The long and tortured story of Pahrump Nevada’s Front Sight academy is about looking like it will come to a close after a Federal Court lowered the boom on the operation for violating pretty much every single one of the terms of the court settlement.
It’s just the latest example of scummy behavior from the firearm training world’s Russ Whitney. I have never recommended Front Sight, unless the student is also looking to pay for a couple hours of high pressure Amway style scam pitches a day! Also add to that, the place was a hive of Scientology, with the typical scams associated with that criminal organization.
Us shooters are justifiably proud of our big tent. Shotgun snobs, hunters, pistol game shooters and tactical munchkins can all find common cause. But Front Sight is a total sham and the sooner they are ejected from the community, the better off we will all look.
Additional thoughts here.
{ 21 } Comments
Oops.
Premature celebration.
“Dated: May 18, 2009
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN JOSE DIVISION
Stacy James, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
Ignatius A. Piazza, et al.,
Defendants.
/
NO. C 05-04532 JW
ORDER DISSOLVING RECEIVERSHIP
AND DISCHARGING RECEIVER
On May 11, 2009, the Court issued an order appointing George C. Fisher, as Interim-
Receiver of Front Sight Management, Inc., also doing business as Front Sight Firearms Training
Institute. Based upon the Receiver’s Report #1, submitted under seal pursuant to the Court’s
approval, the evidence and statements made at the May 18, 2009 hearing, and for good cause shown,
IT IS ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
(1) The Receiver shall be discharged by this Order and the Receiver shall be deemed
relieved of all duties, liabilities and responsibilities pertaining to the Receivership
previously established;
(2) George C. Fisher is discharged as the Receiver and relieved of any duties, liabilities,
and responsibilities;
(3) The Receivership is hereby dissolved and all instructions previously given to third
parties by the Receiver shall terminate and end and be of no further effect. All parties
given notice of the Receivership may return to their prior business relationship Front Sight Management, Inc., also doing business as Front Sight Firearms Training
Institute;
(4) The Receiver’s bond herein shall be exonerated by this Order.”
Doubt that it matters to you, but I’ve personally never encountered two hours of “Amway style scam pitches” per day or any mention of scientology at a Front Sight course.
Are you naively parroting someone else’s claims or are you just a self important, hyperbolic, lying cockwad?
Oh wait, I just read your “about” page.
Never mind.
Chuck
I suppose it would be too much to ask that you save your insults for the organization defrauding American shooters?
I do not know the significance of this legal move, but I do not think the end result will be in Piazza’s favor.
Dissolving the receivership means that the court appointed person who was overseeing Front Sight has been relieved of his duties. It does not in anyway mean that Front Sight is out of hot water on this one, nor that they should be.
Iggy P. has a lot of people defending him on gun boards all over the place, which is something I’ve never understood.
You guys are just SP’s!
I always thought, with that fake Navy influence, that SP’s were Shore Patrol! Even if it was only hours and hours of time-share sales hustle, wait, did they promise free drinks? I hate Cabo for that reason alone. And I couldn’t trust the pizza-mustache.
Last week there was a guy at the most obsequious restaurant I’ve ever experienced in Kapalua, making the sounds of a plucked timeshare game-hen justifying his apparent purchase. You could just hear it in his voice and the rapidity of his speech – he exuded it like a perspiring Frenchman. Hey, it’s his money – like I care.
“…and for good cause shown…”
My question is just exactly what good cause did Dr. P show that got him out of receivership and a contempt charge? I also noticed the Front Sight Litigation website has been taken down and is no longer available.
Something is afoot… and whatever it is, it’s being moved into the shadows, where underhanded deals are made in smoke filled, dimly lit back rooms. This is going to get (more) interesting now.
If you say nice things about him you get free stuff, some got free courses. When you go YOU WILL get the high pressure to join up. How they have gotten away for so long flat out breaking all sorts of laws is a travisty of justice. Enough said, Now that we cant even follow the legal stuff we will probably never know. To Bad
We’re members, and have taken way more than a dozen classes out there this year and were never pressured, nor have we witnessed anyone pressured. By any measure it’s a pretty low-key sales presentation. You can’t fault them for offering membership opportunities; but it’s purely an offer not a face to face sales pitch. Try walking onto a car dealership or taking a timeshare tour these days if you want to feel real sales pressure.
I’ve never met Mr. Piazza but in all our dealings with admin staff and range staff it’s always been 100% professional without exception. Furthermore, aside from a few complaints on sparse bathroom facilities which are basically well-kept porta-pottys, I’ve never heard a single complaint from a member or a non-member… never, not once and I’d say I’ve met hundreds if not close to 500+ people there or more.
