Jan 10
14

Two from Viable Plead Guilty in VRS Fraud

As shared by Bruce Gross of WRAD:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Anthony Mowl, the former assistant vice president of business development for Viable Communications Inc. (Viable), and Donald Tropp, the former human resources manager for Viable, pleaded guilty today to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Video Relay Service (VRS) program of more than $2.5 million, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.

Today, Mowl, 25, and Tropp, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton, N.J., to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Mowl and Tropp were indicted on Nov. 19, 2009, along with Viable’s president, John T.C. Yeh; Viable’s vice president of corporate strategy, Joseph Yeh; and the Viable corporate entity.

In pleading guilty, Mowl and Tropp admitted that beginning in approximately fall of 2007 and continuing through approximately January 2009, they conspired with others to pay individuals to make fraudulent VRS phone calls using Viable’s VRS service. According to the pleas, John and Joseph Yeh paid Mowl and Tropp who would then pay people for using Viable’s VRS service. Mowl and Tropp kept a portion of the payments for themselves and distributed the remainder to the paid callers. Viable then caused the submission of fraudulent call minute claims to the FCC, causing the FCC to pay those claims at a rate of approximately $390 per hour for each of the VRS calls that it processed.

…

According to information contained in the plea documents, Mowl and Tropp admitted that their role in defrauding the FCC’s VRS program led to a total of between $2.5 million and $7 million in fraudulent billing to the program. At sentencing, both Mowl and Tropp face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, as well as mandatory restitution and forfeiture. A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court.

Co-defendants John T.C. Yeh, Joseph Yeh and Viable are scheduled to stand trial on the charges in the indictment on May 24, 2010. An indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thanks for sharing this article, Bruce!

Tags: FCC, Fraud, Viable, VRS
Posted in Deafness Politics The Corporate Scene by Don. 33 Comments

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Paul Velasquez says:

February 7, 2010 at 3:33 am

I hope they don’t get easy sentences & I hope this makes Marc /Mark Velasquez unable to avoid jail now. Then he can’t embarrass me anymore!

Richard says:

November 24, 2010 at 6:01 am

I hope they can bend their case if hiring private attorney.
Viable CEO John Yeh believes that he knows nothing about VRS
fees. He just sells the Viable products only. FCC acussed him
for his wrongdoing. John Yeh is the right to sell the product of Viable.

November 24, 2010 at 6:06 am

Attorneys in USA are real GREEDY!
When you hire an attorney, he will charge you $345 per hour.
He is a CROOK! Will FCC pay $345 per hour to the lawyer?
Of course, they will pay $345.00 per hour if they hire the attorney. Why not FCC arrest the crook lawyer?

Neal Golden says:

December 20, 2010 at 8:30 am

I think it time to throw Yeh and all of his business associate in jail for 20 years. I wouldn’t give them a lessen sentence for good behavior. The FCC should recoup all of the money. They should be in jail in NJ. I don’t care if there family in Md or Va. If they pleaded guilty why are they are walking around and not serving jail time? They shouldn’t be allow to serve the deaf community in any business in the near future. I want to see the Russian associate in jail with Irma since she is the master mind of DHIS. They should trace all of the money to France, China, Israel and Swiss. They need to be punish and I don’t hold no sympathy for them.

Paul says:

January 15, 2011 at 9:18 am

Thank you Neal! Finally someone with common sense. The reason they are out is because Marc keeps using his being deaf as not ready for trial. The dumb prosecutors & judge keep allowing it. He did the same with getting out of paying my Mom for child support. Mark is psycho. Mark abuses women & scares them in to doing things for him. The current woman he is with, is terrified of him. I believe they are now back in California. Mark has conned two women being married to him at the same time, & taken their money. Thankfully one wasn’t my Mom.

January 27, 2011 at 2:33 pm

I always say that everyone day come when they meet Karma. Don’t worry Paul they wont get off easy. i wouldn’t want to steal and miss my kids growing up. As far as I am concern i don’t have sympathy for anyone who steal from the FCC, if you break the law you should pay the time. I hope they get sentence far away this way they don’t see there family everyday. I wouldn’t have no trouble facing the thieves in person because I can live with my dignity. I am proud of myself for standing up for myself w DHIS. I got fired because I did the right thing. I rather live with my dignity than steal from innocent tax payers.

