Accused scam artist reinvents himself
Mystical seminars available in San Diego
Posted: 10/16/2012
Last Updated:
217 days ago
SAN DIEGO -
A man accused of scamming hundreds of people out of their live savings and retirement accounts has come to San Diego and he's looking to change your life.
"This will absolutely change your world view," said a man in a YouTube video posted in 2011.
He wants to help raise your level of consciousness, but he's a man accused of having no conscience.
"Hello, my name is Azrael," said the man in the video.
According to the prosecutors, the actual name of the man in the video is Hendrix Montecastro, who is about to go to trial for allegedly bilking of hundreds of investors -- including San Diegans -- out of their life savings and retirement funds in a $142 million Ponzi scheme.
From diamonds to real estate, big returns were promised, but not delivered.
Even as Montecastro, 39, prepares for his trial, 10News learned the Murrieta man has been busy in other ways.
"I am a certified teacher of the Bronnikov Method," Montecastro claimed in the video.
In the video, he touts his mastery of the Bronnikov Method, a practice that claims to be rooted in Chinese tradition of meditation, philosophy and breathing.
According to a Bronnikov website, seminars with Montecastro are available in San Diego and two other cities.
Among the program's claims: out-of-body experiences, including astral projection.
According to the website, the program can help blind people see and others look through walls.
Consumer advocates said Montecastro's name change and plan change isn't surprising.
"Scammers are following the money. If one scam is drying up for whatever reason, they will certainly move to a different scam even in a totally different arena," said Amber Yoo of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
That new arena may mean some new problems.
Riverside County prosecutors said they'll look into Montecastro's switch in profession to see if he has discovered a new scam.
10News called a cellphone number listed on the website. A woman who answered hung up after learning the call was from 10News.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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