," he said.

Fuller doesn't have his dream house and claims he was blindsided by Readon.

"He sold my house," Fuller said. "He sold the house Feb.13. He sold that house for $380,000."

How much did Fuller get from that?

"I got not one red cent," he said.

The home is located in the 10900 block of Northwest 19th Avenue.

Fuller bought the property more than 30 years ago and had a plan. After a 35-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, his retirement project was to build a dream house for his family.

"This was like my gift to my daughters once I was gone," Fuller said. "It's just that simple."

After retirement, the walls and the roof went up.

Fuller admits he ran out of money to finish.

Then, he claims, one day Readon appeared.

The pair had never met before.

"Somehow, he got the information that I was having a problem getting it completed," Fuller said.

Fuller claims Readon took him to a hard money lender for a loan.

Project Youth Outreach Unlimited, a nonprofit corporation, was made the contractor on the $125,000 construction loan.

Readon is the president of that nonprofit.

But there was a catch. To get the loan, Fuller had to sign 50 percent of his property over to Readon.

Since conventional lenders had turned him down, Fuller agreed and work on the house began again.

Fuller let Readon have full control over the $125,000 loan.

When the money ran out, the house was still not finished.

Fuller claims in order to get more funds using his good credit, the pastor persuaded him to  sign over the other 50 percent of the house, so Fuller's credit would be free and clear.

That meant Project Youth Outreach Unlimited and Readon now owned the entire house.

"'I promise you, man, you're going to get your house back,' This is what he told me," Fuller said. '"You're going to get your house back.'"

But it never happened.

Fuller only learned Readon sold the house for $380,000 when he did a property records search.

"I said, 'Eric, you sold my house,'" Fuller said. "He said, 'I got my own personal money tied up in this house,' and he said, 'I can't lose my money.'"

Readon canceled plans to speak to Local 10 News.

As Local 10 reported last month, others have said they gave Readon cash deposits to rent homes and buy cars and loaned him cash.

Blackrain Captial, LLC lawsuit

Some did get money back, but only after Local 10 began to ask questions.

The legal trouble against this pastor is  mounting. According to court records, Blackrain Capital has filed suit against Readon and his church for fraud, negligence and theft.

The suit claims Blackrain entered into a joint venture to buy houses with the pastor. Blackrain fronted Readon money to buy houses and trusted him because he was "a man of God."

Another complaint was filed by Coastal Group Consultants.

An attorney for Blackrain said Readon never repaid or split proceeds from the sale of properties and Blackrain is out more than $100,000.

Court records also show Readon was ordered to take an anger management class after sending harassing and inappropriate emails in which he threatened an attorney and his staff over a custody issue concerning his son.

Custody sanctions

Court records show one of those e-mails contained a picture of a dead body.

Readon is known for showing up at tragic events around South Florida to preach about doing the right thing.

He has called the Local 10 newsroom and reporter Jeff Weinsier's cellphone several times.

The invitation to sit down with him and ask about his business practices still stands.

https://www.local10.com/news/local-10-investigates/man-70-accuses-miami-gardens-pastor-of-taking-his-dream-home

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). 

 

The NCEA is one of 27 Administration on Aging-funded Resource Centers. The NCEA is the place to turn to for up-to-date information regarding research, training, best practices, news and resources on elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The Center provides information to policy makers, professionals in the elder justice field, and the public.

The Administration on Aging is proud to be a leader in the field of elder rights. Research shows that as many as two million elders are abused in the United States. As a government, as a society and as individuals, we must increase our efforts to insure that all older Americans age with dignity and honor. .

ELDER ABUSE: ‘IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING’

Stephen Lacey

Florida Today

March 14, 2016

J. Scott Kelly

Elder mistreatment (i.e. abuse and neglect) is defined by the National Center for Elder Abuse as “intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder [perpetrated] by a caregiver or other person who stands in a trust relationship to the elder.

This includes failure by a caregiver to satisfy the elder’s basic needs or to protect the elder from harm.”

