The 40-year federal sentences handed to Dallas DJ and reality-TV personality Marlon “DJ ASAP” Moore and his wife LaShonda Moore are striking for two reasons. First, the scale: prosecutors say their “Blessings in No Time” program defrauded more than 10,000 people of over $30 million. Second, the location: the Moores are from Frisco, Texas, and their case was prosecuted right here in the Eastern District of Texas, with sentencing handed down in Sherman.
At L & L Law Group, PLLC, we defend people in Frisco and across the Dallas–Fort Worth area who face federal fraud and money-laundering allegations. Below, we use this local-but-national story to explain how wire fraud, money laundering, and pyramid-scheme cases are charged and punished under federal law in North Texas — and why these prosecutions move so differently from a typical state case.
What Happened
According to reporting from BET, Chron, and others, Marlon Moore, 39, and LaShonda Moore, 38, of Frisco were each sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on June 9, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III in Sherman, Texas. A federal jury had convicted them in January 2026, after a four-day trial, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering. Prosecutors said the couple used weekly livestreams to promote “Blessings in No Time” (BINT), an alleged chain-referral pyramid scheme that promised an 800% return on a roughly $1,400 “blessing” payment. The court also ordered more than $4.3 million in restitution and three years of supervised release. Reporting indicates the couple had earlier plea agreements that were withdrawn after the court found they violated pretrial-release conditions.
This article is L & L Law Group’s general legal commentary on a national news story. We do not represent anyone involved, and nothing here is a statement of fact about any individual’s case beyond what has been publicly reported. The reporting we reference is linked below.
How Federal Wire Fraud Works in North Texas
Wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 is the workhorse of federal fraud prosecutions. It applies to virtually any scheme to defraud that uses interstate electronic communications — phone calls, emails, text messages, livestreams, payment apps, or bank transfers that cross state lines. Each qualifying communication can be charged as a separate count, which is exactly how a single scheme produces multiple counts of wire fraud.
The penalties are severe. Each wire-fraud count carries up to 20 years in prison (and up to 30 years if a financial institution is affected). Because counts can run consecutively, a multi-count fraud conviction can stack into decades — which is how two people end up with 40-year terms. For DFW residents, these cases are handled in federal court in the Eastern or Northern District of Texas, not in a Collin County state courtroom.
The Money-Laundering Multiplier
Federal prosecutors frequently pair fraud counts with money laundering under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957. The theory is that once fraud proceeds are moved, spent, or layered through accounts to disguise their source, a new and separate crime occurs. Money laundering under § 1956 carries up to 20 years per count; § 1957 (spending more than $10,000 in criminally derived funds) carries up to 10 years.
This pairing is what makes federal fraud cases so dangerous. The same conduct that supports the fraud charge — moving the victims’ money — can independently support laundering charges, multiplying the total exposure and the restitution figure.
Pyramid and “Chain-Referral” Schemes Under Texas Law
Even setting the federal case aside, Texas treats pyramid promotion as a crime. Under the Texas Business & Commerce Code, a “pyramid promotional scheme” is one where participants pay for the right to receive compensation primarily from recruiting others — rather than from the sale of actual goods or services. Promoting such a scheme can be charged criminally, and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act gives the Attorney General civil enforcement tools, including injunctions, restitution, and steep civil penalties.
The practical lesson for North Texas entrepreneurs: a program built on recruitment payments rather than genuine product sales can trigger both state civil enforcement and federal criminal prosecution at the same time, on overlapping facts.
Why Pretrial Conditions and Plea Deals Matter So Much
One detail in this case is a cautionary tale: the Moores reportedly had plea agreements that were revoked after the court found pretrial-release violations, and they then went to trial and were convicted on every count. In the federal system, a negotiated plea can dramatically cap exposure — but it is conditional. Violating pretrial release (new contacts, travel, financial activity, or failure to comply with conditions) can blow up a favorable deal and reset a defendant to the full statutory range. Federal sentences are also driven by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, where loss amount, number of victims, and a defendant’s role can sharply increase the range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wire fraud a state or federal charge in Texas?
Wire fraud is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and is prosecuted in federal court. In the DFW area that means the Eastern or Northern District of Texas. Texas also has its own fraud and deceptive-practices laws, so the same conduct can draw both federal criminal and state civil action.
How can a fraud case carry 40 years?
Each wire-fraud count can carry up to 20 years and money-laundering counts add more, and a judge can order counts to run consecutively rather than concurrently. Combined with Sentencing Guidelines enhancements for large losses and many victims, multi-count convictions can reach decades.
What is the difference between a pyramid scheme and a legitimate business?
The key question is where the money comes from. If compensation is paid primarily for recruiting new participants rather than from selling real goods or services, Texas law can treat it as an illegal pyramid promotional scheme. Legitimate businesses generate revenue from actual products or services sold to customers.
Can violating pretrial release really cost you a plea deal?
Yes. Plea agreements are conditional. If a court finds a defendant violated the terms of pretrial release, it can revoke the agreement, after which the defendant may face the full charges and statutory penalties at trial.
How L & L Law Group Can Help
Federal fraud and money-laundering cases are document-heavy, fast-moving, and unforgiving. The earlier a defense team gets involved — ideally before charges are filed or at the first sign of a federal investigation — the more opportunity there is to challenge the loss calculation, contest intent, protect a favorable plea posture, and present mitigation that matters at sentencing.
If you or a loved one is facing federal fraud, wire-fraud, money-laundering, or pyramid-scheme allegations — or a state investigation under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act — in Frisco, Collin County, or anywhere in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, contact L & L Law Group, PLLC at (972) 370-5060 for a confidential consultation. Acting early can change the entire trajectory of a case.
By Reggie London and Njeri London.