Pinnacle Quest International

[flanative27]

I would like info re: Pinnacle Quest International. My financial advisor is touting PQI as the answer to building retirement wealth through offshore investments; however, I need more research as to the credibility of this company and its method of investing before I sink our retirement funds into PQI.

Thanks,

flanative27

[rub1]

Hi Flanative27,

I think this might make you reconsider:

http://www.quatloos.com/pinnacle_quest2.htm

Regards Rub

PS. Who is your financial advisor?

[dan1st]

Wow, the article says which is the "latest and greatest" of one of the biggest frauds in history. Latest probably, greatest maybe not... heh.

[flanative27]

Thanks for the input...fortunately, I'm a compulsive researcher, and I am now in the process of changing financial consultants AND my assets! I'm afraid that my soon-to-be ex-financial guy is going to be ROYALLY ripped off--which is too bad, because he's really a nice and well-meaning person.

Thanks again,

Ron

[chipbs]

I was unfortunately sucked in. Mainly the credit card elimination programs. they don't work. Young and stupid I guess. Is there any relief for suckers like me? I now have a terrible credit score. I am open to non-mlm suggestions. :o

Thanks,
CHIPBS

[Look for 300.000.00]

Re: Christ Life Embassy ***FBI WARNING***
________________________________________
Direct Number To The Legal Dept: #212-963-5339

Sounds Like Time Is Running Out!

Be Very Careful Of Which Names You Bring Up Here David!

Do You Think Your Going To Take Money From Someone And Not Pay It Back!

Like The 3 Pastors In Chicago You Stoled $50,000 Each!

Time Is Moving And You Should Be Moving!

P.s
Time For You To Get A New Name Like You Did In Ohio Where You Spent Time In Jail!

FBI WARNING

THIS GROUP OF PASTORS ARE ACTING AS IF THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE U.N Christ Life Embassy
Rev: THOMAS RIVERA -- VICE CHAIRMAN
Rev: DAVID GARCIA -- CHAIRMAN
Rev: PETER LANDRAU -- AKA DR. PETER LANDRAU
FINAL HARVEST INTERNATIONAL CHURCH, INC.
Rev: PETER LANDRAU -- AKA DR. PETER LANDRAU
11609 S. ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL Suite 203 ORLANDO FL 32837 US
OLD NAME WAS : SOUTHCHASE ASSEMBLY NAME CHANGE OF GOD OF ORLANDO, INC.

[cele5te]

Pinnacle Quest is a scam, I might loose my home because of them. I wish there was a class action Law Suit against them. :mad:

[sojustask]

Originally Posted by cele5te

Pinnacle Quest is a scam, I might loose my home because of them. I wish there was a class action Law Suit against them. :mad:

I was with them when they were still IGP. As a result of my ingorance and following the guidelines of their Tax elimination "experts" my husband and I got in a mess with the IRS. We did manage to uncover another scam in the process, that was a company that used to advertise on television to negotiate with the IRS and have the tax forgiven. They just took the money, never did another thing. I'm the one who still did the negotiation with the advocate. It still cost us over 100 grand.

Still, I didn't blame IGP for my mess. And I dare say, scam though it is, it's not PQI's fault you might lose your home. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay to trust blindly in any company these days. You do have to do a lot of research on your own to first understand the risks and process you are considering getting involved in.

Which vender with PQI did you allow yourself to be scammed by?

Lady Mod

.

[bwesson]

I lost a bundle to IGP - before PQI. Not only to them, but I got suckered into investing with 2 of their investments at a seminar in Cancun. Silly me - I liked what they said and got taken in completely. Afterwards, disabled and unabled to work, I saw everything go bye-bye - with one exception. And that one has ownership that is still being secretive, although the investment looks possibly legit.

[Taha]

Hello,
I just got back from the Q2 conference in Cancun and was impressed with all the information I learnt. I am however still on the fence as to whether or not it is truly Legit. The payment "structure" is a little bit sketchy as far as how the money flows from new people to "consultants".

I have only invested a small sum of money in one of the investments, but myself and my family are in the process of investing a bunch more. Have any of you lost money in any of the specific investments?

I'm in the heath / fitness field and all the health info seemed pretty legit.

any feedback is appreciated.

[borisf96]

Originally Posted by Taha

any feedback is appreciated.

Read all posts above. It can not be much more clear than they said.