MR. G says:

Colleen Simsa says:

February 2, 2011 at 4:53 pm

I am glad Marc Velasquez arrested and spend his time in prison that he deserve. He was my ex boyfriend in Michigan. He is Professional Con Artist deaf man, steal my money for Fraud. I will plan to put his picture to air on TV “Unsolved Mystery” to find out how many deaf women in different states fall under his charming and manipulation.

Karen says:

February 11, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Connie, I am one of them that he stole money from me and used my CC without my permission when I found out what he has done to me. He is definitely a prof. con artist and a liar. It would be interesting to see his pic. on Unsolved Mystery.
Karen says:

February 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Hey Connie, Here is my email address kareoconn@yahoo.com
Tell me more about Marc did to you. I will tell you what he did to me.
- Colleen Simsa says:
  
  May 10, 2011 at 3:58 pm
  Hi Karen,
  
  I let you know that I emailed your [email via] recently but it had returned back to me? I already had sent Paul Velasquez and hope
  he will get my email message.
  
  You can email me anytime: csimsa@aol.com
  
  I know Mark Velasquez [ALIAS: Marc Velasquze Verson] for 2 years.
  He steal my money with his devishly deception tactics to promise me
  to get a job promotion at Coloardo [Near Westiminster]. There
  are many things to say. First of all, I hope you will read my message.
  
  colleen

Karen says:

February 11, 2011 at 12:31 pm

I agree with Paul and Colleen. He also took my money 16 yrs ago. He is definitely a professional con artist steal money from other women he met online. He would tell them to invest in his business and will make you a vice president is what he told me.. I never got my money back from him.. He disappeared and I never heard from him again.. I guess this is where my money went in his phony business deaf studio that he owned. He deserved prison time, before he conned more women like me and others. Look what he has done to Doris and Ellen. He told them lies about investing in his business. Now Doris and Ellen are in trouble, cause of Marc. He is a compulsive liar. Cant trust him. I hope more women read this comment and not to get involved him.

May 1, 2011 at 4:29 pm

Hi Karen & Colleen. Marc is now threatening (putting fear in Ellen or Doris I can’t remember which one) I speak to her daughter who fears for her. I just know that her daughter is very suspicious of Marc.

Colleen Simsa says:

May 10, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Hello Paul

Let you know that I had sent your email via and hope it will work properly? If yes, you will read my message that I know your father
for two years [1974-1976]. He promised me to get a job promotion
by his devishly deception tactics that I gave him some money….

First of all, I will wait to hear from your via email. I also will visit Don’s Blog at website asap. Then I will talk you more details what is going on.

Please let me know if you know anything with new for update to post. I would LOVE to hear the facts what is going on…

I hope that someone better NOT help your father for bond so he will
walk free and kiss her money goodbye!!!

colleen from Michigan.

May 1, 2011 at 4:30 pm

May 10, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Hello Paul and Karen,

Sorry, I have not been checked up on your comments since last Feb of this year.

Here is my email via you can reach me: csimsa@aol.om

Mark Velasquez and I been together for two years, [1974 -1976] before he married
your mother, [Paul]. Also, My friend from Detroit gave me Mark your father’s VP number
Spring 2008, at first I want do nothing with it but I rethink it over so I decided to call
him to my curious and saw Mark worked at his business, Deaf Studio29 by VP he showed me with his other few employees, I believe Ellen, not sure other I can’t remember her name?? They are friendly, waved at me. I wish I should have tell them
with WARN, This man is Con Artist man!!!! I remember Mark said he lived and worked near San Diego, California. [Later I learn that he tell me a different story that he residence at Lake Owesgo, Oregon??] Oh, nothing new about him, he look very same
old story. I asked him nice to write me a check he steal from me. He evasioned my question. He asked me to give him my email that I refused.

