Burnlounge's online music stores were red hot in Columbia a few years ago until federal regulators sued seeking nearly $22 million in restitution for what they claim is a pyramid scheme.
The 3 Hebrew Boys operation in Columbia collected $82 million nationwide promising to pay off investors' debts before being convicted of running a Ponzi scheme.
Jerry Wells managed the books at Columbia's UCI Medical Affiliates until he pleaded guilty in connection with embezzling nearly $3 million from his employer.
Here's the latest update on these three big-money cases:
Burnlounge
This case is still smoldering.
Nearly a year after the civil trial ended, a federal judge has yet to rule on the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit against the online music site's leaders and top salesmen.
Burnlounge's leading recruiter was former USC running back Rob DeBoer of Irmo, federal officials said. Columbia was a hub for the site pitched as a way for people to create their own iTunes-like store. About 37,000 invested.
The feds sued DeBoer and three others in 2007, claiming Burnlounge investors earned much more from commissions in selling stores to others than selling songs.
DeBoer, who has denied any wrongdoing, said last week he has no idea when the judge might rule. For now, he's concentrating on coaching his kids' teams and working on some business ideas.
As for the pending Burnlounge decision: "I don't even think about it."
3 Hebrew Boys
The trio - Joseph Brunson, Timothy McQueen and Tony Pough - are awaiting sentencing for leading the scheme that promised to pay off massive debts in exchange for payments by 7,000 people.
They spent lavishly on themselves, including a jet, a motorcoach, cars, condos, homes and football stadium skyboxes.
The FBI and a court-appointed receiver are still attempting to recover all the goodies and money from the men who face up to 30 years in prison.
Since their conviction in November, authorities have recovered two Mercedes roadsters and a Mercedes sedan bought by the 3 Hebrew Boys, according to a court affidavit this month.
One roadster - which cost $190,000 - was found in December being driven by a man indicted in Kansas for his role in a drug-trafficking operation, documents said.
That led authorities to a Northeast Richland storage unit paid for by a one-time 3 Hebrew Boys employee. In the unit, officials found the other roadster - worth $132,000 -and a safe, the affidavit said.
Authorities are still hunting for $3 million in cash withdrawn by the trio. The safe was seized with the hopes it might contain the money - or, at least, some answers.
It was empty.
Jerry Wells
UCI is cleaning its books, but Wells still awaits his final chapter.
His sentencing hearing on eight counts of filing false financial statements was postponed from last week until April 22.
He faces up to 40 years in prison and up to $2 million in fines. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of seven years.
Wells submitted check requests for nonbusiness expenses, including about $1 million that went for construction work on his homes in Columbia and on Fripp Island, officials said.
UCI, the manager of Doctor's Care offices, has suffered. This month, the company wrote off nearly $4.6 million and restated earnings in the wake of Wells' fraud. The last of the quarterly restatements is expected within two weeks, the company said.
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