[investor_washington]

Stay Away!! I bought their speel hook, line and sinker. I paid the big bucks and attended the Q2 (Cancun) and Q3 (Malta) event. Invested more than $100k in ITS and FXIG, a Q2 and Q3 investment, and have had (and still have) HORRIBLE experiences with both of them. One investment won't give me my money back. The other claims they had a big loss and they're trying to recover the losses. As each month passes and I don't see my money, I am slowly accepting the fact that I've taken a bath on these investments and I get furious. I am looking to file a class action law suit against PQI for their false claims since I can't get answers from the investments themselves. As a former Financial Advisor, I wish I would have read more forums such as this to get personal experiences from others. This is just one person's opinions.

[Seraphim]

I agree....stay away from PQI, Pinnacle Quest International. I lost about $15k, not including the $6000 I gave them to go to the seminar in Ixtapa. These guys have made a killing and always have the "due diligence" as their disclaimer...they say, if an investment fails, "Well, you didn't do your due diligence".

[Seraphim]

Folks...If you've been "ripped off" by PQI, Pinnacle Quest International, please post it! I'd love to make certain that when some poor soul googles it, will see our posts and think twice about making these guys richer. You may want to post it on rippoffreport.

[MagicWand_58]

RUN AWAY!!!!!! Don't be stupid like I was. I was broke and desperate to earn money, and wanted to do it from home, so I paid the $1250 to become a PQI consultant. The leaders of PQI (used to be called IGP, Global Prosperity, etc.) and all the people who speak on the conference calls are LIARS. The programs PQI consultants sell (tax, debt elimination, credit repair, mortgage, Q2 sponsors, etc.) change every year (new names, but same old garbage), and they ALL fail. None of the programs work and the investments never pay out. I KNOW that people lie on the calls when they say how much money they make. We all lied because it makes more people sign up and pay their consultants, who turn around and help you make sales too, by lying of course. They sell HYIPs at the Q2 and Q3 events. Money is misteriously frozen on some of the crummy high yield investments they recommend. They put the blame back on you by saying it's up to you to make an educated decision, but the only research is through them. I went to Cancun, stayed at the Moon Palace, and many of us were sucked into the excitment and hype. They brain wash you to believe you will become wealthy in 2-5 years if you follow their turn-key system to financial freedom. Their training calls are very convincing, and even smart people get sucked in because it all sounds so fantastic.

Well, currently the leaders Dave Struckman and Nadine Griffin to name a few are in JAIL folks...a PRISON stay which they don't mention on the calls. Dave will be sentenced on March 3, 2008 and he could get 20 years and a fine of a million. He started the entire scheme along with two other "leaders" who are also currently in prison (Zo Lamantia and Dan Anderson). Do a Google search and you will find court documents. I bet Claudia Hermer, Robby Struckman, Dr Ellen (not a doctor) and others are next in line to go to jail. YOU could be next since the FBI and IRS attend the conference calls and the Q2 and Q3 events and they know everything and everyone involved, including the customer names. Google or go to http://quatloos.com/ (search for Struckman) and you will learn the sad history of PQI, IMF Decoders, IRS Codebusters, all the different name changes they go through to hide for another year. One leader was captured in Costa Rica (long time ago), and Dave Struckman was captured last year (2006) in Panama where many of the rest like his brother Robby Struckman are still trying to hide. Most of the so called lawyers (no attorneys or lawyers, lies) are also in PRISON.

If you read the facts and still follow through with this corrupt group of people, then shame on you!! It is unethical once you know the truth and still keep supporting them, paying them, and worse yet remain a consultant and accept money from other innocent and uninformed customers. I wasted over $12,000 and over two years of my life believing those liars. I was convinced the government and IRS were wrong and we deserved to fight for our rights. Blah blah. Now, I'm dead broke and in trouble with the IRS, and I feel stupid and used. The experience has shaken me to the core and I cannot believe how I used to defend PQI and Dave Struckman. These people are your new best friends until you start catching on to what's really going on. Then they stop returning your calls.

Again, NONE of the debt help, credit repair, tax elimination, investments, etc. work!! PQI and these programs they are in bed with are SCAMS. They are in business to take your money. RUN!! You will feel better about yourself later on if you do not get involved with these people.

PLEASE, I heard that PQI and the tax program (used to be IMF Decoder) are barely surviving, but people are still signing up and sending them money. STOP IT!!!! Shut them down! A hand full of "leaders" get rich and the rest are suckers, wasting time and money and self respect.