I wonder, how many women did he steal from other states? I was told by my friend who lived in Colorado that he steals other states are Michigan, Colorado, Chicago, Canada, NY, California, Ohio, few more I can remember. He almost would get marry to a very wealthy woman from California while he have a wife in Colorado. He decided not
to marry and run away…I am not sure if he steal her money or not???

I am sure there are LOTmore going on….

Please let me know how will be Mark’s sentence for next month, June, Where??? I hope that no one will help him for bond to set him free…put him jail for good.

Take care, good evening, Colleen

May 10, 2011 at 4:04 pm

Hi Paul,

I emailed you with your via email and hope you will read my emal all ok??

I had sent you last Feb but I did not heard from your reply? What went wrong? I have
no idea…

Hope to hear from you real soon!!

NOTE: [You can visit Don's Blog] to look at my comments.

colleen

Karen Conn says:

May 10, 2011 at 4:05 pm

Hello Karen,

I recently saw your comments at Don’s Blog today. Sorry I have not reply back due
to my very busy things to catch up and forget about it.

First of all, I want to be sure to see if you had been read my message all ok?

Then we will talk some more real soon,

good night colleen

Karen says:

May 10, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Connie, I just sent you email.. Did you get it?
Karen says:

May 10, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Connie, I read your comments.. Very interesting that he has done some damage to alot of women that gave him money, included me. I was such a fool by him.. Felt like strangle him and kick his ass for doing that to me.. Let see how many more women will come forward that was taking by him.
- Karen Conn says:
  
  May 11, 2011 at 6:38 am
  Hello Karen,
  
  Yes I received you via email alright. I will going email you today…
  
  Marc is no better. I am curious how many women out there who embezzlement by him???
  
  Please call me “Colleen” Not Connie, smile? get it? OK
  
  colleen

JOhn Proffer says:

May 13, 2011 at 9:55 am

I worked with John Yeh as a business partner under Viable Technologies for nearly 3 years. He’s MOST DEFINITELY CROOKED and very greedy. I got screwed out of my share of ownership, he tried very hard to keep the company only in family, and falsely billed Va. VR for software we didn’t have to pay for, So this is nothing new to him, it’s just a new organization to scam.

I walked away from his bull$hit after nearly 3 years. He refused to show tax records to me, kept claiming we were always broke while he went off on vacations to Aruba, donated alot of money to his Kappa Gamma fraternity in Gally, and went to gallas/parties. He’s a liar, thief, and scammer. I hope he gets all 20 years in jail.

Karen says:

May 13, 2011 at 10:12 am
Hey John Proffer,

Talk about John yeh crooked and greedy.
John Yeh sound just like Marc Velasquez.. He stole money from
me 16 yrs ago, by lying to me, saying I should invest in his business
and for me to be a Vice President, which never exist.
He disappear in 96, til I track him down online Nov. 2009.. Told
him to start paying me back, but gave me all kind of excuses and
promise he will..I wonder if he used my money on his business
Deaf Studio, which got him, Doris and Ellen in trouble with
the FBI.. Thank God, I wasn’t involve in this. He is a thief, liar
and MOST DEFINITELY CROOKED and very greedy just like you said
about John Yeh. I hope Marc gets 20 yrs in prison.. He deserve
it..He is DEFINITELY a CON ARTIST. Ladies, Do not get involve
with MARC VELAQUEZ.. HE will take your money like he done with
me and other women in the past. IF he asked for money,
report him.

May 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm

Yeah, I am afraid that Karen is right with a parallel of John Yeh and Marc Velasquez.
I wonder, Have they met before and know each other? To my doubt, I do not think so, I could be wrong, who know? Otherwise, If they know each other, They woudl be a partnership to do run the business with investment….I doubt???

For how long have the Deaf Studio 29 start their business to run till the day of the Federal raided them? I believe this is fraud. Exactly where Marc deceived me by his
devishly tactics happened in 1988 that his American Eagle Broadcasting at Westiminter, Co never had exist at all. My hearing friend dialed there for me while I am
at work at my shift hour. She said the Company had ordered their phone to be disconnected on Dec 2, 1988. No number left for calls to be transferred at all. None.
My friend called the number straight to District Attorney and Better Business Bureau to file for a compliant for fraud. This shocked me. I do not know what else to say. That day, I got DRUNK like hell….

