herbalife-logoI couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried…

I’m trying not to read too much into this story, but it appears a desperate Herbalife affiliate wasn’t too happy when one of their customers wanted out.

Gilberto Melchor Sanchez filed an official police complaint, accusing a local Herbalife Distributor of threatening his life.

Sanchez filed a complaint with the Waukegan Police Department and was also granted a temporary Order of Protection by a Judge in the Circuit Court of Illinois Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Lake County.

I can’t say for sure, but it’s likely Irasema Casco was was sold on the Herbalife dream of infinity riches.

When they didn’t eventuate and Sanchez wanted to stop spending $300 a month on Herbalife products, Casco

threatened his life, used profane language and attempted to physically assault him.

(Casco) specified the fact that the victim was an immigrant & that no law enforcement agency would protect him.

(She also stated that) because she was part of Herbalife nothing could be done to her if she eliminated him.

Nasty.

(Sanchez) has also mentioned that (Casco) has been threatening him ever since he refused to continue to be a member of her nutrition club and pay $300 a month plus continue to bring more victims to the club.

The case is currently before a court, with Sanchez’s lawyer going the pyramid scheme route:

Gilberto Melchor is represented by Jed Stone and Latonya Burton of the Waukegan law firm Stone & Associates.

Attorney Jed Stone commented, “Herbalife is a pyramid scheme that preys on lower income families. Mr. Melchor has the courage to report Herbalife to federal and state fraud authorities.

His reward for being courageous is being threatened with physical harm. Intimidation will not work. Justice will not tolerate their tactics.”

My take?

If there’s proof of all of this (and I’m guessing there’s proof enough if a Judge ordered a protection order), then Casco is probably going down hard.

Her options at this point might be to reveal why she was so desperate to keep Sanchez on and get him to bring her new recruits, however that means exposing Herbalife.

Either way if Sanchez’s lawyers are smart they’ll push for information on Casco’s finances, specifically pertaining to her earnings and expenses as a Herbalife affiliate, during discovery.

If Casco was heavily in debt as a result of her being a Herbalife affiliate (buying products she couldn’t re-sell), that’s not going to look good for Herbalife.

Meanwhile there’s definitely a few loose screws on this lady. What did she think, that a Herbalife mafia were going to bail her out if she started popping off immigrants?

Combine that with financial desperation, a sinking ship and… oh baby!

At the time of publication, there’s been no response yet from the Herbalife camp.

Apparently there was a hearing yesterday but I haven’t seen anything further written about it. Stay tuned…