Unfortunately, we do not have complete statistics about elder abuse, in part because the nature of the relationship between the elder and the perpetrator can lead to failure to report incidences of abuse or neglect. In one of the only national studies aimed at assessing the scope of the problem, performed by the National Center on Elder Abuse in 1998, approximately 90% of abusers were family members such as adult children, spouses, and familial caregivers.

Additionally, although all 50 states have adult protective services and some type of regulation (see Florida Statutes § 825.102, for example), there is no consistency among the programs or among mandatory reporting laws. As a result, an overwhelming number of abuse and neglect cases go undetected and unresolved each year.

One reason many people fail to act even when their “gut” tells them something is wrong, is that they have no idea what to do and are concerned about confronting the perpetrator. However, there are “safe” steps you can take to help protect vulnerable elders:

Step 1 – Be alert to warning signs.

Elder abuse can take many forms, such as financial, physical, emotional or even sexual abuse. Mistreatment of an elder can also include neglect by a caretaker, abandonment, isolation, abduction or self-neglect – and many cases involve more than one type of abuse. Specific warning signs include:

• Physical Abuse: bruises, pressure marks, frequent unexplained injuries while in care, and burns.

• Neglect: unattended medical needs, weight loss, poor hygiene, and marked changes in manner of dress or appearance.

• General: unexplained withdrawal by the elder from normal activities or socialization, depression, strained relationships or tension between the elder and possible perpetrator, and sudden changes in financial situations.

Step 2 – Enlist expert help.

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If the danger is not immediate, contact the local Adult Protective Services (APS) via telephone (or report online). Do not be deterred by fear of confrontation: information reported to the APS is confidential. A social worker will visit the elder and assess the situation. Even if the claim of abuse or neglect is unsubstantiated, the APS will help the elder obtain social, health, or related services that may be warranted or desired.

If you suspect abuse of a facility resident, you can also contact the local Long Term Care Ombudsman program. Alternatively, contact the elder’s trusted advisor (such as an attorney or accountant.)

Step 3: – Remember that the elder has the right to refuse assistance, and be diligent in reporting continued suspicions of abuse and neglect.

It can be difficult for individuals who are being violated to cooperate with those who mean to help, especially when their abuser is a trusted person or someone they are dependent upon. Additionally, claims may be unsubstantiated initially, until additional evidence is found or the elder becomes more willing or able to disclose.

Many anti-terrorism campaigns state “if you see something, say something.” We should apply this same approach to suspected elder abuse. Sometimes our instincts give us accurate information, and what seems wrong can be a clear signal that abuse is taking place. Together, we can protect our elders and ensure their safety and dignity.

Stephen J. Lacey, JD, LLM-Tax is a partner in the law firm Rossway Swan Tierney Barry Lacey & Oliver, P.L. Lacey concentrates his practice in estate planning, asset protection, Medicaid planning, VA Planning & probate.







http://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/03/14/elder-abuse-see-something-say-something/81779282/

Widow with dementia gave $600,000 to Kabbalah Centre charity

She also borrowed millions to build a home in Beverly Hills. Her financial advisor, a key figure in the oversight of Kabbalah Centre finances, has been instrumental in those expenditures, public records and interviews show.

Harriet Ryan
Los Angeles Times

April 9, 2012

Susan Strong Davis, an 87-year-old widow, spends the day inside her Palos Verdes Estates home, tended round-the-clock by nurse's aides. For company, relatives say, she has her dog, the television and, on increasingly rare occasions, memories of the glamorous socialite's life she once lived.

"She definitely has some sort of dementia," said Viki Brushwood, a niece who visited from Texas in December. "I don't know if it's Alzheimer's or what. She is somebody who is not making decisions anymore."

But decisions involving large amounts of money are being made in Davis' name. In recent years, she has borrowed millions to build a four-bedroom house in Beverly Hills featuring three fireplaces and a pool, according to property records, court filings and interviews. She has also given at least $600,000 to a charity to which relatives say she has no ties and which is run by the controversial Kabbalah Centre, the Westside spiritual organization now under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.