Mark is a Professional Con Artist, He will NEVER, NEVER pay 1 cent to their victims like you and me.!

Colleen

May 13, 2011 at 12:09 pm

Ooops, Sorry, I should have put my name to leave a comment.

Please feel free to email me anytime with my permit.

Here is my via email:

csimsa@aol.com

Colleen Simsa

May 13, 2011 at 12:33 pm

I remember something on my mind flash back.

American Eagle Broadcasting is no existence but this title really was where Mark
lived his own apartment to FOOL me and others that his big building called “American Eagle Broadcasting”

May 13, 2011 at 2:03 pm

I will share with you behalf Mark Velasquez’s [1988 about a month?]

Mark Velasquez gave his business card to a business man who is heading for Traverse City, MI Flight. [I have NO idea how did Mark came to Michigan...or other state? to gave his business card] to a man of Michigan at the Flight? The business man knew my brother Bryan, is very well known, respect and admire in Traverse City communites. Later when I came back to Traverse City to stay at my parent’s from Flint, Mi [where I permanent lived there at this time]. Bryan gave Mark’s business card to me. I looked at it, puzzled. At first, I knew it look fishy to me. Later, my mother insisted me why not call him. At first, I refuse. So I decided [I regretted I should not doing this in the first place, my stupid, my mistake!] to call Mark at Westiminister, Co. He promised me to get a job highly promotion as Vice President for him as he himself is a President. He threatened me if I do not gave check before deadline that I had sent it to him, my stupid. He told me that his Company title “American Eagle Broadcasting”.

I remember he called me by TTY and let me know that he received my check $2,500. Know what he said to me? You are honest! I puzzled why he had said this?? To make
me suspect what is going on and worried.

I have not heard from him for a month. I exasperate and worried. My hearing lady will do the calling for me during my work shift. She called there. They told my friend that it disconnected since last Dec 1988 because of unpaid bill for telephone. The Company had ordered his phone to be disconnected. No number left for calls to be transferred. [My friend speaks to ask for District attorney with phone number and Better Business Bureau with phone number to file for a complaint for Fraud. I am confused. I feel lost. I am very fiery frustated, I drank too much and damn drunk. I am very upset. Later I learned that “American Eagle Broadcasting” was where Mark Velaquez lived at his apartment! He pretensed that his apartment is American EAgle Broadcasting!!

His business card he gave me to make me think he run his Company, really never existence!! He had me fool. He swindles, pretense.

Mark live into a FANASTIES and very much child typical man. His mental martyr.

I call him as “CONSTITUTION LIAR” He will NEVER tell the truth in his life! period!

I will have some more comments, see next round,

Colleen Simsa, Michigan

May 13, 2011 at 2:40 pm

Mark Henry Velasquez, Aliases: Mickey Velasquez, Marc Velasquez Verson, Mark Velasq Wolf, and more….

I had visited at “youtube” at www couple of months ago, the deaf man said the deaf pirates [nickname for Marc Velasquez] was raided by the Federal, cheer up!!!! I wondered, why they called Marc as [Deaf Pirates]??? I did not get it clear myself??

Recently, I learned that in California, Huntington Beach Video DVD where Marc, Ellen, Doris, Bod Audette [I know Bob from Michigan], played their drama there by Karen OConnor gave me their website I had visited and watched that flashed back on my mind. No wonder [see above, they called him "Deaf Pirates"] was raided.

I remeber my friend from Colorado where Mark lived there. She said he hopped and hopped from one place for a job to others often. He professed to fool them that he is a wealthy and millionaire. They said Mark never support them. He never had own a home. He always live in apartment, even not support payment on his cherokk jeep.

He does owe lot of money, some $15,000, other several hundred dollars. What else who know only God know! He is a monster!

I was told by a friend that she have no idea how many total people out there in several states [Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri, Michigan, NY, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Canada, probably Washington State, Cailfornia, Oregon and probably more or few more states? He has fooled them by his pretense, charming, manipulation liar, swindles, embezzelment. He has stolen their money, Life insurance, will, many more....

