Longmont Man Indicted On Suspicion of Charity Fraud - Page 46

I'm only posting because I know Randy.

didn't read the entire thread but I went to av123 to see what a used MFW was going for in their forum section (for a friend) and saw they are officially closed and out of business.

It just hits a nerve with me when people that don't have a clue about something throw their 2 cents into the mix (thats what I am referring to when I use the term bandwagon jumpers). That happens often on forums like this. Look I purchased products from AV123 and never had any issues at all. That being said, I don't know MS personally and if he is found guilty of a crime then I don't pity him at all.[/quote]

Just because "Joe Average" didn't get taken doesn't mean he can't voice an opinion. That's what this forum is for, but I think most of the posters in this thread were, at the very least, involved at some level with AV666, and not newbs looking for some kind of forum validation.

It's great you had no problems, and I'm sure many did have a fantastic experience. I mean, the company was a bellweather ID company for several years, so they had to have some satisfied customers, but that doesn't change the fact of what MLS did.

I guess the thing is that MLS sold some thing greater than speakers or electronics. He sold community. He let us into his struggles, family issues, and expansion plans. Etc... He made you feel like there was a special bond, and that we were helping build the company. I remember telling other audio friend's of mine at the time that MLS ran a company the way Id try to run one. Was it all a scam? No, but he was a con-man. You just got lucky, and should feel fortunate. Others didn't.

It's a textbook example of a cult and It's followers at work, I'm sure.

Just in case some have forgotten the extent and depth of MLS's nerve, here is an exact post of his for one of his 'raffles' (I've changed only the email and web addy to protect anyone from 'accidentally' donating).

Mr. Con man, AKA MLS>


And for those who've thought of MLS as a 'friend', I'm afraid he was Never a 'friend', he was merely conning you as he was everyone else. Because 'friends' don't do what MLS did. The best Con Men created and exploit friendships, that's what they do, that's who they are.

Well all of you out there reading this thread think that somehow MLS is going to find a way to get back into the biz after his ordeal is over... don't you know he doesn't have to? All he needs to do is become a TV evangelist. He's already got the talk track down pat.

^^^ Is it really appropriate to drag back up such a painful memory for someone with a direct quote just to show what a sleazeball MLS was?

This is pretty damn funny, and yet sadly, it rings true.

Guys,

I probably shouldn't be posting here but I feel the need to publicly commend Chu. You see, Chu called me on many occasions and while I was in rather complete denial about being taken advantage of, my conversations with him allowed me to see the truth. Seeing the truth and then accepting such facts has allowed me to finally move past this and get on with my life - rather than simply being stagnant and denying some fairly obvious facts.

Thank you, Chu...

Like many of you, I wanted to love the guy --- he was there for me during the worst time in my life and, thanks to Chu, I found it easier to accept that it was simply a façade.

Nothing good has come of this - nothing. I do not feel any joy about Mark's situation or of AV123 shutting down, it actually brings me sadness. It has severely scarred our industry and it is going to take a very long time to move past this. It is important to understand that this has rippled through the entire industry, it is certainly not limited to discussion here on AVS and other forums. Longtime Industry associates and friends of mine - not involved in ID at all have called or inquired with me asking if I have heard the news about Mark Schifter. It is being discussed in many locations and in many countries.

A close friend sent me to this site. Read Art of Spinning http://www.whitecollarfraud.com/1583432.html Everyone should read this.

Ironically, my first real job in this industry was working for the Antar's back in 1983/1984. Now that was an interesting time

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this thread. Your company is one of many that I hope can continue to provide a useful counterpoint to AV123's demise - those companies that offer good quality products and good support at reasonable prices, and that just happen to also use the Internet-direct business model.


I concur wholeheartedly.


That's a very useful link

Good link David. I bought a set of Fisher speakers from Crazy Eddie back in the early 70's from the Brooklyn store. They were very musical and revealing.

I'm a bit suprised that the forensic analysis continues on this subject, as it seems that all possible opinions/observations have been voiced by now.
AV123 offered some excellent products (several of which I own) at prices I could afford. I'd met MLS on several occasions, enjoyed his insight into audio & knowledge of music enjoyment & his infectious energy.
MLS betrayed many people , got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, & will end up paying for it (personally & professionally) And now AV123 is no more . That is pretty much it.Turns out he was a jerk. Bummer.


Time to move on?

That link is great! Many of those points exactly describe my ex-wife. Wow. Almost word for word.

Do all your ex's live in Texas?

I think it will be time to move on after sentencing.

You are most welcome, Gonk. Having been on many sides of this industry, I will state as fact that there are many Internet-direct companies who work as hard and are every bit as legitimate as the very best brick and mortar retail brands out there. I won't name them because I simply might forget to include some, but as with any purchase -- one should do their due diligence.

What has transpired is most certainly NOT limited to Internet-direct audio only, not by any means...



Kings Highway store I bet? That place was a zoo... Had my interview and many subsequent meetings there. Those old -huge- Fisher speakers and rack systems generated tremendous revenue back then. Great memories!!!