[Seraphim]

Thank you Majic Wand...great post! Sorry you lost so much. Really sucks. I'd of rather been stabbed (minus death of course)...would have recovered quicker. If I ever meet my "upline" again, Joseph McPhillips, I'm gonna kick him square in the balls.

Anyway, can you post your experience here too?..
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0290237.htm

I posted mine and it was followed by a rebuttle from a PQI person, no doubt.

Take care.

[rosiealam]

I came into this scam with the debt elimination group. Jeff Jenks headed up the debt elimination group.

This was taken to court and I've already lost 1 court case over this stupid decision.

If you've joined into any of their companies get out now.

Anyone has any advise on what to do with my credit please advise.

[sojustask]

Originally Posted by rosiealam

I came into this scam with the debt elimination group. Jeff Jenks headed up the debt elimination group.

This was taken to court and I've already lost 1 court case over this stupid decision.

If you've joined into any of their companies get out now.

Anyone has any advise on what to do with my credit please advise.

File Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 maybe.

That stops the debt collectors and the mortgage people.

Bankruptcy is 1 year of shame then the Credit card companies start making offers again. Judgments can mean garnishments and/or 20 years on your credit record. Bankruptcy is only on for 7.


Lady Mod

[Cassiopee]

Good afternoon,

May 2008 Cancun Conference has been canceled because a law suit from the government.

I was a Pqi member since 2005. My first trip was May 2006, September 2007 and I was supposed to assist that one in few weeks.

It's a chance I had not enough money to invest!! All persons I know who went there - except one - lost their money in many kind of investments.

I have no regret since two years. I learned a lot because they were talking also of alternative health, ecology, new way of thinking. Yes I agree that investors were very good in brain washing. I'm sad for those who lost a lot of money. If I would had money, I'm sure I would did the same.

Now, my flight is already paid with no possibility of refund. My Q2 seminar ticket is lost - I would be very surprised they refund us...

All I have to say to people who are in groups like Pqi or anything else, you can go to seminars - it's very exiting and instructive but just retain yourself on investments.

NEVER INVEST WHAT YOU ARE NOT READY TO LOOSE.

[sojustask]

Consider yourself lucky. I have it on good authority that said government agency is coming after lots of people in PQI very soon.


Lady Mod


.

[Cassiopee]

Originally Posted by sojustask

Consider yourself lucky. I have it on good authority that said government agency is coming after lots of people in PQI very soon.


Lady Mod


.

Yes, since April 7th, there's a pursuit againts all leaders of Pqi.

Personnaly, I have no "parti pris" - I mean that I take the part of nobody. Pqi often warned us to be carefull with investments and on the other side, they were borderline because investments incitations were strong. The government does its job because of some mad contributors (and that's ok) and on the other side, the government wants to frighten the people maybe to slow down the awakening.
Each part has reason, each part are wrong.
I think I will stay on my own in Quebec ;-)

[sojustask]

Originally Posted by Cassiopee

Yes, since April 7th, there's a pursuit againts all leaders of Pqi.

Originally Posted by Cassiopee

Personnaly, I have no "parti pris" - I mean that I take the part of nobody. Pqi often warned us to be carefull with investments and on the other side, they were borderline because investments incitations were strong. The government does its job because of some mad contributors (and that's ok) and on the other side, the government wants to frighten the people maybe to slow down the awakening.
Each part has reason, each part are wrong.
I think I will stay on my own in Quebec ;-)

I was part of the organization when it was known as IGP, or Institute of Global Prosperity. I got out as soon as it became PQI. They got themselves in hot ***** promoting investments that turned out to be scams and pushing false tax packages. A lot of people got hurt by that.

I personally lost 150K from suckering into it and that does not include the $40K I spent in leads, marketing systems we "had to have" that they approved of or the cost of the offshore seminars. PQI only changed in name, not in how it operated. A lot of the information they taught that was truthful is available without going to the expense of their seminar packages.

It was decent(not great, but decent) information, but not worth the expense. You can go directly to the reputable people and spend nothing just to get information.


Lady Mod

.

[zobbie7]

I just want to say I'm sorry for to anyone who was scammed by GPG and/or PQI.

A family member (somewhat distant) of mine, was one of their higher - ups. I'm embarrassed and feel horrible to know that a person who is part of my blood could do something like this to other people.

