Pete Lesbo / I2 BEWARE!!!

[Lowlight]

For the record I am not getting involved,

Pete was a paying vendor years ago, pre-Scout, but has not been a supporting member since. I actually have no idea if he has been actively using the site as I barely enter the NV Sections. I have no idea what takes place there.

This is tragic, Pete is a solid guy, but I am not defending something when I have no dog in this fight.

For those who want to post threatening or just downright stupid shit, you might have given me a reason to ban you, and it will be permanent as I am not playing these same games. So as I read through this, if something sets me off as not being right, and it disappears, so be it, you might just disappear with it. I would recommend if you crossed a line in your posting you remove or edit it before I do, with you.

As noted, legal channels are available, he is not a current site supporter, so we have nothing to say.

I have a cousin with the same issue, as well as the guy who brought me into STA Platoon in the USMC has the same thing. Terrible way to live, I can't imagine the cost beyond what I have seen and I would not wish it on anyone. This was not a personal choice.

Understand this, for those who want to keep reporting this post to the site, Absence of answers people will fill in their own blanks>. This is human nature, a well-crafted letter laying out the situation can easily be posted here for public consumption and end the debate.

 

[RTH1800]

Pete is a good guy in a bad spot.

I am out a lot of money via Pete. Likely as much as anyone.

I wish him all the best!

 

[smoothy8500]

Yeah, in medically related bankruptcies no one came out ahead.

 

[seansmd]

That is a huge bummer for him and his family, I get the frustration unfortunately many don't have folks that can jump in when they are taken down by life.

 

[Douglas-001]

I have been following this thread and deeply regret doing so. But I feel compelled to comment. As Theis posted there was an earlier thread about Pete. I threw in my .02 cents. My transactions with him were several years ago and he took the time to speak with me on several occasions and helped me make an informed decision. I completely understand the frustration that is involved with spending hard earned money and then getting nothing in return. A terrible feeling I myself am familiar with. Chances are that many members have been in that boat.

Perhaps the bigger concern-in my opinion-are the thinly veiled threats and ludicrous comments despite the information put forward that Pete is most likely suffering from a clearly serious health issue/affliction. What it is, I do not know. I am not asking. With that said, and at the risk of sounding sanctimonious, (the good Lord knows I am far from it) it has been my experience that when members here are in distress of any kind, others do not hesitate to offer prayers, guidance, or kind words of encouragement. If any such words were offered in this troubling thread, I must have missed them as they are deeply veiled. Mass has been suspended here, how long. I do not know. But that does not stop me from praying, and I will absolutely include a special intention for all members, especially for those involved most directly on both sides of this issue.

Doug

 

[Angelorussell]

@elwarpo good news did he just start dodging calls/messages/emails again?

I lost contact with him since began of January, he’s got my Anvis 9’s ..

 

[RTH1800]

I wonder who got all the items Pete “misappropriated?”

I lost a 14 plus the price of another one. But, the stories were good. ?

 

[wvfarrier]

I dont have a dog in this fight but did have a similar issue a couple years ago on a custom belt/holster rig ($500 ish). I finally contacted the local PD and informed them of the issue. They sent an officer out to have a "talk" with the individual. It is technically internet fraud if you used the internet for purchase/ordering. I had the rig 4 days later, a full 8 months past the due date. Never hurts to ask.

 

[jgriffith96]

I am also out the cost for a 14 I ordered from Pete in September, plus the one I just purchased from another vendor. Like others have stated first it was excuses about faulty tubes, then no responses to calls or emails. People are out thousands of dollars and just want their product or money back.

 

[Angelorussell]

I am also out the cost for a 14 I ordered from Pete in September, plus the one I just purchased. Like others have stated first it was excuses about faulty tubes, then no responses to calls or emails. People are out thousands of dollars and just want their product or money back.

May have to get lawyers or the law and have them pay him a visit...

 

[jgriffith96]

May have to get lawyers or the law and have them pay him a visit...

That's the next step researching that now!

 

[RTH1800]

Should we all PM and start a list of people and losses?