You go way back, Chu...

I too very much appreciate your classy posts, your business model, and your honesty and good products. You are right about not limited to internet direct av companies. We had our own mini-version here in KC and I was lucky to get my theater built before he went bankrupt. He had the gift for gab too, was very smart, and could have had a great legitimate business. Instead he played it pretty much like MLS except as custom installer. I still don't understand why certain distributors continued to sell him product after he kept stiffing the mfg. (although in some circles he was mud....a certain high end speaker mfg comes to mind). Makes you wonder.

People heal in different ways. I suspect that lots of Schifty's victims/customers have decided it is time to move on and they stay away from threads like this for fear of being drawn back in. Other victims, who realize that they will probably never be made economically whole, may receive some psychic benefit from the public flogging of Schifty. I say to each his own--whatever gets you through the night.

Haha... Yes, the one does.

MLS often used health issues as a reason for product release problems and refund delays. Does anyone know if those stories were also a complete load of crap?

Seems like so much to do with this man is...

David.... you are certainly a class act. It's a shame that one man can betray and impact so damn many lives with his actions. Hopefully, this will only cause a small hiccup (if that) in your business.

I've spoken with some former employees that go back several years. When MLS didn't want to deal with something, meetings and phone calls were made so that everyone, from the wife, to Suzy, to anyone who might pick up a phone, make a post, answer an email was on the same page. It was important to get the story right and the story could be anything. He was sick. Someone else was sick. He had to go to a supplier. He had to pick someone up at the airport. Suppliers and vendors were visiting him at his home. Bob had the sub. There was no shortage of stories.

Sure, sometime he was sick. Sometimes he faked or exaggerated it. But it's hard to get product made and shipped when you aren't paying people.

Yes, you may move on. Meanwhile, there are others who might think differently, wishing to continue reading, questioning, analyzing and discussing the thread subject and other related and not so related areas of interest which tend to crop up along the way within any thread topic.

OK, I'm oblivious. I had now idea what was going on. I bought a speaker from them about a year ago and a surplus subwoofer this summer. Both were good transactions. The subwoofer was missing a few screws. A week later a few screws arrived in the mail. I never even asked for them. I guess I just lucked out. Had I know I never would have done business there.

I think after he's sentenced people will discuss that for a week or two and then you'll stop seeing much if any discussion about the situation. Until that happens this isn't over. Really it isn't over until he's sentenced and reparations are made, but I would guess the latter will be so long in coming, if ever, that it's not likely to generate much discussion on a regular basis.

Yes, it would have been poetic justice, but it never ever would have happened and from your posts on the subject (not just in this thread) it doesn't seem like you understand that.

On another forum you said:


If av666 hadn't crashed and burned, and MLS had remained at the helm, there still wasn't a chance in hell the charities would have been repayed, for the reasons I've already outlined.

David, I don't know if you recall our brief exchange in late summer 2009, but when you told me about your situation via PM it was at a time when I was hearing so many conflicting stories from so many people, even straight from Mark himself. I wanted to believe the best, and although their were a lot of things that ultimately led me to the truth, it was really your story that finally pointed me home. In complete candor, every single time I felt like I was overstepping the line, or felt I should give the guy a break, our brief exchange would just nag at the back of my brain and was the one thing that kept me anchored to the truth what this guy was capable of. Even though I never mentioned the power that your PM's had with me, I want to publicly thank you for coming out with your personal story because it helped me let go of the Mark I thought I knew and move forward.

Ok Nick.... again, I understand where you are coming from and really don't disagree with you all that much. I think you're nit-picking over symantics. Once again, my sympathies lie with the stolen charity monies and the folks that didn't get helped. Let me try and be a little more clear as to what I personally feel would have been the best outcome in this mess....

• Liquidate all of MLS' assets to pay back every single penny stolen from the charities first, then any pre-pays or refunds due.
• Assuming that AV123 was able to stay in business and the above actions didn't cover everything, there would have been some sort of court order or supervision over the business (without MLS at the helm or involved in any way obviously), where by a percentage of all sales would have been diverted to paying back the raffles first, then any pre-pays that have never received product or refunds - with all parties involved receiving interest.

That's it.... that's all I'm saying. Now, the way things stand, no one will receive a dime. The business itself doesn't have any assets. Unless you count the domain name which might be worth a few bucks, any office equipment left like computers, phones, copiers, printers etc. and whatever beat up, open box, scratch and dent inventory was left. Maybe all of the parts and pieces they had in DEEP STORAGE if anyone actually found where that was.... well, they might be worth a little cash. But honestly, there just didn't seem to be much of the business left after selling off cubicle partitions on their B-Stock page a few weeks back.

Couldn't the courts order the money taken from his personal assets as they are proceeds of crime? They certainly would here In Canada

One has to wonder about the root cause of Marks seemingly very poor judgment. Is he feeding a significant drug addiction, suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder, or simply just fall under the spell of a high maintenance b_tch, or all three.

Why does there have to be an external cause for which he is not responsible?