Michael Force cops $54 mill Digital Altitude judgment, stripped of assets

Michael Force is handing over $1.9 million in cash and assets after a federal court approved a $54 million judgment against him for running a massive digital marketing scam.

The Federal Trade Commission sued Force and his company Digital Altitude early last year, accusing him of bilking consumers out of $14 million through bogus business coaching and investment schemes. A judge has now shut down the operation and barred Force from ever running, owning, or even assisting with another business coaching program or investment opportunity again.

Under the settlement terms, Force must pay $1.9 million immediately. That includes $36,400 from his CitiBank account, $13,400 from Wells Fargo, roughly $2 million already recovered by a court-appointed receiver, and several vehicles: a 2018 Jeep, two 2017 Zero motorcycles, and a 2016 Ducati. The remaining balance of the judgment is suspended based on his financial statements.

But the financial hit is only part of the punishment. For the next two decades, Force must disclose the FTC settlement to any business partner before they work together. He'll also submit compliance reports every year for 20 years detailing his contacts, business activities, and financial records. The FTC can audit his books for five years per record and for a total of 20 years.

Force isn't alone in facing this reckoning. The FTC has wrapped up identical $54 million settlements with Mary Dee, Alan Moore, and Thermography For Life. All face the same asset seizures, injunctions, and long-term reporting requirements. Earlier settlements with Sean Brown, Morgan Johnson, and The Upside LLC were finalized last year.

A judge handed down a default judgment against Digital Altitude and remaining corporate defendants on March 6th, effectively ending the FTC's litigation on the case. The company couldn't mount a legal defense and lost by default.

What's left is cleanup. A court-appointed receiver is still processing claims from victims, though the FTC hasn't released an update since October of last year. The receivership's job is to distribute whatever money it recovers to people who lost money in the scheme.

The Digital Altitude operation preyed on aspiring entrepreneurs with promises of quick riches through online marketing training. Victims paid thousands for courses and coaching that delivered little value. Force and his co-conspirators pocketed millions while leaving participants with empty wallets and broken dreams.

This case stands as a reminder that the FTC will pursue these operators aggressively. When a company or individual targets vulnerable people with fraudulent business opportunities, federal prosecutors have the power to seize assets, bar future operations, and extract substantial judgments. Force's case also shows that even after judgment, the oversight doesn't end. Court-ordered monitoring can stretch decades, cutting off any avenue for the fraudster to rebuild their scheme under a new name.

🤖 Quick Answer

What was the judgment amount against Michael Force for his Digital Altitude scheme?

What assets must Michael Force surrender under the settlement?
Force must immediately pay $1.9 million in cash and assets, including $36,400 from CitiBank, $13,400 from Wells Fargo, approximately $2 million recovered by a court-appointed receiver, and several vehicles including a 2018 Jeep.

What restrictions were imposed on Michael Force following the judgment?
The court permanently barred Force from running, owning, or assisting with any business coaching program or investment opportunity, effectively shutting down his operations indefinitely.

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