 

[wigwamitus]

I have a pretty good list. Except for Angelo and jg ... the "new guys"

But a group PM sounds good. Fire one up Mr rth !!

 

[kcbird]

I don't understand the secret squirrel stuff. If you want some one to take it easy on someone and have some understanding. Saying its a horrible way to live, you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy, its something you would want to have. I get it but I wouldn't want diarrhea ( don't jump my ass I'm not saying what it is).

If you want people to lay off you might want to say what he is afflicted with, people won't have much compassion for "it's not my place to say but its a real bad unknown disease". May want to find someone that can say and maybe some people that feel fucked over will give him some latitude to get over it if that is even possible.

 

[j-huskey]

In my first post on this, I suggested people send registered letters and see what popped, rather than threaten to go attack the man.
Or take that extreme hostility into a police dept there.

Nobody thought much of following a LE officers suggestion, who has dealt with similar situations b4, and who is aware of the current situation.

At this point, a list of the "victims", what items were sent, what was paid for, and what remains unsettled is appropriate.
IS APPROPRIATE !

And delivering it through LE or an attorney to Pete or his caregiver, IS APPROPRIATE.

It's time to take that step, no matter his illness at this point.

And based on the outcome of that delivery, decisions should be made on further actions.

This needs to proceed, yes.


@wigwamitus

Refreshed an old PM to you.

 

[wigwamitus]

j-huskey ... 3 of us are in touch with a specific attorney in Twin Falls ... we are walking down the road.

Thanks !!

( AFAIK none of the principles have suggested inappropriate steps ... though other kibitzers have ... we bore our way thru the minefield ... on the straight and narrow path ... )

 

[j-huskey]

j-huskey ... 3 of us are in touch with a specific attorney in Twin Falls ... we are walking down the road.

Thanks !!

( AFAIK none of the principles have suggested inappropriate steps ... though other kibitzers have ... we bore our way thru the minefield ... on the straight and narrow path ... )

Godspeed Brother,
It's a simple path, done right.
Let us hope for the best for all involved.
vr

 

[newguy2k3v2]

In my case I sent him a cnvd-lr for a 35+snr l3 wp filmless tube swap and recollimation and to build a pvs-14 with the old tube. This was in September. Email comms were prompt. No mention of being a one man shop and having a debilitating disease. I sent in my optic and almost $4k for parts and labor. The check was promptly cashed or deposited and comms pretty much stopped.

He did return emails at 2 points after that after another member prompted him to (I suspect). He returned a phone call in December or January with an excuse about "sag height" on the new tube being out of speed and waiting on l3 to make it right. He did text me back around the beginning of March and was using the same "waiting on L3" excuse. Silence since then.

I've repeatedly asked him to just send my stuff back minus his labor charge even if it's a box of parts. All unanswered. For a long time I was giving him the benefit of the doubt but that time has passed now.

So as of now I'm out a $7-8k optic and almost $4k cash.

 

[Angelorussell]

Yeah this is some BS with this guy ... anyone that knows him personally needs to step up and tell him what’s up ... so far it seems he’s in the 10’s of thousands of people’s gear ...

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I’m a pretty optimistic guy, but I don’t think this is going to end well for those who have cash out with him. Unless someone is pretty well off and not very smart then your chance of collecting against an estate is slim. Even then it’s easy enough to move assets around and write a will so there’s nothing left which almost always happens because they’re going to protect their family financially as best as they can. It’s very easy to make money and assets disappear, even when the dispute is between family members of an estate. In most if not all states I believe you can’t go after jointly owned assets at all.

He should have started putting measures in place to insure his company and customers would be taken care of at least a year ago when he got sick (based on post in other thread from March 2019 saying his health took a turn). A businessman always has a backup plan and a backup plan for the backup plan. He didn’t get sick and had weeks to live, there’s been plenty of time. Not trying to bash the guy or beat a dead horse but this is something anyone needs to think about when they’re considering starting a business.

Hopefully he makes a speedy recovery from whatever is going on (not sure why it’s such a big secret) and everyone gets their stuff and there’s plenty of revenue in the future to hire employees to help chip away the backlog and expand.

