Donald Lapre Suicide

Donald Lapre suicide reported by fox news. Donald Lapre has apparently died of suicide while in custoday… PHOENIX (AP) — A U.S. Marshals Service spokesman says a Phoenix-based TV pitchman charged with running a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthless Internet-based businesses has died in an apparent suicide while in federal custody.

Spokesman Matt Hershey says Donald Lapre was found dead in his cell at a Florence facility Sunday morning.
His trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday. Hershey says the Donald Lapre suicide remains under investigation.

A grand jury indicted Lapre in June on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering.
He was accused of overseeing and promoting the opportunity through his company called “The Greatest Vitamin in the World.”
The government says at least 220,000 victims in the scheme were defrauded of nearly $52 million.
Lapre’s death was first reported by Fox 10 News in Phoenix.

The reason the Donald Lapre suicide is relevant and I decided to write about this subject is because “The Greatest Vitamin in the World” was the first Direct Respnse Network Marketing company.  The combination of Television infomercials and network marketing was Donald Lapre’s
original idea.  This combination has not worked in network marketing. Another example is that  of Donald Barrett of ITV Ventures.  Donald Barrett is also schedule to go to jail at the end of this year for tax fraud. 

 The only successful home based business in the genre of direct response network marketing is BeachBody.  I believe this is due to their sound products and solid corporate leadership.