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Police: Man Scammed Alcoholics Anonymous Members


FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - A man accused of bilking dozens of Coloradans out of tens of thousands of dollars told CBS4 they accusers were making legitimate investments.

Investigators say Richard Mayfield, 72, befriended the alleged victims at places including church and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Investigators say Mayfield told investors in the Maverick Sales Group they were investing in his patented sales training program called "The Last Sales Seminar."

"People were thinking they were buying some intellectual property. The problem was, there was no intellectual property," :Sgt. Don Whitson with Fort Collins police said.

Whitson said they've been investigating Mayfield for several years.

"He would befriend people in places that people were vulnerable; alcoholics anonymous, church, friends of friends, family," Whitson said. "He made a lot of references to how Jesus would be as a salesman. There were a lot of religious connotations to that and I think that in large part that's how he befriended a lot of his victims."

Police say there are at least 40 victims so far; many in their 70s, 80s and 90s. The arrest affidavit shows that at least six alleged victims lost more than $20,000 and one lost more than $50,000.

A search of court records shows Mayfield pleaded guilty in 2008 to theft after writing a $40,000 check from Maverick Sales Group to an investor demanding her money back. The check bounced and Mayfield wrote promising to pay restitution and saying, "I'm sorry and I apologize."

Mayfield talked to CBS4's Mike Hooker on the phone and later at his house. He told Hooker he's bankrupt and it's a simple sad situation of a business that went bust and now investors are mad. Mayfield says he never intended to hurt or trick anyone.

Mayfield agreed on the phone to do an interview, but when Hooker showed up at his house he met him on the driveway and said his public defender advised him not to talk publically about the case although it's clear he desperately wants to defend himself.

Mayfield faces 15 counts of securities fraud and 13 counts of theft.

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