 

[Tuhlmann]

Pete’s personal issues are completely separate from his business obligations. Any failures on the business end due to complications on the personal end are still required to be satisfied. I can be sympathetic to Pete’s assumed illness, but my compassion stops where the financial transaction starts. Business is business, and his business obligations need to be satisfied regardless of his personal state of affairs. Illness isn’t an excuse. Heck, death isn’t even an excuse. Right is right, and right needs to be done here by Pete and/or Pete’s POA.

Choices have been made by Pete with respect to his dealings. Turns out they haven’t been good ones. Good faith has been destroyed by no communications & failure to fulfill commitments. He will have all of my sympathies & compassions once he has returned my money, and the tens of thousands of dollars in cash & hardware to all the others that sent him business in that good faith he has destroyed.

I want the best possible outcome for all in this matter. I’m disappointed to be a part of it, but I will see it through the right way. Wigwamitus has the ball rolling. These kinds of frauds, intentional or otherwise, cannot go unchecked.

 

[bachelorjack]

We sent a PVS-24 to Pete for repair/inspection. He received it, billed for his services and mailed it back. UPS lost it.

Pete recieved a UPS insurance payment for our unit that was sent in for repair because he purchased the postage—although we paid for it. He cashed the UPS check. Then went dark. Has since blocked my cell number.

So Pete got $3500 from UPS and we lost a PVS-24 we owned. Plus Pete got paid to fix it which he did.

This happened in 2018. He blocked my cell right before the start of 2019.

I had done business with him numerous times since 2005. Spent many an hour and many an evening talking to him on the phone. About life, work, whatever. I believed we were friends.

Losing my friend sucked...

 

[RTH1800]

Jack,
My story is similar including theft of items, theft of cash, “UPS lost my tubes” then going dark.
To top it off I also feel bad about losing my friend with whom I enjoyed visiting immensely.
RTH

 

[newguy2k3v2]

I did business with Pete once. It was a small transaction ($600) or so, guess he was tryng to lure me in for more... I got what I paid for... seems as if it was a bigger transaction I wouldn’t of. He also had mod armory complete the Second payment / of the transaction ... said it’s his sister company, I wonder if they’re in on it too.

I've bought quite a few things from mod armory and they've been nothing but awesome to me. A few months back I called them and got Nicole and asked if she had talked to or heard from Pete because I thought he collaborated with mod armory to some extent. She said they hadn't dealt with him in over a year. She said she called and left him a message that I was trying to get in touch with him. Of course nothing came of that either.

Bottom line is i have no reason to believe mod armory has any part in this.

NVM. It seems they're involved and at the very least aware.

 

[bachelorjack]

Modarmory is aware of Pete’s actions and the people looking for him. They have been since Jan 2019. The owner and Pete were also partners in certain business. Those details were explained to me in detail by Pete but thats the only “proof” I would have. Ive spoken to the owner of Modarmory. He was aware then people were pursuing Pete for money and items and he was distancing himself from Pete.

Nicole was also sweet when I talked to her in 2019. I bet she didnt throw Pete under the bus when she spoke to you—although she was familiar with this reoccurring problem. You were far from her first phone call. Bet it seemed like it though? Only you would know.

If I’m right--Modarmory was and is very aware of Pete’s actions and has been in contact with him at various times throughout this timeline. They are likely trying to shield themselves and protect their friend. I don’t blame them. But lets not be dumb about this either.

 

[bachelorjack]

Just checked. Mod armory billed me on Sep 11th 2019, for Pete’s transaction. I can provide proof to interested parties ..

If that is indeed true then Modarmory can be legally pursued for these defrauded and stolen items/monies.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Well then I stand corrected. Disappointing to find this out.

 

[bachelorjack]

Why was Pete having someone else accept credit cards?

“Timeline
11-28-18 charge 2495
4-05-19 dispute credit
Lost and recharged 5-15-19 because he fought the charge back with fraud ip address
6-26-19 won again “

So on 6-26-19 Pete’s credit card processing account was negative $2495 plus chargeback fees. Then 9-11-19 a member here had Modarmory process their credit card.