Please, anyone, and everyone STAY AWAY FROM PQI!

From the bottom of my heart, I have to say, it truely sickens, and saddens me (as well as my whole family!!) that a person who we trusted and loved was doing this to innocent people.

rest assured they are paying for it now.

again, part of me doesn't even know WHY i'm on here, but it just upsets me so much to know that people suffered/ are still SUFFERING at the hands of someone who I once looked up to.

My sinceresy apologies, even though they really don't matter or make up for it all in the long run.

[investor_washington]

Source: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/May/08-tax-431.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 16, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TAX
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Federal Court Enjoins Nationwide Tax Scheme Promoters

Pinnacle Quest International Found to Knowingly Sell Tax Fraud Schemes

WASHINGTON – A federal court in Pensacola, Fla., has entered a preliminary injunction barring Pinnacle Quest International (PQI) and its principals from publicizing tax fraud schemes that have been promoted to customers from all over the United States, the Justice Department announced today. The order, which remains in effect indefinitely, comes in advance of a PQI conference scheduled for May 18, 2008, in Cancun, Mexico.
Last month the Justice Department filed civil injunction complaints in three federal courts on the east and west coasts, seeking to bar promotions of tax fraud schemes. The complaint against the Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-based company described the foreign conferences where it promotes its schemes as “tax fraud trade shows.” The court agreed, finding that PQI and its executive council “knowingly” allow vendors at PQI conferences to make false and fraudulent statements about the tax benefits of schemes they promote.
The court found that one speaker at PQI sales conferences was former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent Sherry Peel Jackson, a tax defier who recently was convicted of federal tax crimes and sentenced to four years in prison. The court noted that Jackson advanced her frivolous tax arguments in PQI’s promotional materials.
In entering the injunction, Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson held that PQI and its executive council promote tax-fraud products through an extensive multilevel marketing system with 830 salespeople and more than 11,500 customers. The court found that PQI salespeople earned $38 million in sales commissions from 2002 to 2006, and that the company’s promotions have cost the U.S. Treasury more than $12 million.
Since 2001, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against more than 335 tax fraud promoters and unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department Web site.

###

08-431

[investor_washington]

One more link:

Justice Department Files Injunction Suits in Nationwide Crackdown on Alleged Tax Defier Scheme Promoters
PRNewsWire News Releases
Published: 04/08/08 01:13 PM EDT


Released By: U.S. Department of Justice

Rating:



Text Size:





"Pinnacle Quest International" Allegedly Promoted "Tax-Fraud Trade Shows" at Resorts and on Mediterranean Cruise






WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States has filed civil injunction complaints in three federal courts on the east and west coasts, seeking to bar promotions of alleged tax-fraud schemes, the Justice Department announced today. The government complaints and other court papers allege that a multi-level marketing organization called Pinnacle Quest International (PQI) and a number of individuals and organizations currently or formerly affiliated with it are promoting a variety of fraudulent tax defier schemes.

For full details, go to http://finance.myfoxdfw.com/www.clip...ChannelID=3197

It will list the PQI Executive Counsel members in the injunction lawsuit.

[investor_washington]

Source: http://finance.myfoxdfw.com/www.clip...ChannelID=3197


Justice Department Files Injunction Suits in Nationwide Crackdown on Alleged Tax Defier Scheme Promoters

"Pinnacle Quest International" Allegedly Promoted "Tax-Fraud Trade Shows" at Resorts and on Mediterranean Cruise


WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States has filed civil injunction complaints in three federal courts on the east and west coasts, seeking to bar promotions of alleged tax-fraud schemes, the Justice Department announced today. The government complaints and other court papers allege that a multi-level marketing organization called Pinnacle Quest International (PQI) and a number of individuals and organizations currently or formerly affiliated with it are promoting a variety of fraudulent tax defier schemes.

Go to the link to read the entire article. It will name the executive counsel members who are being sued. Hopefully, this will shut them down for good.

[investor_washington]

Two more documents filed from the US Dept of Justice -


http://justice.gov/tax/PQI_FiledComplaint.pdf

http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/PQI_OrderPrelimInj.pdf

[MagicWand_58]

This is very exciting news about the May 08 PQI event being stopped...hope the entire PQI SCAM is shut down for good.

