Carl Hanratty
23 hours ago
Peter Michaels, the CEO of Hop-On, Inc., has faced significant allegations and legal issues that raise concerns about accountability for both himself and the company. Below is a summary of key unaddressed accountability issues based on available information, critically examined to provide a balanced perspective:
1. Criminal Convictions and Fraud Allegations
World Wide Web Casinos (WWWC) Fraud: In 2003, Michaels was indicted for allegedly defrauding investors of $12–18 million through a defunct online gambling company, WWWC. He was accused of using telemarketers, glossy brochures, and false representations to raise funds, pocketing some of the money himself. In 2005, he was sentenced to 8 months in jail, 3 years of probation, and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Investors, such as Michael Harb, reported significant losses, with some losing homes. The fine was criticized as inadequate given the scale of the alleged fraud.
Other Criminal History: Forum posts allege additional convictions, including felony money laundering (2007), obtaining money by false pretense (1996), misdemeanor assault (1993), and felony possession of an assault weapon (1993). While these claims appear on investor forums and lack corroboration from primary sources, they contribute to a pattern of accusations. There are also unverified claims of an arrest for felony child abuse.
Recent Charges: In 2021, Michaels faced six criminal charges in Riverside Court (Case #SWF2101245), including five felonies and one misdemeanor, related to an alleged domestic violence incident. These charges, filed after a July 2021 arrest, remain a point of contention, with no public resolution reported.
Unaddressed Accountability: Michaels has not publicly addressed these convictions or charges in detail, nor has Hop-On issued statements clarifying their impact on his leadership. The lack of transparency leaves investors and stakeholders without clear insight into how these issues affect the company’s governance or Michaels’ credibility.
2. Hop-On’s Disposable Phone Controversy
Misleading Product Claims: Hop-On gained attention in 2001 when Time Magazine named its disposable cell phone one of the “Inventions of the Year.” However, reports later revealed that the phone was not commercially available, and prototypes sent to media were modified Nokia phones with plastic casings. Despite promises of mass distribution, major retailers like Walgreens received fewer than 200 units, and other distributors canceled orders.
Stock Promotion Concerns: The hype around the disposable phone drove Hop-On’s stock price above $1.50 per share, but the failure to deliver a viable product led to accusations of stock manipulation. The San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting on these issues prompted a libel lawsuit from Michaels and Hop-On, which was dropped, with Michaels later sued by his law firm for $40,000 in unpaid bills.
Unaddressed Accountability: Neither Michaels nor Hop-On has fully addressed the gap between their promotional claims and the lack of product delivery. The company’s continued operation without acknowledging these past failures raises questions about its commitment to honest communication with investors.
3. Civil Lawsuits and Financial Misconduct
Home Rental Scam Allegations: In 2013, a civil suit (Case #RIC1217464, Riverside County) accused Michaels and his wife of submitting a false credit report to rent a $1 million estate, allegedly squatting and failing to pay rent. Court documents claimed Michaels had a credit score of zero and faced multiple collection attempts. Similar allegations of rent evasion appear in later posts, suggesting a pattern of behavior.
Unpaid Debts: Michaels is accused of owing hundreds of thousands to the IRS and approximately $180,000 in back child support. These claims, while unverified by primary sources, are consistent across multiple investor forum posts and suggest financial irresponsibility.
Unaddressed Accountability: There is no evidence that Michaels or Hop-On has publicly responded to these civil suits or debt allegations. The lack of resolution or acknowledgment fuels perceptions of unaccountability, particularly for a CEO leading a publicly traded company.
4. Allegations of Ongoing Scams and Investor Deception
Pump-and-Dump Schemes: Investor forums frequently describe Michaels’ business ventures, including Hop-On, as pump-and-dump schemes, where stock prices are inflated through misleading press releases before shares are sold off. Posts point to Michaels’ history of issuing vague or unverifiable claims, such as partnerships with resorts or patent licensing deals, without providing verifiable details.
Response to Criticism: In a shareholder letter, Michaels acknowledged “false, misleading, and harassing postings” about Hop-On and himself, offering a $1,000 bounty for information identifying critics. He claimed to be pursuing legal action and law enforcement investigations but provided no specifics on the allegations he disputes. This response sidesteps addressing the substance of the criticisms.
Unaddressed Accountability: Michaels’ focus on silencing critics rather than engaging with specific allegations (e.g., fraud, product failures) suggests an avoidance of accountability. Hop-On’s financials, which reportedly show minimal business activity, further undermine claims of legitimate operations.
5. Corporate Governance and Transparency
Lack of Corporate Response: Hop-On’s public filings, such as the 2020 Annual Report, do not address Michaels’ legal history or the company’s past controversies. This omission contrasts with standard corporate governance practices, where material risks (e.g., CEO legal issues) are disclosed to investors.
