Promoters of Penis-Enlargement Pills Busted in Arizona 30282

Promoters of Penis-Enlargement Pills Busted in Arizona

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--More than $30 million in assets was seizedby state and federal agents from a company that sold "bogus" penis-and breast-enlargement pills over the Internet. Three people, including a76-year-old woman and her son, operated the company, C.P. Direct Inc.; theoperators are accused of fraud, theft, money laundering and racketeering.

This was not the trio's first contact with the Arizona court system. In 1996,Geraldine Consoli and Michael Consoli settled consumer fraud allegations withthe state. In 1999, the Consolis and Vincent Passafiume agreed to a SuperiorCourt order prohibiting them from owning or operating any business utilizing themail, Internet or other telecommunication device for retail sales.

According to Pati Urias, spokeswoman for the Arizona Attorney General'soffice, the current action was taken because the state had reasonable suspicionof fraud and had heard from a "good number" of victims. The mainproduct, Longitude, sold for between $40 and $60 per bottle and was promoted forits ability to "permanently" enlarge the penis.

Among the assets seized by the Attorney General, U.S. Customs Service andArizona Department of Public Safety were Arizona and Nevada bank accounts, cash,jewelry, property and more than 10 luxury automobiles. The company's Web siteswere also closed.