Three founders of the fraudulent scheme 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle (8FDL) have been sentenced for wire fraud conspiracy after defrauding over 2,800 victims.
- Alex Dee, 50, of Texas: 36 months in prison, $1.85M forfeiture
- Brian Kaplan, 53, of Colorado: 22 months in prison, $2.83M forfeiture
- Jerrold Maurer, 58, of New York: 22 months in prison, $1.54M forfeiture
Operating between 2017 and 2019, 8FDL falsely marketed itself as an online marketing business promising substantial earnings—up to $10,000 within 90 days. Instead, it functioned as a classic pyramid scheme, with members earning only by recruiting others. The platform’s digital content, supposedly focused on marketing and self-help, had little value and served as a front for the scheme.
Despite promises of easy wealth, most participants saw no returns, resulting in $23.5M in losses. The Justice Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation, with all three defendants pleading guilty to conspiracy charges in 2023.