Continued Leadership: Despite his convictions and ongoing allegations, Michaels remains CEO and Chairman, raising questions about the board’s oversight and whether Hop-On prioritizes investor interests. No public evidence suggests internal accountability measures, such as independent audits or leadership reviews.
Unaddressed Accountability: The absence of proactive communication from Hop-On’s board or management about Michaels’ history or the company’s past failures leaves stakeholders in the dark, potentially exposing them to ongoing risks.
Critical Perspective
While the allegations against Michaels are serious, much of the information comes from investor forums, which may be biased or speculative. Primary sources, such as court records or news reports, confirm the WWWC fraud conviction and some civil suits, but other claims (e.g., child abuse, IRS debts) lack corroboration. Michaels’ continued leadership and Hop-On’s operation suggest either resilience or a lack of regulatory scrutiny, possibly due to the company’s small size (OTC: HPNN). However, the pattern of legal issues, unfulfilled promises, and evasive responses aligns with concerns about unaccountability.
Recommendations for Further Inquiry
Verify Court Records: Access Riverside County court records (e.g., Case #SWF2101245, #RIC1217464) or federal records for the WWWC case to confirm details and outcomes.
Review Hop-On Financials: Analyze OTC Markets filings for transparency on revenue, partnerships, and governance practices.
Engage Regulators: Contact the SEC or California Department of Corporations for any ongoing investigations into Hop-On or Michaels.
Seek Michaels’ Response: Direct inquiries to Michaels (peter@hop-on.com) or Hop-On’s investor relations for clarification on specific allegations.
Conclusion
Unaddressed accountability issues with Hop-On, Inc. and Peter Michaels center on his criminal convictions, alleged ongoing fraud, civil lawsuits, and the company’s history of misleading product claims. The lack of transparency from Michaels and Hop-On’s leadership, combined with minimal corporate governance, leaves investors vulnerable to risks. While some allegations require further verification, the documented legal history and pattern of complaints suggest systemic accountability failures that warrant scrutiny.
Carl Hanratty
2 months ago
AI is exposing Michaels. There are a lot of people on X posting their AI inquiries about Michaels. Years of BULLSHIT prove he is a lying criminal.
MICHAELS HAS NOTHING...NO PLATFORM!!!
Below is a bio for Peter Michaels and Hop-On, Inc., covering the last twenty years (2005–2025), focusing on criminal actions, company launches, and revenue where information is available. Due to limited public data, especially on recent activities and revenue specifics, some details are based on known events and trends, while gaps are acknowledged.
Peter Michaels and Hop-On, Inc. Bio (2005–2025)
Peter Michaels Overview
Peter Michaels is a controversial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Hop-On, Inc., a U.S.-based company historically involved in electronics, telecommunications, and more recently, digital media ventures. Over the past two decades, Michaels has navigated a tumultuous career marked by innovation, legal troubles, and ambitious but often unrealized business ventures. His leadership of Hop-On has been characterized by high-profile product announcements, legal entanglements, and a persistent drive to pivot the company into emerging markets.
Hop-On, Inc. Overview
Hop-On, Inc. (OTC: HPNN), founded in 1993 and headquartered in California, initially gained attention for its work in telecommunications, notably touting a disposable cell phone in the early 2000s. Over the last twenty years, the company has shifted focus multiple times—spanning wireless technology, online gambling affiliations, and decentralized social media—while struggling with financial stability and credibility due to Michaels’ legal history and unfulfilled promises[/b]. Revenue figures for Hop-On are scarce in public records, as it trades on the over-the-counter (OTC) pink sheets, a market with minimal reporting requirements.
Timeline of Key Events (2005–2025)
2005: Criminal Conviction and Sentencing
In November 2005, Peter Michaels was sentenced for stock fraud related to his earlier ventures. This stemmed from a 2003 federal indictment accusing him and associates of raising $12 million to $18 million for World Wide Web Casinos (WWWC), an online gambling company, through fraudulent means including telemarketing and false representations. Michaels was alleged to have pocketed investor funds, including $17,000 for personal credit card bills and $131,000 for a yacht. This conviction followed years of legal scrutiny and marked a significant setback, tarnishing his reputation as he attempted to steer Hop-On forward. Revenue impact on Hop-On from this period is unclear, but the company’s stock, already volatile, remained in the penny-stock range.