Public records and interviews show Davis' longtime financial advisor, John E. Larkin, has been instrumental in these expenditures. A veteran entertainment industry money manager, Larkin has been a devout student of the Kabbalah Centre's brand of Jewish mysticism for nearly a decade and is a key figure in the oversight of its substantial financial assets. He was handling his elderly client's personal finances when she made the donation. And Davis' Beverly Hills home is being built on a lot Larkin previously owned and sold to her at a substantial personal profit.

Larkin, 64, did not return messages seeking comment. Although the IRS' criminal division has been investigating the center and its controlling family, the Bergs, for tax evasion for more than a year, Larkin has not been identified as a subject of that probe and has not been accused of any crime in handling Davis' money.

Davis has no children, and her siblings are dead. Those relatives still in touch with her — three nieces — said they visit at most once a year. Neither they nor seven other family members contacted were aware of her donations to the Kabbalah Centre or of the home under construction in Beverly Hills.

Bunny Sumner, an 89-year-old niece who lives in Carlsbad, said that when she visited Davis two years ago she was "well into" dementia.

"She wasn't a bit well," Sumner recalled. "We just talked about old times."

The daughter of Frank R. Strong, a pioneering real estate mogul who made a fortune subdividing Southern California scrubland, Davis grew up in a turreted mansion in La Cañada Flintridge. Her family's dinner parties and vacations were detailed on the society pages. She became a professional ice skater, touring in the chorus line of Sonja Henie's ice revue. She married three times, including a 1951 union with British actor Richard Stapley that put her on the Hollywood party circuit. Her last husband, Frank Davis, died in a car crash in the 1980s.

She was a free spirit before it was a free spirit time. [A] very Katharine Hepburn-ish type but only better looking," said nephew Thomas H. Dutton of Lodi.

Davis' lifestyle was underwritten in part by a trust fund set up upon her mother's 1962 death and supervised by a Los Angeles probate court. By 1981, the original trustees had died or become too ill to serve. At Davis' request, the court appointed Larkin one of two co-trustees. How he and the heiress had become acquainted is unclear.

Larkin operated a financial advising business in Sherman Oaks, and he had built up a clientele of TV executives, athletes and actors that eventually included the likes of Ricardo Montalban and Candice Bergen.

The court approved Davis' choice of Larkin and a second trustee, George W. Dickinson, a real estate developer who had known Davis for decades. The men took control of the trust, a portfolio of stocks, oil rights and other assets valued in a court filing last year at just under $11 million.

Over the next two decades, Davis signed off on their pay and put Larkin in charge of her personal finances as well, according to court filings. Within a two-year period a decade ago, their compensation doubled to $100,000 a year, probate records show. Since 2002, the trust has paid Larkin and Dickinson a combined $900,000.

Larkin's intense involvement in the Kabbalah Centre began in the early 2000s, a period in which Madonna's devotion piqued the interest of many in Hollywood. Raised Roman Catholic, Larkin became close to founders Philip and Karen Berg. He converted to Judaism and took a top center official, Orly "Esther" Sibilia, as his fourth wife in a 2006 ceremony performed by the Bergs' son Yehuda. The couple bought a $2-million home on the Beverly Hills block where the Bergs and their sons live in side-by-side homes.

The family put Larkin in charge of an auditing committee that oversees center finances, and according to a suit pending against him and the center by a former member, he also managed personal investments for Philip Berg and his celebrity followers.

In 2006, a center charity, Spirituality for Kids, attached a list of the previous year's major contributors to a publicly filed tax return. Madonna, who has served as the organization's board chair, gave generously as did local billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick. The biggest donor of all, however, was Susan Davis, whose tax-exempt contribution was listed at $600,000. The address listed for her was Larkin's office.

