I was a very active member of this board several years ago and attended the very first Rich Dad real estate conference in Las Vegas NV. Those were great days with bounce, marcos and others. I met a man named Mark Kemp here who went by utah investor. He was very helpful on the boards for those of us wanting to do real estate and eventually we hired him to come out and do a 'training'. Over time he trained something like 200 hundred people and had his own group and his own forum. People who got close to him started leaving the group. They had issues with his integrity and honesty. I know many people who did deals with him that made a bunch of money, but I know even more who lost money because he needed to sign a document, talk to a home owner, just show up to the deal and he was too busy to follow thru. On his advise many people bought properties expecting that he would follow thru, be his word and help them out, the majority of them lost money. For all of the advise, he only asked for a % of the deal ranging from 10 to 50% or more depending on if he had money into it. For trainings that cost $5000 or more to deals he got paid on to conferences that cost hundreds more than the actual cost, he literally made millions. At the conferences there was an almost cult like worship of him and one man told the group of 200 that he would give his right arm to Mark for helping him out. That same guy left the group several months later, and not nicely. He found out what was really going on and got burned.

It all imploded, as most organizations do when the leader is revealed to lack character. The group died, but many friendships were formed and many of us still do deals 'utah style'. Many moved on to be millionaires in their own right, many more went back to their jobs.

Now it has come full circle. Mark Kemp has pleaded guilty to securities fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced sometime this month in Salt Lake City. We were informed he would be doing jail time. This won't be the first stint in the pokey for Kemp, he served time for embezzelment in CA. When the group started imploding a couple of members dug up that nugget and Kemp subsequently admitted such to several members.

If you are in a deal with Mark Kemp, if you are thinking about being associated with him, consider this a warning. Also, if you are educating yourself using the posts archived on this board please be aware that you should not check your brain or your conscious at the door.

EDITED 12-5-08
I found a copy of the indictment. Apparently he plead guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Hey STEVE O....24tea...lost your contact info guy.

Still in deals...not doing as well as you. Got a few rentals and trying to make them work. Tenants suck.

If you get down to Tucson, give me a call and I'll take you to lunch.

Tracey

Talk about a blast from the past. I was informed of Mark Kemp's latest "issues" just today - the fact that he is in jail - he is in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day because he doesn't want to get his butt whipped, the fact that he now has an additional $72k + & also more tax evasion issues against him, etc. etc. So I did some search's on line & this popped up.

I was a Mark K "disciple" & was involved in the Rich Dad Poor Dad web site a TON years ago. My monicker was "moneybags" (my password was "want it" so figure that out - haha!) I stood by Mark for quite a while even after others bailed mainly because I felt that no matter what, he did train me & for that, I thank him. If I chose to do good or bad deals after the training, that was on me. But of course eventually when my 10% I sent him was not enough, when Mark wanted to get paid on good deals but didn't want to hear about the tighter deals or the deals that went sideways, we lost touch. But I always wished him well. But the more I find out, have heard from others & read - it is just such a pity.

It is sad, a total bummer mainly bcause of what "could have been." A like minded group of real estate investors nationwide to run idea's off of - to learn from - to hear everyone else had a lot of the same struggles & also some of their own. I learned a TON as we all did in my opionion. Accurint came from a member that we did not use. Streets & Trips was introduced this way as well. Same with an overall bank list of contacts. I could go on & on how a LOT of people shared. Yes, a lot of these programs we could have (or maybe would have) found on our own, but it was nice to hear others help out people they hardly knew. For that, I guess Mark was a part of. So was the PRich Dad Poor Dad web site & all the generous folks that shared their knowledge. Cripes, when I met Mark in 2002 & he came to train me ($5k days) - it took me a LOT of time perusing thru the Map Books to try to route us the best way for drive bys! Good grief - I couldn't imagine doing that nowadays!!

Anyways - it was good to see some other folks that used to be on here a ton & I still think of you all & want to say THANK YOU & who knows - I am available via phone &/or email &/or my web site so if you feel you can make a few minutes - contact me or you never know -I may do the same.

But remember that 2002 meeting...wow....Marcos (best story ever bar none & I hope you are still doing well!!,) Les Gee, David/Stacy (bygones if you ask me,) 24tea (only spoke to a couple times but was always impressed,) Bounce, Peter Andrews, Tracy King & all the rest....A very tumultous almost 7 years I must say....Hope all is doing well & I am going to try my best to keep on this board & see who is doing what & if I can ever help...I'm game....Also of course - I'd like to learn & try to do more deals!!

Good luck all!

Paul Barthol
rcresinc.com

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Paul A. Barthol Jr.
http://www.rcresinc.com/

Not be be overly negative, but I can remember back to reading the posts on these boards by some of the folks mentioned above. I always thought to myself that they were probably over extending and trying to make too much "quick money". I can't tell you how many people I saw post about doing 20 or even 100 deal a year and to max out and have millions in loans for CF property.
Well, it turns out I am not a friggin idiot. I kept things under controll. I now have a nice little real estate portfolio and DID quit my 9-5 to do real estate full time. My business is profitable and I will probably never go back to work corporate again. But I did it under control, buying a couple houses each year and nothing more then I could afford to lose.

I do not feel sorry for all the folks who gambled and lost. Because the condescending attitudes back in 2002 were pretty prevelant towards those of us who thought REI was a slow term way to financial freedom.

So take this lesson that many learned the hard way.

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www.kudzurealestate.com
www.byebyety.com
www.nashvillemommies.com

I have not been on the site much lately but still freaked out by Mark's gig. Also spoke to Peter Andrews not long ago. Hope Tracy / Skyboy / Marcos / 24tea, etc. are all doing well...Good luck the rest of '09 & beyond!

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Paul A. Barthol Jr.
http://www.rcresinc.com/

I just wanted to thank who ever it was who came to Active Rain and made me aware of what was going on with Mark Kemp. It was done anonymously so I have no way to know who it is I should thank but hopefully they will see this. I designed many of Mark's web sites and marketing pieces he used online and printed. I have now taken down anything I still had up of his and wonder if it will hurt me in any way that I promoted someone who could have done this. I have pieces hosted for people all over the web so I might have missed some networking site it's still up on but will remove anything I find still out there. Thank you again for letting me know. Now I understand why it was so hard to get paid that last time.
Sharon Leigh

Hey y'all! I was there at the last (Les was that Manhattan, near the Empire State building?). I remember sweating a deal where Tara was trying to get the VA to short a mortgage. Tough and heady times. Marcos and I caught up in Wealthy Affiliates for a time. I'm still in IM. Mark was a piece of work all right.
Marcos,
Clearly you aren't in the double wide any more!
Whatever happened to Mojo, Jordan and Jason?