BFL SC / Jally first picture?

[jwzguy]

*crickets*

[1714026406]

1714026406

[1714026406]

1714026406

[1714026406]

1714026406

[Inaba]

Sonny Vleisides is associated with BFL and it's the same Sonny listed in the case documents.  He was involved in off shore gaming in the capacity of selling and providing software engineering to companies that did the actual offshore gaming (there is even a US patent application for the process). The industry came under attack (as we all remember) around that time, and Mr. Vleisides was caught up in the process as well as a good portion of the industry based in Costa Rica.

Although this may be cause for concern to some, the fact is that we're a robust company with 22 employees.  One of them has a colorful background in offshore libertarianism.  If I thought there was even the possibility of something unsavory going on within BFL, you can rest assured I would a) not be part of it and b) would let everyone know it.

The reality is, we are legitimate, we have released revolutionary products and we are going to release more revolutionary products.  I was made aware of this back story prior to my employment and I evaluated it and concluded that it was immaterial to the business at hand and thus joined BFL.  There was nothing hidden from me and Sonny has always answered questions and been completely open about his past, but I think we can all agree that it's not something you just announce to the world.

[psilan]

Eek, no wonder this was a big secret.

[Zara]

Ok. Now it's out. Does this mean my Jalapeno won't do 3.5 gh/s?

[psilan]

Ok. Now it's out. Does this mean my Jalapeno won't do 3.5 gh/s?

Well he did get 14 months in prison for mail fraud. Yours is in the mail .

[420]

Now i want a BFL product

[imsaguy]

Now i want some hash

[420]

Now i want some hash

I want your sig to be shorter

[imsaguy]

Now i want some hash

I want your cig

[jwzguy]

Sonny Vleisides is associated with BFL and it's the same Sonny listed in the case documents.  He was involved in off shore gaming in the capacity of selling and providing software engineering to companies that did the actual offshore gaming (there is even a US patent application for the process). The industry came under attack (as we all remember) around that time, and Mr. Vleisides was caught up in the process as well as a good portion of the industry based in Costa Rica.

Although this may be cause for concern to some, the fact is that we're a robust company with 22 employees.  One of them has a colorful background in offshore libertarianism.  If I thought there was even the possibility of something unsavory going on within BFL, you can rest assured I would a) not be part of it and b) would let everyone know it.

The reality is, we are legitimate, we have released revolutionary products and we are going to release more revolutionary products.  I was made aware of this back story prior to my employment and I evaluated it and concluded that it was immaterial to the business at hand and thus joined BFL.  There was nothing hidden from me and Sonny has always answered questions and been completely open about his past, but I think we can all agree that it's not something you just announce to the world.

Thanks for replying. You've been around for quite a while and from what I've seen you post, I'd feel much more confident investing in BFL hardware now than if you hadn't started working there. I hope you'll continue to post updates, however trivial they might seem.

[psilan]

Would the business really have suffered if this wasn't kept a secret from the beginning? I guess this is the reason for all the names being secrets across the company?

If you deliver products, like you have, I see no reason to not buy your gear!
Everyone has done something bad in their lives. Maybe not prison worthy, but it's not the end of the world.

[freeAgent]

Sonny Vleisides is associated with BFL and it's the same Sonny listed in the case documents.  He was involved in off shore gaming in the capacity of selling and providing software engineering to companies that did the actual offshore gaming (there is even a US patent application for the process). The industry came under attack (as we all remember) around that time, and Mr. Vleisides was caught up in the process as well as a good portion of the industry based in Costa Rica.

Although this may be cause for concern to some, the fact is that we're a robust company with 22 employees.  One of them has a colorful background in offshore libertarianism.  If I thought there was even the possibility of something unsavory going on within BFL, you can rest assured I would a) not be part of it and b) would let everyone know it.

The reality is, we are legitimate, we have released revolutionary products and we are going to release more revolutionary products.  I was made aware of this back story prior to my employment and I evaluated it and concluded that it was immaterial to the business at hand and thus joined BFL.  There was nothing hidden from me and Sonny has always answered questions and been completely open about his past, but I think we can all agree that it's not something you just announce to the world.

I guess that's good to know.  It would have been better if Sonny was upfront about his history in the first place, but I can understand that's not something anyone would be proud to be associated with.  Since you are vouching for him, I won't be trying to cancel my preorder.  Sonny would have to be incredibly stupid to try and pull a scam while on probation or whatever status he has right now anyway.  The details of his involvement aren't entirely clear from what I found, but it doesn't look like he was the main guy behind the scam.  It still makes me nervous, but at least we know exactly who we're dealing with.