Thank you so much for posting the links showing the law suit against Claudia, Dr Ellen (not a Dr), Nadine Griffin, and all the other "leaders" or high income earners. The list is actually much longer...

Boy the lengthy court papers nail all of them, but why aren't they sueing the IMF Decoder staff? That was the main program. I heard Robbie Struckman and Sharon Cukon and Dan are down in Panama hiding from the law, but surely they can be brought back and put in JAIL like Dave Struckman, Nadine Griffin and Sherri Jackson...who are all currently in prison.

PLEASE, anyone reading this forum who has had a bad experience or would like to see the IMF Decoder people also get what they deserve...PLEASE post your story on this board, and also on http://ripoffreport.com/

I know many people used the IMF Decoder (IRS Codebusters) program and are currently in a very scary and financially devastating situation now. They trusted the "experts". Robbie, Sharon and Dan really are criminials for getting people into so much trouble, and charging them so much to do it.

[MagicWand_58]

So according to the law suit court document, everyone who ever got suckered by the slick PQI conference calls could be in trouble. This group is (was) run like a cult where the followers believe the very convincing speakers. What a very sad day for the many people who were promised wealth in just 2-5 years if you follow this turn-key system.

Section from the court papers:

C. That this Court order Defendants to provide the United States with a list of all
present and former PQI customers and those customers’ addresses, phone numbers, and
email addresses;

D. That this Court order Defendants to provide the United States with a list of all
persons who attended any Q2 or Q3 conference or other PQI-sponsored event since
January 1, 2006, and a list of all persons who have registered to attend any future Q2 or Q3 conference or other PQI-sponsored event, which list shall include those persons’ addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses;

E. That this Court order Defendants to provide the United States with a list of all
persons who have ever sold any PQI product, including audio discs or tickets to
conferences, which list shall include those persons’ addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses;

[MagicWand_58]

The saddest part is that these crooks purposely solicit and attract people who are broke or close to it and looking for financial security. People borrow or cash in IRAs or do "whatever it takes" to get started on their path to wealth. It just all sounds so convincing. The speakers were very impressive as they described how it is all "legal" and "ethical".

Dave Struckman, Nadine Griffin, and Sherri Jackson are already in prison. Probably the names below will be one day too. Why isn't Dave Struckman's brother Robbie Struckman's name there. He ran the IRS CodeBusters and IMF Decoder calls for years. Robbie Struckman made people feel like fools, like "sheeple" if they didn't sign up with PQI and his IMF company. Some say his brother Dave gave him the tax program to run since Dave was already running IGP/PQI.

And what about the Debt Elimination programs that didn't work, and landed people in deep ***** with the credit lenders? Why isn't Art Merino's name on the list for the millions he has earned off PQI customers who were/are required to purchase the Q1 course before they can sign up with his Financial Solutions Debt Elimination program. SCAM. Ruining peoples credit.

The following Defendants are now or were in the past members of PQI’s
Executive Council, and in that role actively participated in managing and
directing PQI’s questionable activities:

• Claudia Hirmer
• Armand Bright
• S. Anthony (“Tony”) Larson
• Douglas Hagerty
• Michael Leonard
• Arnold Manansala

• Nadine Griffin
• Ellen Stubenhaus
• Dover Perry
• Joseph (“Joe”) McPhillips
• Lee Williams

• Michele Brown

Defendants Named in PQI Injunction Suit (N.D. Fla.)
(to stop selling PQI)

Claudia Hirmer
Mark Hirmer (husband)
Brian Barker
Tonya Holder (daughter)
Joshua Holder (husband)
Armand Bright

S. Anthony (Tony) Larson
Douglas Hagerty
Michael Leonard
Arnold Manansala
Nadine Griffin
Ellen Stubenhaus
Dover Perry
Joseph McPhillips
Lee Williams
Michele Brown

Defendant Named in Sharon Kukhahn Injunction Suit (W.D. Wash.)


Sharon Diane Kukhahn

Defendants Named in Gino Casternovia / SORCE Injunction Suit (Ore.)


Eugene "Gino" Casternovia Robert Hagopian
Rod Pendell Ashland
Mark Lyon Williams
Southern Oregon Resource Center Educational Services ("SORCE")
Executive's Resource, LLC Castlenuevo
Inc. Ashland

PQI’s operation is extensive: From 2002 to 2006, a team of 830 Qualified
Consultants sold PQI products to over 11,500 customers. During this same
period, Qualified Consultants earned commissions of $38 million, and PQI

received gross receipts of $16 million.

