The founder and CEO of a former Shasta County corporation has been indicted on federal charges alleging that he looted his employees’ retirement funds. 57-year-old Maurice “Buddy” Shoe, a former Palo Cedro resident, is the subject of an 11 count federal grand jury indictment returned Friday. His company, “Joined Inc.” provided student recruiting and retention services to Christian colleges and universities all over the country. In 2015 shoe allegedly skimmed nearly $123,000 from the Employee Retirement Fund by withholding the money from paychecks but not placing the money into the 401(K) plan. If convicted Shoe could face Quarter Million Dollar fines plus 5 years in federal prison for each of the eleven counts. Joined Inc. has a long history of legal troubles, including accusations of failing to pay employees. Earlier this year North Greenville University in South Carolina was fined 2.5 Million Dollars for using the services of Joined Inc., which got half the tuition money for each student recruited. The law prohibits colleges that receive federal student aid from using such incentive-based recruitment services. Even though Shoe was part owner of the company, he was paid $375,000 of the fine as a whistleblower reward.
There is no custom code to display.
There is no custom code to display.
