Marlborough, MA, April 18, 2014 -- The chief financial officer of TelexFree, Joseph H. Craft, was stopped by a deputy sherriff as he attempted to leave during federal agents' search of TelexFree's offices this week. Craft told the deputy he was only a consultant assisting TelexFree with its bankruptcy filing. Craft was carrying a laptop and a bag containing nearly $38 million in cashier's checks made out to various company principals and TelexFree entities.

The SEC received approval from a Federal judge to freeze the assets of TelexFree and 8 principals and associates of the company. The SEC's civil complaint names TelexFree owners, James M. Merrill, Katia B. Wanzeler and Carlos N. Wanzeler, as well as four of the company's top representatives: Steven M. Labriola, Santiago De La Rosa, Randy N. Crosby, and Faith R. Sloan. It also names Sanderley Rodrigues de Vasconcelos, who was sanctioned by federal securities regulators in 2006 for defrauding consumers through a prepaid phone card company called FoneClub.

The SEC alleges that TelexFree's financial records showed that it has transferred $30 million to the principals and affiliated companies since November 2013, and tens of millions more in customer funds are unaccounted for.

TelexFree's lawyer has not responded for requests for comment.