Latino leaders urge AG Madigan to conclude probe of Herbalife, Inc.
CHICAGO – The Illinois Herbalife Campaign held a press conference on Wednesday, July 29, to celebrate the approval of a city council resolution supporting an investigation of Herbalife, Inc., a multi-level marketing firm that allegedly targets Latino communities.
“Last April, the Attorney General’s office launched an investigation into Herbalife’s business practices. Since then the office has failed to provide the community an adequate update on their investigation,” said Alderman George Cardenas (12th Ward). “We hope that by introducing this resolution today it will prompt the Attorney General’s office to bring closure to the dozens of victims that have filed complaints with her office.”
For more than a year now, community leaders have been working with Attorney General Lisa Madigan to conclude her investigation of Herbalife for operating a get-rich-quick pyramid scheme that targets Latino consumers.
“Herbalife continues to make billions of dollars annually by targeting vulnerable members of the Latino community and we need Attorney General Madigan to conclude her investigation and end Herbalife’s dishonest business practices,” said Mariela Estrada, Director of Organizing for the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.
Nearly 120 victims in Illinois have filed complaints with the attorney general’s office describing an ongoing scheme that promises huge profits and a “get-rich-quick” opportunity, but in reality, the vast majority of Herbalife participants make no money and most end up losing money.
The Illinois Herbalife Campaign pushes forward to shut down “the scam”
The Illinois Herbalife Campaign, a coalition of community groups, former Herbalife distributors and business leaders applauded the resolution’s sponsor, Ald. George Cardenas at the press event for urging the Attorney General to shut down this scam.
“Our community needs the support of the Attorney General’s office to address this issue. Chairman Cardenas’s help today in raising awareness of the ongoing investigation highlights the lack of response we have received from Lisa Madigan,” stated Maria Elena Jonas, Executive Director of HACES. “What else do we need to do to for Attorney General Madigan to stand up for our community?”
A copy of the resolution introduced in the City Council will be made available to the Illinois Attorney General’s office.