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DENVER, Colo. -
A Highlands Ranch woman is speaking out about an alleged Ponzi scheme that she says took all of her retirement money, and may also tarnish some big names along the way.
"It was a high pressure sales pitch," Dee Holl said. "Wayde offered additional opportunities, and wanted our pledges immediately...wanted money within the week."
This week, federal investigators indicted the company's founder, Wayde McKelvy, and his wife, Donna, charging them with misleading investors and allegedly running a Ponzi scheme. 300 investors raised at least $30 million through Speed of Wealth.
Denver Broncos legend and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was paid to speak at two Speed of Wealth meetings, and possibly more. And a connected company, Mantria, was honored by former President Bill Clinton at a meeting of his foundation.
Investors say McKelvy funneled investors to the Pennsylvania based Mantria company, which was involved in building a "green" housing development in Tennessee and technology that produced a charcoal substitute.
But federal prosecutors say the housing development was being built and the charcoal substitute plant didn't have any sales.
Holl says she invested almost $200,000 in Speed of Wealth, including $50,000 she borrowed on credit cards.
"We believed in him, we trusted him, we thought he had out interests at heart, and he misled us all," Holl told us. Now she's warning others not to fall for the get rich quick schemes.
A spokesperson for John Elway says his appearances were paid speaking engagements, and he was not endorsing the products. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton says his foundation did their due diligence on Mantria and found nothing of concern.
Wayde McKelvey had promised investors an open question-and-answer session Wednesday night to discuss the charges, but that discussion was canceled.
When we stopped by the Speed of Wealth offices in Centennial, no one was there.
"It was a high pressure sales pitch," Dee Holl said. "Wayde offered additional opportunities, and wanted our pledges immediately...wanted money within the week."
This week, federal investigators indicted the company's founder, Wayde McKelvy, and his wife, Donna, charging them with misleading investors and allegedly running a Ponzi scheme. 300 investors raised at least $30 million through Speed of Wealth.
Denver Broncos legend and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was paid to speak at two Speed of Wealth meetings, and possibly more. And a connected company, Mantria, was honored by former President Bill Clinton at a meeting of his foundation.
Investors say McKelvy funneled investors to the Pennsylvania based Mantria company, which was involved in building a "green" housing development in Tennessee and technology that produced a charcoal substitute.
But federal prosecutors say the housing development was being built and the charcoal substitute plant didn't have any sales.
Holl says she invested almost $200,000 in Speed of Wealth, including $50,000 she borrowed on credit cards.
"We believed in him, we trusted him, we thought he had out interests at heart, and he misled us all," Holl told us. Now she's warning others not to fall for the get rich quick schemes.
A spokesperson for John Elway says his appearances were paid speaking engagements, and he was not endorsing the products. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton says his foundation did their due diligence on Mantria and found nothing of concern.
Wayde McKelvey had promised investors an open question-and-answer session Wednesday night to discuss the charges, but that discussion was canceled.
When we stopped by the Speed of Wealth offices in Centennial, no one was there.
