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Michael Ellis As Angel
Here's the caption and here's a link to the article with a picture of the IRS agents during the raid. Union-Tribune file photo Once the nation's leading seller of ephedra products, San Diego's Metabolife International faces an uncertain future without the herbal stimulant that brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. Above, IRS agents raid Metabolife's headquarters in 2002. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20031…— March 14, 2009 5:23 p.m.
Michael Ellis As Angel
100% false - are you kidding me? When a search warrant is sealed, it is not to be disclosed to anyone...but the government leaks it to the press and they are never held accountable for doing so. How about comments from this article: Source: San Diego Business Journal Publication Date: 15-JUL-02 IRS remains mum on raid at Metabolife facilities. An apparent taxation dispute between Metabolife International and the Internal Revenue Service led to the seizure of dozens of boxes of documents last week both at the diet supplement maker's headquarters office in Kearny Mesa and a nearby warehouse. IRS special agents executed sealed search warrants on the privately held company July 9, prompting the company to close its doors and send all its employees home that day, reopening the following day. Tami Stine, an IRS spokeswoman, said IRS special agents with its criminal investigation unit executed the search warrants at the company's two locations, but divulged no reasons for the seizure. "The investigation is ongoing, and the search warrants are sealed," she said.— March 14, 2009 4:41 p.m.
Michael Ellis As Angel
Response to #77. Don, thank you for acknowledging that you may be wrong. The news media was there to record the raid. I guess my point is why the government feels that their raids need to be covered by the news. My conclusion is that our government "leaks" the news of the raids to discredit the accused and the news uses it to get more viewers. Metabolife was one of the first companies to shift from multi-level marketing to direct marketing. As part of the shift to retail, the distributors were well taken care of. When the raid happened, Metabolife was selling their products directly to the retailers - Walmart, CVS, Costco, etc. So this wasn't a "shut-down" of a multi-level marketing company since the company had gone retail. For you to present this company as some sort of a pyramid scheme is a misrepresentation of the facts.— March 14, 2009 8:26 a.m.
Michael Ellis As Angel
Response to post #72. Don, how are your comments a response to my comments? I was referring to the raid of the company - not Compton's suicide. When the FDA, IRS and FBI conduct a raid, it is supposed to be kept confidential for obvious purposes. I question how the press found out about the raid to be able to cover it on the news. This is not an isolated incident, it happens all of the time and it really bothers me. I think Mike Ellis' book gives the reader some real insight into what was going on behind the scenes (of course from his perspective). I personally thought it was a pretty bold move on his part to write this book.— March 14, 2009 7:35 a.m.
Michael Ellis As Angel
Hey SurfPuppy, Don't try to discredit my comments by linking me to anyone else. Thank you.— March 13, 2009 7:33 p.m.
Michael Ellis As Angel
I read the book and frankly really enjoyed it. We should all be concerned about the methods our government used to shut down this business. We should be especially concerned with the possibility that they may use some of these same methods to shut down our businesses and take away our rights. The Metabolife owners had the resources to hire competent attorneys to represent them - something that many of us don't have. I still remember the headlines about a $93 million dollar tax fraud and the raid on the business and the homes of the owners. The reality was that the $93 million number was all hype to get headlines. The raid was "leaked to the press" by who? - you guessed it our government, with the sole purpose to negatively impact the public setiment about the company - it must be true if these claims are being made, right? Not necessarily.... It should be a concern for all of us if only some of the statements made by Ellis in this book are true. I was pleased to read that Mike Ellis admited to and apologized for his mistakes. When the press makes mistakes or our government makes mistakes, they seldom apologize. Stories are rarely retracted, even when the truth comes out. I hope that Mike Ellis decides to give us more books with more details. Shine more light on our government's heavy handed practices.— March 13, 2009 5:59 p.m.