[MrTeal]

Sonny Vleisides is associated with BFL and it's the same Sonny listed in the case documents.  He was involved in off shore gaming in the capacity of selling and providing software engineering to companies that did the actual offshore gaming (there is even a US patent application for the process). The industry came under attack (as we all remember) around that time, and Mr. Vleisides was caught up in the process as well as a good portion of the industry based in Costa Rica.

Although this may be cause for concern to some, the fact is that we're a robust company with 22 employees.  One of them has a colorful background in offshore libertarianism.

Offshore gaming and libertarianism? I would love to hear more about this, since the news report from the US Postal Inspector sounds a little more like a Ponzi than Sonny and his group providing access to foreign lotteries or running a poker room.

According to the indictment the victims were purchasing “positions” in tickets for lotteries that would be grouped together or “pooled” to buy larger blocks of tickets thereby increasing their chances of winning. Funds received from victims were not used to purchase tickets, but to pay “winnings” to other victims, to fund the scheme and to benefit the defendants. Victims were sent checks falsely represented as lottery “winnings,” however the amount of the alleged “winnings” was far less than the amount the victim had sent in.

The indictment alleges that over one million solicitations were sent throughout the United States, offering chances of winning foreign and domestic lotteries such as “The Australian Lottery,” “The International Irish Sweepstakes,” “The El Gordo,” and others. The solicitation packet contained envelopes preaddressed to mail drops in the Netherlands, Ireland and other international locations under the control of the defendants. The defendants established numerous bank accounts in names which sounded similar to official lotteries like Shamrock Agency, World Expert, Old Amsterdam, and German Swiss.

[MrTeal]

Also, could BFL comment on the following condition of Sonny's probation?

3. The defendant shall not engage, as whole or partial owner, employee or otherwise, in any business involving loan programs, gambling or gaming activities, telemarketing activities, investment programs or any other business involving the solicitation of funds or cold-calls to customers without the express approval of the Probation Officer prior to engagement in such employment. Further, the defendant shall provide the Probation Officer with access to any and all business records, client lists and other records pertaining to the operation of any business owned, in whole or in part, by the defendant, as directed by the Probation Officer

Has Sonny turned over any client lists or business records pertaining to BFL to his probation officer?

[franky1]

Also, could BFL comment on the following condition of Sonny's probation?

3. The defendant shall not engage, as whole or partial owner, employee or otherwise, in any business involving loan programs, gambling or gaming activities, telemarketing activities, investment programs or any other business involving the solicitation of funds or cold-calls to customers without the express approval of the Probation Officer prior to engagement in such employment. Further, the defendant shall provide the Probation Officer with access to any and all business records, client lists and other records pertaining to the operation of any business owned, in whole or in part, by the defendant, as directed by the Probation Officer

Has Sonny turned over any client lists or business records pertaining to BFL to his probation officer?

+1

[psilan]

Gets worse...This really sucks...

I hope there is a way for BFL to continue as per normal.
You need to address this quickly I think.

The defendant shall not transfer, sell, give away, or otherwise convey any asset with a fair market value in excess of $500 without approval of the Probation Officer until all financial obligations imposed by the Court have been satisfied in full.

[420]

Would the business really have suffered if this wasn't kept a secret from the beginning? I guess this is the reason for all the names being secrets across the company?

If you deliver products, like you have, I see no reason to not buy your gear!
Everyone has done something bad in their lives. Maybe not prison worthy, but it's not the end of the world.

I'm a bad, bad boy

[dust]

Gets worse...This really sucks...

I hope there is a way for BFL to continue as per normal.
You need to address this quickly I think.

The defendant shall not transfer, sell, give away, or otherwise convey any asset with a fair market value in excess of $500 without approval of the Probation Officer until all financial obligations imposed by the Court have been satisfied in full.

I think the key here is "until all financial obligations imposed by the Court have been satisfied in full".  If he paid all of the fines owed, this restriction would be lifted.

Inaba, thanks for the explanation. My research has pointed more to involvement with a ponzi than online gambling software, which is concerning to me.  Can you provide any public sources to support your statement?

[AndrewBUD]

Wow.. I think that is the first real answer BFL has given the masses ...



I would like some hash too

[TheSeven]

The reality is, we are legitimate, we have released revolutionary products and we are going to release more revolutionary products.

Is it just me, or could that have been said by an apple employee?