Did anyone else do a chargeback durring that time period?

 

[RTH1800]

Getting tangled up. Might be more folks in trouble.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

How certain is anyone this guy is actually sick?

 

[SkyScrapin]

How certain is anyone this guy is actually sick?

100%

 

[Strykervet]

I have problems and sometimes it causes me to not be able to meet obligations. But I let people know I'll be running behind, give them an estimated ETA, option to refund the money --whatever-- I don't leave 'em hanging and I sure as shit don't keep taking money knowing I probably won't be able to complete the order. On top of it, I never consider that money mine until the order is complete so it sits in a sort of "escrow account" if you will so I can refund it right away if need be. And I never, ever take money for something I don't have in hand, ready to send out.

Why couldn't he do that? Just asking. I have no dog in the fight either, I deal with Vic at TNVC, who had gone above and beyond more than once, and if he gets sick he's got guys that fill in for him so shit like this won't happen. Contingencies. That's what I'm getting at.

When I hear of these people that run into problems, I get it, life is hard. I can be patient. When I hear of 'em continue to take customer's money and knowing they likely won't be completing the order, then don't, well, that's criminal and I'm not patient.

If MOD Armory is liable, involved, whatever, then a good question would be why aren't they stepping up and making this right? If you have a receipt with MOD on it, well, sounds like Pete is MOD's problem and not yours. I'd call MOD and demand my gear and if they refuse, call CC and tell 'em they refuse to ship and demand a chargeback. Short of MOD having proof of shipment, CC is gonna tell 'em "not our problem".

Better hurry though. If he defrauded MOD and put them on the hook, they won't be in business for much longer. Sounds like he's on the hook for hundreds of thousands, maybe more. NOD shit ain't cheap.

 

[MarinePMI]

I'd suggest we let this thread lay idle for a day or so. We've already lost one member today in this thread. Let's not add insult to injury here.

w/r
MPMI

 

[elwarpo]

Complete lack of comms, lawyers now...

 

[RTH1800]

I called Pete a couple weeks ago. Left message telling him I’m not pursuing legal action but expected him to man up and at least explain why he committed mail fraud, lied, stole my property and money etc.

Nothing.

 

[bachelorjack]

If it went straight to voicemail on the first ring—-he’s blocked your number.

 

[deersniper]

We sent a PVS-24 to Pete for repair/inspection. He received it, billed for his services and mailed it back. UPS lost it.

Pete recieved a UPS insurance payment for our unit that was sent in for repair because he purchased the postage—although we paid for it. He cashed the UPS check. Then went dark. Has since blocked my cell number.

So Pete got $3500 from UPS and we lost a PVS-24 we owned. Plus Pete got paid to fix it which he did.

This happened in 2018. He blocked my cell right before the start of 2019.

I had done business with him numerous times since 2005. Spent many an hour and many an evening talking to him on the phone. About life, work, whatever. I believed we were friends.

Losing my friend sucked...

Wtf


This guy should be in jail. Hopefully your lawyers can get together and put a lien on his house/ assets.

What a shit show. Makes the $700 southwest ammo stole from me seem like peanuts.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Wtf


This guy should be in jail. Hopefully your lawyers can get together and put a lien on his house/ assets.

What a shit show. Makes the $700 southwest ammo stole from me seem like peanuts.

Yes lawyers and law enforcement are involved now. It doesn't sound like he has much of anything for assets unfortunately.

It's sad that it has come to this.

Eta: The last comms I had with Pete were in early March I believe. Supposedly the "sag height" on the new tube he had gotten from L3 for my cnvd-lr was excessive and he was waiting for the rma'd replacement and a battery housing to build the pvs-14. If that was truthful then I have hope that I'll at least get my parts.

 

[Tuhlmann]

Bump for visibility.

 

[Angelorussell]

Bump for visibility.

Man Pete is just ripping us off left n right can somebody step to this guy ? Sooo sad the law need to just put him in jail but first TAKE everything he has been hiding.....

