As we all should be....I'm just sorry that the students, parents, and administration at Neil Armstrong had their reputation pulled into this. We all need to be mindful of corruption finding its way through our schools, sports, and community under the guise of volunteerism...they are easy targets.

Why would ANYONE believe in an investment that gives 100% or more in return? Just think about it. If these women were earning so much, they wouldn't need to recruit more investors.

It makes me angry to see this, crooks taking advantages of PTA meetings, I'm disgusted!!!!!

They sure the hell didn't use the money for trips to the beauty salon....

The Federal Reserve has been running a Ponzi Scheme since 1913.

Dumb people exist, so that smart people can take advantage of them.

This makes me so sad.....what is our world coming to? The love of money and materialism is always the root that leads to trouble. My heart hurts for all of those people that lost so much......

"The group promised investors a rate of return of up to 100 percent, enticing many of the victims to take out second mortgages on their homes, max out credit cards, and hand over their life savings to contribute a total of $14 million to the scheme."

Sorry, the 'investors' get no sympathy from me. Anyone who's 'investing' because the 'managers' of the 'investment' have promised huge returns deserves to be fleeced! The only reason anyone would 'buy' such an investment is because they themselves are crooked. This sort of ponzi reminds me of the people who fall for other scams that involve big profits for small investments. They're inherently dishonest, themselves. (Oh, the trio? Jail time, even if they were fleecing sheep!)

What kind of empty-headed dumb-as#es would actually believe hearing that they would receive ""a 100 percent rate of return on their investment""??

They broke every rule as a PTA member or Board member. This is only about the obvious, greed, greed, greed and the lack of intelligence is a given. They should be dealt with as the criminals they are. No THANKS for tarnishing the PTA. IDIOTS
Debra Porte, past president at Diamond Point and Past President In Arizona schools.

Well geez! If you can't trust a PTA mom, who can you trust? People need to realize that in the end, it does not pay to be a con; sooner or later you will get caught.

I wouldn't call the investors crooked, but maybe more desperate. In desperate times, some people tend to lose all sight of reason. Ignorance in how investments work and fear in how others might react makes some people easy targets since they won't TALK these issues over with loved ones who might be the voice of reason. The embarrassment that comes with losing any money let alone thousands of dollars can be the key to letting the scam run for as long as it does. It's just sad that some of these people will never recoup their losses.

What bothers me is the fact they accepted cash only. I'd be willing to wager that they were also laundering money. Somebody needs to dig a little deeper.

There's a sucker born every minute !!!!

Many of these posts claim that the investors must be greedy or just stupid. That is not always the case. People have become desparate in this time of econmic turmoil and are in need of hope. A few months ago, my mother (age 81), took out all her money from the bank and handed it over to two scam artists. I assure you that she was not greedy or stupid, just another victim to the expert scam artist that knows exactly what to say and do.

They will all be convicted and receive the death penalty.....Casey Anthony walked...

OMG! 100% return? If bells and whistles did not go off in your brain before investing, then you deserve to loose your money because you were stupid and greedy.......

The thing that struck me is the stupidity of these investors to give cash to a couple of PTA moms to invest! WHY in the hell would any smart thinking person invest money with a trio of mom in the PTA? Why weren't they asked for credentials or other proof that they were legit? No, I blame the stupid investors for losing their money! Dumb dumb! OF COURSE these three need to spend years and years in prison!
Oh I got a big kick out of the above comment that these three didn't spend millions at the beauty shop! LOL LOL That is really obvious!!

"Upstanding citizens" with no regard to damaging the reputation and perception of PTA groups at large. Criminals rarely, if ever, have a conscience so that fact comes as no surprise. What does surprise me, however, is that anyone would "bite" on an "opportunity" to increase their investment by 100%. Are there that many affluent people that lack intelligence? Can lust for greed actually kill brain cells? They need to take some responsibility for giving legs to the Ponzi scheme. What half-way intelligent person would take a second mortgage on the home or max out their credit card to make an investment? To create an instant debt or put their home further in debt and at risk without doing due diligenceel makes absolutely no sense.

Three winning mother's here will do more time here for stealing money, than Casey Anthony will for killing her child. What's wrong with this picture??

To associate these convicted criminals with the PTA in the title sure does tell us that Yellow Journalism is alive and well today and is still coloring the news as thoroughly as it did over a hundred years ago, even painting the palette of web news.

Most, if not all of U R as crooked as a snake just like your next door neighbor. Send all of your money to me and I will see to it that it goes to a good place for you without any returns though except from God..

I'm not a bald faced liar like U R. I send food around the world feeding the dying, hungry children and all U do is put me down for it.

I am glad these people got caught. They tried to get my wife to invest in the beginning of this scam and I said no. I looked like a jerk to many of the people that knew and invested with Eva. I stood my ground and told my wife to have nothing to do with them and in time that they will be caught if they are doing wrong. It just didn't make sense that you can double your money in such a short time. These females used God and gifts to befriend you. I pray this time that Eva finds Jesus and excepts his forgiveness. God forgives but they need to pay for their crimes to the people they scamed. Eva was a deadly virus to Armstrong elementary and the PTA. What a shame that money and greed can make people do this in the name of God.

Hey O.C. Community, Im The New Supplier For The Blind In O.C. Im Supplying The Blind With New 3D TV's, Every $1,000 You Invest With Me, I Guarantee A Gazillion Dollar Return, Whos First In Line????????

Ok, Im Receiving A Bunch Of Request To Invest From The Diamond Bar And Brea Area. Especially PTA Members....