My Father and I flew from VA to take classes at Front Sight for the first time in December and we loved it! The instruction was top notch. We have been shooting our whole lives and with the pointers they gave, we were shooting much better in a matter of hours. The staff was extremely professional. The “sales” pitch was almost non-existent. It took place over lunch one day and you weren’t even required to attend. If you want solid training that will improve your handgun skills and you are prepared to be on the range for 10 hours a day….this is the place for you!
Why has the on line reporting on FrontSights legal disaster been taken down? I thought it was put up by the attornys for the disgruntled members. It gave all of us a look into what sort of fast play and tactics Iggy P was trying to pull off. He was accused of moving money down to Costa Rica but we never heard any more. Inquiring minds would like to know. PLEASE
My daughter and i took a 2 day hand gun class there last September. The instruction was outstanding and delivered by highly trained personnel in a professional manner. Absolutely no complaints. My daughter, a lawyer, wanted to buy a memebership but we were never pressured. I balked at the membership because i knew nothing about the financial strength of the organization. I am glad i waited given all the lawsuit noise but i still know nothing about the financial strength of the business. I cannot bring my self to buy a membership not knowing if they are going to be around. Its a shame as it was a great experience for my daughter and I and i would very much like to send my wife and other daughters. I have spent hours researching this situation and i have still not found the root cause for all the venom being spewed about this guy or Front Sight. I have no dog in this fight one way or the other. I just had a great and valuable learning experience there.
Here it is September 6th and whatever the big secret that frontsight demanded as part of there last stalling tactic seems to have worked. NO NEWS. It would be really nice to know what is going on at frontsight but i think we mere mortals and destined to be kept in the dark. To bad
My wife and I took the four day defensive handgun course in April and were very satisfied with the training we received. We never met Dr. Piazza but the instructors were all first-rate. I’m not sure what the lawsuit was all about – I assume it came from those memberships he sold years ago where he invisioned a town catering to gun enthusiasts. I just received an invitation to receive a lifetime membership for a cut-rate price, probably since he’s got some court-ordered payments coming up and doesn’t have the funds. I’m tempted to buy in now to try and help out.
Buying into frontsight now is to add more money into Piazza”s ponzi scheme, This is why he got sued to begin with.High price tags and lots of broken promises. Someday it will catch up with him and he will keep his off shore money compsny.
We would strongly caution anyone considering this company based on our experience – we called to inquire about their Millionaire Patriot offer and were asked to provide a credit card number even before we received an application – we found we did not want to comply with one of the application requirements and called to cancel – the credit card had already been processed and the Executive Assistant refused to reverse the charge or waive the requirement. No reputable business operates this way.
It a shame that some one working the gun community is so disreputable in business practices. He has been able to keep all his dishonest tactics secret from the public, that in itself is scarey. I am afraid we will never know the depth of his scams and underhand dealings. The first big red flag for a ponzi scheam is always a LIFE TIME comittment on the part of the seller. Buyers beware
Yeah I sent for the video from front sight and ever since I’ve received email after email with pressure to take a course or join. I really don’t like the high pressure but the shooting stuff looks pretty good. If it wasn’t for the high pressure I would probably take a couple of classes.
Just too car salesmanish for me.
TC
Car salesman are squeeky clean compared to Piazza. His underhanded tactics will someday wind him up in jail. He was originally brought up on RICA charges, and how he squeezed by them so far is a miracle, and no testament to the US Judicial process. The incrediable blackout on info regarding all the goings on is whats really scarey. Its a known fact that he moved a small fortune and a nice new big home for himself to Costa Rica. so if ot gets to hairy we know where he will wind up.
what is happening with the lawsuir now? Does anyone know?
Front Sight and Piazza are in full swing again. He is selling bargain basement classes at a ridiculous price to shovel as much cash in as possible, as quickly as possible. The unpublished news is that they are again on the brink of bankruptcy. They are selling “take it anytime” classes for about $100 or less and also trying to sell “lifetime” classes for about $800.
If you get to take one of these classes you will be lucky. They may be quality if you can get them, but I doubt that they will last long enough for most people to get in for the class.
I would bet they are gone by January 1, 2011. Piazza will be sunning his cheesy mustache in Costa Rica at his plush digs and all his “customers” will be out of luck. Total scam. No better than the cathouse up the road.
This is scary
http://www.frontsight.com/bonus.asp
Any updates?
Costa Rica?
Bankruptcy?
Lawsuits?
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