SAN DIEGO/EWORLDWIRE/May 25, 2007 --- In the first of a two-part, new YouTube video release, the Fraud Discovery Institute details the story of Steve Estes, former Usana (NASDAQ: USNA) Associate (Number 2028731) from Temple, Georgia. Estes, who was born blind, became a Usana distributor in December of 2001 with hopes of attaining financial freedom and doing more than simply becoming a consumer of the company's product. "Leaders in the company would work to persuade me that I was one associate sign-up away from true wealth," he said. "I funded minimum mandatory auto ship purchases in three business centers every year for four years before I cut back in year five to one business center."
Estes was committed to the opportunity presented to him: he poured his life savings, his time and went as far as taking out a second mortgage on his home to build up his Usana multi level marketing business. Despite regularly attending both regional and national conventions, purchasing multiple training tools and even leads - which required him to cold call potential associates at a rate of 200 per week - Estes was unable to sign-up distributors.
"No one tried harder than me," Estes says in the two-part video series just released by FDI. "It isn't just the inventory that I accumulated through the years - it's the travel expenses, books, tapes, functions, leads and sales aids, and other ancillary expenses that total over $20,000 lost," said Estes.
Estes and his wife, Joan, who is disabled with Polio, talk on the video about how the two live on a fixed income, and the couple has been financially devastated as a result of their experience with Usana.
Estes was prompted to action and contacted the Fraud Discovery Institute after receiving a negative e-mail from a high-level Usana distributor who was trying to discredit Barry Minkow - Fraud Discover Institute co-founder, based on Minkow's own past. "I remembered the woman caught in adultery and what Jesus said to her - 'Go and sin no more.' Mr. Minkow deserves a second chance; I called him for help to recover my loss," said Estes.
"Usana's big defense to anyone who would listen is that there are no victims - only people who did not give the Usana plan and products enough time, money and effort to succeed," said Minkow. "They can never say that again after viewing the story of Steve Estes."
Part two of the Steve Estes story will be released by the Fraud Discovery Institute early next week. View the video at 'http://youtube.com/watch?v=KlmrgWVJ_k8'.
To learn more about the Fraud Discovery Institute, visit 'http://frauddiscovery.net'.
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