# Elite Activity

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**Elite Activity** is the name used for several [pyramid schemes](/source/Pyramid_scheme) typically targeting Christian churches and their congregations. Elite Activity solicited cash gifts of $100 to start, required participants to sign up two other people, required each of those two to sign up two more, and promised payouts of between $800 and $48,000. Marketing materials emphasized that money paid into the scheme was a gift, using language likened to [prosperity gospel](/source/Prosperity_gospel) teachings.[1]

## Original iteration

Harvey Joseph Dockstader, Jr. of [Colorado City, Arizona](/source/Colorado_City,_Arizona), also known as "H.J." and "Doc," promoted the scheme at the Secret Place International Church in [Humble, Texas](/source/Humble,_Texas). In 2006, Dockstader was sentenced to two years in state prison and a $10,000 fine after being convicted of promoting a pyramid scheme. Secret Place International's pastor testified against Dockstader in exchange for a reduced sentence.[2] Dockstader appealed to the [14th Court of Appeals in Texas](/source/Texas_Courts_of_Appeals), which affirmed the decision and concluded that Elite Activity was a pyramid scheme.[3]

As of 2005, the [Mississippi Attorney General](/source/Mississippi_Attorney_General)'s office estimated that Elite Activity had involved 22,000 churches around the U.S. and had also included employees of several organizations based in [Jackson](/source/Jackson,_Mississippi). A representative noted that multiple states had at that time sued the company in court.[4]

Elite Activity was briefly popular in [Asunción](/source/Asunci%C3%B3n); a [Paraguayan](/source/Paraguay) affiliate used claims that Elite Activity was legal in the U.S. to solicit members in the capital city.[5]

## Later iterations

In 2009, while Dockstader was incarcerated, the program continued to operate as "Elite Activity Resurrected." Large numbers of Brazilian immigrants in [Greater Boston](/source/Greater_Boston) were participating using marketing materials translated into Portuguese.[3] During this time, Elite Activity claimed to be a church, the Elite Resurrected Church, with Dockstader's attorney as the pastor.[1]

Although two Elite Activity-related web sites had ceased to function in August 2009, the [Better Business Bureau](/source/Better_Business_Bureau) serving West and [Southwest Georgia](/source/Southwest_Georgia) and east [Alabama](/source/Alabama) warned area residents in March 2010 that it had received a complaint that an Elite Activity recruiter was soliciting funds.[6]

## References

1. Leonard, Rusty (July 31, 2009). ["Easy marks: Pyramid scheme uses pastors to build trust and recruits hundreds of thousands"](https://wng.org/articles/easy-marks-1617611972). *World*. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

1. Minaya, Zeke (February 23, 2006). ["Man gets two years in Humble church pyramid scheme"](https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Man-gets-two-years-in-Humble-church-pyramid-scheme-1680004.php). *Houston Chronicle*. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

1. Mineo, Liz (June 3, 2009). ["Pastors question what appears to be an online pyramid scheme aimed at Brazilians"](https://marshfield.wickedlocal.com/x702324094/Brazilians-drawn-in-by-pyramid-scheme). *The MetroWest Daily News*. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

1. Payton, Mari (August 4, 2005). ["Internet Pyramid Scheme Sweeping State"](https://www.wlbt.com/story/3685136/internet-pyramid-scheme-sweeping-state/). *WLBT*. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

1. Schuster, Caroline E. (October 6, 2015). *Social Collateral: Women and Microfinance in Paraguay's Smuggling Economy*. University of California Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780520287051.

1. Hernandez, Andrea V. (March 10, 2010). ["Local BBB warns Columbus area of pyramid scam"](https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/business/article29124289.html). *Columbus Ledger-Enquirer*. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elite Activity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Activity) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Activity?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.