2006–2010: Hop-On’s Post-Scandal Recovery Attempts
After his sentencing, Michaels refocused on Hop-On, which had gained attention in 2001 for its disposable cell phone concept—an idea that earned a Time magazine accolade but failed to materialize at scale. During this period, Hop-On struggled to regain traction in the telecom sector. No significant new companies were launched, and revenue remained negligible, with the company reporting minimal operational success in public filings. Michaels’ criminal history continued to cast a shadow, limiting investor trust.
2011–2015: Legal and Financial Struggles
Michaels faced ongoing legal challenges, including civil suits and judgments. Posts on investor forums like InvestorsHub allege additional criminal history—such as felony money laundering (2007) and child support debts of approximately $180,000—though these claims lack comprehensive court documentation in accessible records. Hop-On’s activities during this time were low-profile, with no notable product launches or revenue breakthroughs. The company’s market cap hovered in the microcap range, often below $1 million, reflecting its dormancy.
2016: Wireless Infrastructure Ambitions
In May 2016, Michaels announced Hop-On’s intent to partner with Chinese factories to supply wireless infrastructure to U.S. and EU carriers, positioning the company amid growing skepticism about Chinese telecom firms. This pivot aimed to capitalize on the wireless boom, but no tangible products or partnerships materialized. Revenue remained unreported or negligible, consistent with Hop-On’s pattern of ambitious press releases without follow-through.
2021: Acquisition of Vertuoso and Digitalage Launch
In November 2021, Hop-On acquired Vertuoso, an entertainment company specializing in vertical storytelling and ad-tech, to bolster its new venture, Digitalage—a decentralized social media platform promising data portability and free speech. Michaels pitched Digitalage as a revolutionary media economy, targeting influencers and creators with tools for monetization and content protection. The acquisition cost was not disclosed, and Digitalage’s launch remained in development stages with no reported revenue by year-end. This marked a significant shift from telecom to digital media, though skepticism persisted due to Michaels’ track record.
2023: Digitalage Development and Leadership Expansion
By March 2023, Michaels continued promoting Digitalage, releasing a manifesto emphasizing digital rights management and blockchain integration. In November 2023, Hop-On appointed Jeff Lerner as Digitalage’s Chief Marketing Officer, touting his $500 million marketing revenue history as a boost to the platform’s growth. No revenue figures for Digitalage or Hop-On were publicly disclosed, and the platform’s user base and operational status remained unclear. The company claimed partnerships (e.g., a 2023 Microsoft patent licensing agreement), but specifics and financial impacts were not substantiated.
2024–2025: Recent Criminal Charges and Current Status
In July 2021, Michaels was arrested on felony charges in Riverside County, California (Case #SWF2101245), with charges filed by August 2021, though details remain sparse beyond investor forum posts citing six counts. This legal action lingered into the 2020s, overlapping with Digitalage efforts. As of April 2025, Hop-On remains active under Michaels’ leadership, pushing Digitalage as a “trillion-dollar media economy” contender. However, no verifiable revenue data supports these claims, and the stock trades at fractions of a cent, suggesting minimal market confidence.
Companies Launched and Revenue
Hop-On, Inc. (Ongoing)
Focus: Telecom (early 2000s), digital media (2020s).
Revenue: Historically negligible; OTC filings show sporadic income (e.g., <$100,000 annually in some years), with no consistent profitability. Recent Digitalage revenue is unreported but likely minimal given its developmental phase.
Digitalage (2021–Present)
Focus: Decentralized social media platform under Hop-On.
Revenue: No public data as of April 2025; remains pre-revenue or low-revenue based on lack of market penetration evidence.
Vertuoso (Acquired 2021)
Focus: Content marketing and ad-tech, integrated into Digitalage.
Revenue: Pre-acquisition revenue unknown; post-acquisition contribution to Hop-On undisclosed.
No other standalone companies were launched by Michaels in this period, with efforts concentrated on Hop-On and its subsidiaries.
Summary of Criminal Actions
2005: Sentenced for stock fraud tied to WWWC ($12M–$18M fraud).
2007: Alleged felony money laundering (unverified beyond forum claims).
2021: Arrested on six felony counts in Riverside County (details pending).
Additional civil suits and debts (e.g., IRS, child support) are cited anecdotally but lack full documentation here.
Conclusion
Over the past twenty years, Peter Michaels has steered Hop-On through multiple reinventions, from disposable phones to digital media, amid a backdrop of criminal convictions and legal disputes. While his vision has often been bold—Digitalage being the latest example—execution and financial success have remained elusive, with revenue either unreported or insignificant. Michaels’ bio reflects a blend of entrepreneurial persistence and controversy, leaving Hop-On’s future uncertain as of April 7, 2025.
This bio synthesizes available data, acknowledging gaps where public information is limited (e.g., exact revenue, unresolved legal outcomes). Let me know if you’d like further refinement!
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