Relatives said that when they visited Davis in the mid-2000s she was lucid. They said she never mentioned kabbalah or Spirituality for Kids. Her family was nominally Protestant, but she had never demonstrated an interest in religion, relatives said.

"I never heard of her going to church," said Karen Molinare, a niece who lives in San Diego. "She's been known to go to a wedding and not show up at the ceremony, just the reception."

It is not clear what instructions Davis might have given Larkin about the donation. While Larkin was an almost daily presence at the Kabbalah Centre, former employees and members said they never saw her at center classes, religious services or other events.

Whether Davis made other donations is not known. Spirituality for Kids did not disclose its contributors before or after that year, and the center has never made public its donors. Through a spokesman, the center declined to answer questions about Larkin, Davis or her donations.

Spirituality for Kids' finances are a subject of the federal probe. The nonprofit shuttered its domestic programs last year, citing budget problems.

In 2009, a period in which Davis' relatives say her memory was failing, Larkin sold her the vacant lot he owned near the Kabbalah Centre's Robertson Boulevard headquarters for $1.4 million. Although it was one of the worst real estate markets in memory, the sale price for the land on South LaPeer Drive was $300,000 more than Larkin had paid for it in 2004, according to assessment records.

To facilitate the sale and construction of a home on the site, Davis has borrowed $2.65 million from the trust, according to property records and court filings. The trustees had informed the probate court of potential conflicts of interest in the past, including Larkin's handling of Davis' personal affairs. But their annual reports to the judge did not disclose Larkin's role in the home sale.

"The judge has nothing to say about it. It's not trust business," said Alan L. Rosen, a Westlake Village attorney who filed the trustee accountings.

Experts consulted by The Times disagreed, saying the real estate deal appeared to be a conflict of interest that called for a judge's review. Under the state probate code, a transaction "by which the trustee obtains an advantage from the beneficiary is presumed to be a violation of the trustee's fiduciary duty."

Arnold Gold, a retired L.A. County Superior Court judge, said a judge could determine whether such a transaction was legal only if trustees brought it to the court's attention.

"It's a conflict of interest. In my opinion, he should have disclosed the entire aspect of the loan, not only that she was borrowing it for a house but that he was the seller," Gold said.

The trustees' filings state that the loans to Davis were "to help with costs on her new home." Davis has lived for three decades in her large Palos Verdes Estates home overlooking the ocean, surrounded by a flower garden and decorated with mementos from her ice skating career. The Beverly Hills house sits on an alley next to a defunct car dealership. It is a block from Larkin's own home and in an area convenient for Kabbalah Centre followers who want to be within walking distance of their synagogue because of the Sabbath prohibition on driving.

In a brief phone interview, Larkin's co-trustee, Dickinson, who is 85, said he hadn't had contact with Davis in "a couple of years."

"Most of the paperwork is handled by Mr. Larkin," Dickinson said. He said he was unaware of Larkin's role in the transaction but didn't see it as his concern.

"I'm a trustee, not a guardian. She can give it all to the dog and cat hospital if she wants," he said before hanging up.

Rosen, the trustees' lawyer, said, "If Ms. Davis has a problem, I suppose she could complain about it." Asked whether dementia might prevent such a complaint, he said he had no information about her health and hadn't seen her in "many, many years."

"I know nothing about the woman," he said.

Despite $1.2 million advanced for construction by Davis' trust, the Beverly Hills home sits half-finished because of what the contractor said were his client's "cash-flow" problems. Ron Kolodziej of Niagara Construction said he had never met Davis and dealt exclusively with Larkin. He said four months ago, Larkin told him that the owner wasn't going to move into the home and that it would be sold instead. To make it more attractive in the heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, he said, Larkin directed him to install a kosher kitchen.

One recent morning, a home health aide who answered the door at Davis' Palos Verdes Estates residence said Davis was in bed and unable to talk to a reporter. Asked whether Davis might be available by phone, the aide shook her head.

"She is not allowed to use the phone," the aide said. "She has a trustee that takes care of that sort of thing."