RICHMOND, Va. (CN) — A Virginia man suffering from kratom withdrawal survived a motion to dismiss his claims Wednesday that industry members knowingly omitted their products’ addictive nature to consumers.
U.S. District Judge David Novak rejected 10 companies and three individuals’ motions to dismiss state and federal fraud claims.
“The court finds plaintiffs’ allegations far from conclusory,” the Donald Trump appointee said.
Corey Tucker started purchasing kratom from smoke shops in 2022 after suffering from chronic back pain stemming from a car accident. Tucker claims he relied on the packaging, which advertised the kratom products as an herbal alternative to addictive opioids. Tucker faced unexpected difficulty when he eventually attempted to stop using kratom.
“Plaintiff Tucker experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, including fever, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome,” Tucker said…
THE BHI TRUST PONZI SCHEME (SOUTH AFRICA)
Date: Ongoing updates through February 2026 Perpetrator: Craig Warriner (Principal), with alleged co-conspirators
Case Description: The BHI Trust scandal remains one of South Africa’s most devastating financial crimes, involving the loss of between R1.9 billion and R3 billion. Craig Warriner, the “genius trader” behind the trust, turned himself in during late 2023, but the legal and recovery battles reached a fever pitch in 2025 and 2026. Warriner operated the trust as a textbook Ponzi scheme, utilizing “Old Boy” networks and high-profile brokers to lure in pensioners and high-net-worth individuals with promises of 20% annual returns.
In early 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) faced heavy criticism for “provisionally withdrawing” charges against alleged co-conspirators Michael Haldane and Sona Pillay. However, civil recovery efforts by joint trustees have continued into 2026, aiming to claw back hundreds of millions in “fictitious profits” from early investors to redistribute to those who lost everything. The case is a masterclass in the failure of fiduciary duty; the FSCA eventually banned several advisors for up to 30 years for peddling the unlicensed scheme despite clear red flags, such as the lack of a website, the absence of regulated financial reports, and a fee structure that was triple the industry average.
Link to Original: Moneyweb – BHI Trust Scandal Deep Dive