BLAINE, Minn — Between 2015 and 2020, according to federal prosecutors, at least 250 people across the United States responded to alluring job postings by Minnesota companies Watertek Marketing, Water Innovations Group, Mile High H20, and The New H20.
"I was supposed to get a base salary of $4,000 a month," said Kevin Molway of Kansas City, Missouri.
Those companies guaranteed to pay for selling water filtration devices called the "K8." In order to start selling, applicants needed to buy one of the units first for $5,000 with a money-back guarantee.
But time after time people told KARE 11 they paid thousands of dollars for machines that never arrived.
“Never. I never got the machine,” Molway said.
“Did you ever receive the machine?” KARE 11 asked Jay Brooks of California. “No,” he said.
“How long did it take to get your water machine?” KARE asked David Maddox. “I actually never received a water machine,” he said.
And those promised monthly salaries didn't arrive either, leaving people like Doug Pierce from Kansas -- whose son had a brain tumor -- angry and embarrassed.
"I feel like I was Ponzi-schemed," Pierce said.
They all dealt with a man with the same voice who sometimes went by Michael Brunn, sometimes David Mueller -- a man with lots of excuses.
"We're not like some, you know, company in a garage that just created a website and said, 'Hey, send us money.' That's not what it is," the voice said on one recording provided by a victim.
In fact, that's *exactly* what federal prosecutors now say it was.
They've indicted Charles Fields of Blaine -- the man they say is behind the voices and phony names -- on five counts of wire fraud for $600 thousand of alleged theft.
"I think it's awesome. It just shows that karma will find a way. And there is no easy quick buck," Pierce said after hearing the news.
Back in 2019, Fields eluded KARE 11 Investigates, even canceling an interview at the 11th hour. Today, still no comment as the victims feel a sense of vindication.
"None of these people did anything wrong. They were looking for something that looked very very legitimate," said Jerry Cibley of Massachusetts. "And this guy was as smooth as can be."
Search warrants filed in the case indicate Fields spent the money on normal suburban family expenses as well as restaurants and vacations.
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