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One of the promoters of the notorious pyramid selling scheme, The Cash Club, has had his day in court and will no doubt use the ill-gotten gains of his scam to pay the penalty imposed.

Daniel Robert Leyer of Redcliffe appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged under the Fair Trading Act for promoting a pyramid selling scheme - The Cash Club.

Leyer was convicted and fined $1,500 plus court costs and was ordered to pay more than $1,000 professional costs. He was given six months to pay, and in default 60 days imprisonment.

Minister for Fair Trading, Judy Spence, said today the court decision vindicated her stand in publicly warning consumers across the state to steer clear of the bogus get-rich-quick scheme.

"I said at the outset that the pyramid scheme was illegal. Today's judgement should resolve the issue once and for all," Ms Spence said.

The court was told that Leyer admitted to having convinced a married couple to join the scheme. He also admitted to publicising the scheme at a promotional meeting.

Ms Spence said other charges against promoters of the illegal scheme were being dealt with by the courts.

"This is the first successful prosecution under the revised pyramid selling provisions of the Fair Trading Act and it won't be the last," Ms Spence said.

The Minister said the court's decision should silence the critics.

"The Queensland Office of Fair Trading has alerted its counterparts in other states to the successful prosecution with a view to eliminating this nationwide scourge on vulnerable consumers.

"In the past, whenever I have made a public statement about pyramid selling schemes, the operators launch into a well-oiled and orchestrated campaign of disinformation.

"They have harangued and harassed journalists from regional newspapers, abused my Ministerial and Department staff and have instigated a flood of calls to offices of Fair Trading around the state complaining about the hard line I have taken and threatening to sue anyone who tells the truth about them.

"I challenge them to continue to promote their scheme. I challenge them to look people in the eye and tell them it is legal.

"Their game is up," Ms Spence said.

For further media information: Ellen McIntyre, Senior Media Adviser 0408 732 491