In Colorado, she said there are about twenty different cards. Most are non-existence. She saw them through some friends. She say there are copy-macnines, Financial, Cable TV, and can't remember others.

Mark V even say he has a business Corpation in New York and own a private jet. That is all crap. He is a real bum. He worked at Coors. He was fired. He is weird. He used worked for PO in Wyoming, he was fired. In St. Louis, Missouri. He worked for Cable Co. He was fired. In Detroit, Michigan, he used worked for Dairy Farm Company. He was fired for steal the gas tube from other car's gas transferred to his car. The security caught him. The head Boss Clayton [I had met and know him in person once], was very good friend of Mark’s mother, Toni. Clayton fired him. His mother was very anger, upset and kicked him out of her house.

Mark the Bullshit [In Michigan deaf communites called him "Mark the Bullshitter], He was trying to establish the Eagle Business but it is closed because of debts. He had a lease on supposedly Eagle Business but it is closed because he can’t afford it and he had been getting money from many deaf people and some hearing people to gain for himself and his ego. A lot of people out in Denver, CO do not like him. He really don’t have friends. Even in Michigan where he was born, do not have any friends. They the Michigan do not like him, called him as “Mark the Bullshitter”.

He almost would get married to another wealthy woman in California while he still presently have married to his wife, Christine of Colorado. Lot is going on…Right now this moment he is now living in Westminister, CO, North of Denver. My friend guaranteed me that he will not live there in few months. He will hopping to move and run on like fugitive. No one understands what the hell he has been up to.

My friend, inlcude myself can’t understand why the deaf people/hearing people do not press charge agaisnt him.

Well, What about YOU and me????? Should we do something about it, WHY NOT?

Please email me: csimsa@aol.com

As simple to view what kind of this evil man, Mark Henry Velasquez’s heart look like:

He is very evil, swindles, pretense, liar, manipulation, fake, crazy, weird. He live into the fantasy world which is NO reality. He has STOLEN your money for himself!

He will be sentence this fall, I would LOVE to find out who is his prosecutor lawyer will work AGAINST him, include you and me!! Where did he live at? Where is his Court BLDG he will be face soon?

John Proffer says:

June 23, 2011 at 8:22 am

@Richard – The only charges they dropped were the release violation charges. He’s still guilty of fraud, and his trail is set for July. They probably dropped them so he could prepare for sentencing.

John Proffer says:

June 23, 2011 at 10:05 am
oops i meant his SENTENCING is set for July – the trail is over and he was found guilty.

Don says:

June 23, 2011 at 9:34 am

[Richard's comment has been deleted as per Richard's request.]

Richard in Florida says:

June 23, 2011 at 11:09 am

I congraulate John TC Yeh. Yesterday John TC YEh’s charges
dropped by state.
John TC Yeh is proven innocent … not quilty … He did not intend stealing any. He was a Gally trustee with excellent record. At Galladuet University staffs know he is a fine man.

Wendy says:

December 3, 2011 at 11:37 am

Hello Paul, Karen & Connie,
I, too, met Marc Valesquez Vernon a few years ago (in around 2005 when I met him online on the deaf singles website). I remember him telling me that he was from Colorado and had apartment in Long Beach, Calif.

He was employed with Sorenson company in Burbank when I met him online. Later, he came to my home to set up Sorenson connection twice and started making demands. I had never dated him but he started making unreasonable demands. He suddenly insisted that I am his property when he used an indecent word. I told him that I had NO interest in him. He ignored my firm reply and continued to demand. I finally lost my patience and told him to get out or I will call the police.

He relunctantly left and I complained to his boss who was a Christian friend of mine as well as former instructor. Later, I heard that he was terminated due to similar complaints from other female deaf clients.

I was surprised to read many comments from several deaf women who knew Marc in the past. I was startled that Marc was fired so many times. I know he once made a confession that he was arrested in the past. I can’t remember what it was for. After reading the comments, I realized that Marc’s behaviors had worsened over the years even after several arrests and several firings. It made me wonder if he is bipolar. There is no cure for bipolar people that can’t CHANGE!!!!!

Wendy C.

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Two from Viable Plead Guilty in VRS Fraud

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