 

[Tuhlmann]

Any update on this turd? While I wait to re-accumulate the hard earned savings Pete stole from me, I’d at least like to get some satisfaction in learning of some kind of consequences. Legal and/or cosmic.

 

[deersniper]

The system just protects the criminals from the honest people.


Every cent should come out of his assets or estate

 

[RTH1800]

I last heard he spent the money on strippers and coke. I was relived as I was concerned he had just wasted it.

 

[Rancid Coolaid]

Never bought from him, don't know him, but sure do appreciate TNVC after reading this thread.

Thanks, Victor and Jamie and the whole crew!

 

[acudaowner]

well I just received an email from a relative I never heard from before than informed me my great great grandpa was really wealthy and that if i could send him 2000k us dollars they when the money is released would send me 20 million dollars in return , I was shocked to say the least finally a relative that was not dead poor or running around shoe less through some part of the Appalachian mountains but a prince in Nigeria , well you never it could have happened lol

 

[Strykervet]

Look, I'm sorry for his problems. I'm a disabled vet too and my problems make it so I can't meet my obligations sometimes. I always manage to let people know if I'm running behind because I'm fucked up. And I mean if I'm a day behind or whatever and it's $20 on the line, fuck five months and $4k.

Five months and $4k means he's dead or physically out of business but hasn't come to the reality of the situation if he's still taking money. And I am taking his character into consideration because otherwise five months and $4k means you're a goddamn shitbag cheat, period.

I've heard of people getting into problems and catch 22's and living a certain way with shitloads of bills they can no longer manage and just can't stop taking the money. It's how those ponzi schemes start. I've seen families continue to take the money too. And then keep it after the guy dies.

You've been more than patient. Time to call the CC company and do a chargeback. He'll be forced to at least prove he mailed something in order to prevent the chargeback from going forward. You did do this with a CC didn't you?

NV is about the greediest and most corrupt goddamn business on the planet, I just don't get it. Excuses, shit never mails out without begging and multiple emails and calls, don't get what you ordered, excuses, worst fucking CS ever once they get the cash... And excuses. I can count all the credible dealers on one hand. At this point, if Vic and the gang at TNVC can't come through I just fucking wait until they can. If TNVC goes under I'll just build a fucking fire. It's not worth it.

At the risk of the following flames I can see coming. ..

I am not a spokesman for Pete Lesbo, nor related to him, nor do I have any business interest involved with him. I do not speak for him or his family. But, in the interest of all involved.

I am aware of the illness he has. I have lost three family members to it. It is insidious and steals both your life and mind.
It can put a family in an unbelievable situation over night, and the family response is difficult to adjust to losing a once vibrant individual into one that can no longer care for themselves.

He is a retired Marine of impeccable character with a disease that has stolen his life. To the person who thinks it could be due to a bad choice, NOT...

Those of you who choose to road trip and speak with the authorities may be escorted out of town.

Those who road trip and put a brick through his window may meet former Marines with a Mattis plan.

My professional suggestion to those of you who have money invested, is to send a registered letter, verified delivery through the post office, and see what response you receive.

It is very possible that you might have to file a claim against his estate.

Please do not commit any brick through window or other criminal actions against him. Please follow the legal channels.

Very Respectfully,
Thank you.

I think if everyone showed up at his door wanting their money at the same time they'd need the goddamn marines with a plan.

Yeah, I fucked up and let a guy die with my money once. That'll never happen again, even if I have to beat it out of his ass on his deathbed. If he dies with your money, it's gone, adios. You can file all the shit against whatever the fuck you like, good luck. But if you want your money, better get it on this side of the grave.

And use a CC so you don't have to deal with shit like this.

 

[bachelorjack]

Pete fought CC chargebacks in our case. Supplied all sorts of made up nonsense to win.

 

[elwarpo]

Criminal fraud charges filed. Felony in Texas...

 

[bachelorjack]

Criminal fraud charges filed. Felony in Texas...

What a shame it had to come to this...

 

[elwarpo]

What a shame it had to come to this...

I know, he will be facing multiple felonies now... let's see how he likes jail...