Agreed, for the most part, it is greed and stupidity. Has anyone not learned from the Bernie Madoff fiasco?? If it sounds to good to be true, then it must be a scam. A 100% return on your investment; give me a break. Most of these losers deserve what they got. I do feel sorry for the elderly and imcompetent, but they too should not be handing over their money, just because it sounds good. If they are too elderly or incompetent, then maybe they should have someone overseeing their finances. Who the hell hands over their life savings to someone they don't know? Come on, it's all over the news. My Mother is 81 too & she hangs up on the solicitors who call her constantly. She sends $20.00 to the Veterans & Cancer Funds a couple of times of year and donates clothes and household items to them as well - but she does not hand over money to strangers. Being 81 is no excuse unless you cannot manage your affairs, in which case you need to find a trustee who can. If people stopped being greedy and stupid, the scam artists would be out of business - but as PT Barnum said: There's a sucker born every day !!
Give those PTA Moms the Electric Chair !!!!!

I cannot understand with the Internet at their finger tips and knowing that with a bad economy people who you think are on the up and up are not. These investors are also to blame they could have done some homework on these three people, the company, and they could have checked to see if there really was a contract with Disney, the other red flag is if it sounds to good to be true then it is to good to be true. People who claim 100% returns on you money again in this economy is crazy. Always do background check on people and the companies they represent. So you know when you cut a check you know who the players are and if they can deliver the promised terms. Also never invest more than you can afford because it is simple buyer beware and expect to lose your investment.

Nothing surprising here,Typical behavior!

My God continue to bless the greedy capitalist society we live in.

Ummm...am I missing something? The ponzi scheme has absolutely nothing to do with the PTA other than the fact that these are three Moms involved in the PTA??? They didn't use PTA money??? Why was it so important to mention the PTA in this article...we have enough of a hard time getting volunteers and educating people as to the value of PTA...seriously...

The Stooge on the left looks like John Belushi. What was the name of their company
"TrailerPark Investments"?

What a trio of greedy hags. That is a lot of money. Sheesh. PTA...... What is this world coming to when PTA moms get scammed for big cash.

I am so glad they got caught I hope they get the death penelity all scammers that scam goiod hard working people out of money should get the death penality they are the scum of the earth I just was scamed and I was very angry I wanted to kill them but I am not a murder type of person but they will get thers

hags

Obviously a lot of that money went for a lot of whoppers and fries. They'll probably go away for life but really shouldn't. Women can kill their children and get away with it so why not stealing a bunch of money? Right Casey?

This site is just like the story they just wote about they have a page saying check for jobs you go there it is not about job they are trying to get you to go to some type of school no jobs to be found this site is just another scam scam scam

I mean really! What kind of idiot would a person have to be to give these hags their money to invest? They look greasy, dirty, and smelly not to mention brutal! YIKES!!

Kathy Bates, Melanie Griffith, Octomom.. you three should be ashamed of yourselves!

How stupid and greedy were the victims. They should be charged with stupidity.

P T A embezzlers, an,t that a hoot ? Cheating good people out of their life savings.
So cruel ... fact they did not spend a dime on a make over or cosmetic surgery that is for sure. yuk

A Sheet That You Balance

Who would of given these girls a thing! Look at them, do they look like they could be a bit shady? Come on people this is California 2011 it is just going to get worse, count on it.

I wonder how much PTA money they took for themselves I remember giving Menefee cash on several occasions for school fundraisers. She was also very connected with all the teachers I wonder how many of those teachers lost money. To a certain point I blame the administrators at the school for allowing them to continue this for so many years at all the school functions.

I'm REALLY surprised that all three women are hispanic.

we sure import a lot of crime these days

I personally know one of these women. She approached me in 2008 and told me the I too would earn 100% return on my investment into the Alta Dena Dairy Company. Fortunately, I did not bite but I do know that there are others involved in this and I am surprised that these are the only three that have been arrested. When I opened up the news on the Internet and saw the face of the woman I know, I wasn't shocked but I am disturbed over the story and even more that others are walking free having benefited from the monies received. It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, then to share the spoil with the proud. We all have to answer for everything we have done in this life, on this side or the other. Sometimes both.

From a former Neil A. Armstrong Elementary School Attendee, Can't say I am suprised ... Pomona has been drowning out DB for years. George I love your comments, you too JZ and Enigma. Capwhan you can suck it. Although I don't live in the area anymore, the insults and comments above make proud to be from Diamond Bar. The John Bellushi and hag comments were amazing. I couldn't agree more. These three she men look like they should be sleeping with Arnold.

LOL...sleeping with Arnold. That's a good one. My question is why anyone would start one of these ponzi schemes. Sure you live like a king for a while, but you know it's eventually going to collapse and you're either going to jail or someone's gonna kill you.

We are fortunate in South Diamond Bar to have what is called Community Clubs instead of PTA. Each school's community club is self contained. It is run by parents and all monies raised stays within it's own school. Works very well. Yes, there have been a few moms who have been thieves but I guess that comes with every organization.

With all this money they wanted to 'invest' and get a return, wouldn't it be safer to invest in a presidential campaign?

this is all bad thefact the eva was a president of a PTA even after shehad just gotten out of prison is disturbing people and schools should do more homework i as a parent had to get live scan just to participate in my kids school activities why is it that a felon can be a pres. Of the PTA really .... She tried to pull me in... Thank god i was a mom with not much mean and couldnt do it

the one and only time i was glad not to have money to be taken as for the other mothers oh please they lived it up braces on there kids new cars great clothes for their kids obvisously and easy living tooooooo bd tht sit catches up with u a good thing is always too good to be true dont they teach u that in like 2 grade on anothr note the alta dena scheme int Disnyland ran by carnation milk not alta dena hellllllloooooo people why would u give ur money to sum one that is so dumb looking acting and speaking