Joseph E. Johnson Jr. and Candice V. Cunningham were convicted by a federal jury in Wisconsin for operating a string of pyramid schemes, including "30 Day Success Formula." The pair now faces up to 20 years in prison for each of their eight mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud convictions.
Federal prosecutors in Wisconsin presented evidence that Cunningham, Johnson, and others ran a series of fraudulent operations from at least September 2015 through February 2023. These schemes, structured as illegal gifting pyramids, promised participants financial success based on recruiting new members rather than selling actual products or services. The bulk of the money flowed upwards to the early entrants, making the system unsustainable for most.
The various schemes operated under names such as Wealth Partners Publishing, Wealth Wise, Zero to Profit, 30 Days Success Formula, Lav Label, Beckett Group, and DTR Group. A review by the publication Daily Exposed in 2019 had already identified "30 Day Success Formula" as an illegal gifting scheme, a characterization that aligned with the later federal indictment.
Investigators determined that these operations collectively defrauded victims of approximately $5 million. The charges of mail fraud specifically addressed the defendants' use of postal services to facilitate the scam, which often involved sending promotional materials or instructions for payment.
Johnson and Cunningham were arrested on March 22, 2023, following their indictment. Both pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on March 29. The federal court proceedings then moved toward trial.
The four-day jury trial commenced on February 23, 2026. After hearing testimony and reviewing evidence, the jury delivered a guilty verdict on all eight counts against both defendants. Sentencing for Johnson and Cunningham is scheduled for June 23.
Several individuals had promoted "30 Day Success Formula," including Justin Verrengia, Alex Zubarev, Aaron Rashkin, Alfredo Delgado, Mack Mills, also known as Mack Zidan, and Tom Yatar. None of these promoters have been charged in connection with this federal case.