Another document says:
The complaint filed against PQI alleges that the organization has 830 salespeople, thousands of customers, and gross sales from 2002 through 2006 of approximately $54 million. During the same period, PQI's leaders allegedly received commissions from sales of PQI products of approximately $8.8 million.

Hiza Boys,

Ive invested lots of my Dad's money with Pinnacle and it's doing just fine. Espec. with the OZ dollar being so strong. ANd BTW, if any of you 'Big Schwinging d***' would like to PM me for a little indepth boy-chat about investing or maybe even meeting up in Oz, give me a tinkle!

Love you all,
Anton

[MagicWand_58]

First Dave Struckman was arrested, now the other leaders have been arrested.

Niceville couple indicted for conspiracy, fraud

Mark and Claudia Hirmer operated a business that charged members for tips on how to evade taxes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office

September 2, 2008 - 7:24PM

Daily News

Niceville residents Mark and Claudia Hirmer have been arrested by federal authorities and charged with conspiring to "impair and impede the Internal Revenue Service."

The Hirmers operated a business called Pinnacle Quest International and charged for memberships that gave customers information to help them get out of paying their taxes, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys' Office.

"PQI contracted with vendors, who gained exclusive access to the PQI membership in order to sell their products promoting anti-tax theories, offshore corporate structures, debt elimination tactics and offshore investment opportunities," according to an indicting document.

Claudia Hirmer, 49, and Mark Hirmer, 54, are charged with 11 others in the PQI scheme. The couple appeared before a U.S. magistrate Thursday and were being held pending a bond hearing today.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to release the results of the hearing.

The other people arrested lived in Florida, Washington, Oregon, New York and Panama.

PQI venders sold "memberships" for anywhere from $1,350 to $18,750, the news release said. Vendors promoted the offshore trusts they were selling by convincing prospective customers they were buying into a company owned by a non-resident alien.

Non-resident aliens are not required to pay U.S. taxes.

"Members were misled to believe that vendor-offered products would allow them to legally pay no taxes, become free of debt, accumulate wealth and protect their assets from the U.S. government and creditors," the release stated.

Along with the conspiracy charge, the Hirmers and their co-defendants face charges of conspiring to commit money laundering, wire fraud and tax evasion.

They face up to 20 years in prison and fines of $250,000 or more. The U.S. government also is seeking to confiscate more than $50 million and three Northwest Florida residences, the press release said.

"There is no secret formula that can eliminate a person's tax obligations," Eileen Mayer, the chief of the IRS criminal investigation division, said in the release. "Taxpayers should be wary of scams and promises that claim to help avoid paying taxes."

[MagicWand_58]

Warning to stay away from PQI if they start over with a new name. Art with Financial Solutions and the other Debt remedies are also in trouble.

3 indicted in alleged tax-defiance scam

A federal grand jury has indicted three Seattle-area men for allegedly perpetrating a tax-defiance scam in which they promoted fraudulent offshore trusts they touted as tax shelters.

Arthur (Art) Ramirez Merino, 36, of Seattle, along with Dover Perry, 34, and Arnold Manansala, 40, both of Renton, are among 13 people from around the country accused of conspiring to impair and impede the Internal Revenue Service, money laundering and wire fraud.

The men were alleged members of Pinnacle Quest International, created "to promote anti-government views and various schemes to hide and conceal assets from the United States Government and the IRS," according to a Justice Department statement.

The indictment asserts that the conspirators sold memberships in PQI for up to $18,750. The memberships allowed access to presentations, DVDs, conference calls and meetings during which products were peddled "promoting anti-tax theories, offshore corporate structures, (and) debt elimination tactics," the Justice Department said.

In selling the memberships, vendors lied about the "legality and authenticity" of the tax-avoidance schemes, the department said. "Many of their customers were lured to PQI through the promise of debt elimination."

The offshore trusts allegedly sought to exploit a tax rule that nonresident aliens don't have to pay taxes on income from foreign sources by trying to make it appear that a nonresident alien was the owner of the offshore trusts when it was actually owned by a U.S. citizen.

The men face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 for each fraud count conviction. The indictment is seeking the forfeiture of more than $50 million in assets related to the alleged criminal activity.
The case is being prosecuted in northern Florida, where PQI was headquartered.

Agents with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.