Buyers of Radio Shack, Pier 1 brands accused of running $112M Ponzi scheme
A pair of e-commerce entrepreneurs who bought a number of well-known retail brands — including RadioShack, Modell’s Sporting Goods and Pier 1 Imports — out of bankruptcy are accused of running a Ponzi scheme. The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday accused Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez, founders of the Miami-based Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), of defrauding investors out of approximately $112 million.Through their holding company, Mehr and Lopez acquired distressed brick-and-mortar companies in order to turn them into successful, online-only brands. Dress Barn and Linens ‘n Things were also among their acquisitions. REV acquired RadioShack in 2020, three years after the nearly century-old electronics chain filed for its second bankruptcy. RadioShack first filed for…
