Jorge Barrera

Jessica Lindsay is our showrunner. And Carla Hilton is our executive producer. Special thanks to the folks at CBC Podcasts for their support. Karen Burgess is managing editor for CBC News Podcasts.

Jessica Lindsay is our showrunner. And Carla Hilton is our executive producer. Special thanks to the folks at CBC Podcasts for their support. Karen Burgess is managing editor for CBC News Podcasts.

It's September 17th, 2024, and I've just arrived at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in White Plains, New York. I'm here for a sentencing hearing, and I can't be late, because the guy being sentenced is someone we've been wanting to talk to since this investigation began. Kyle Suey.

It's September 17th, 2024, and I've just arrived at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in White Plains, New York. I'm here for a sentencing hearing, and I can't be late, because the guy being sentenced is someone we've been wanting to talk to since this investigation began. Kyle Suey.

Rachel and I have heard a lot about Kyle through our investigation. He's the voice on the other end as Kodal and her mom try to get answers over the telephone from Acumetrix.

Rachel and I have heard a lot about Kyle through our investigation. He's the voice on the other end as Kodal and her mom try to get answers over the telephone from Acumetrix.

From 2013 until at least 2020, Kyle was the technical manager at Acumetrix, overseeing sample collection.

From 2013 until at least 2020, Kyle was the technical manager at Acumetrix, overseeing sample collection.

And the testing is 99.99% accurate. And it turns out he also had a side hustle, AllergyTestingCompany.com. It offered hair analysis testing for over 800 potential food and environmental sensitivities, everything from egg yolk to swine urine protein to formaldehyde. Thing is, it wasn't exactly on the up and up, and it caught the attention of United States Postal Inspection Service agents.

And the testing is 99.99% accurate. And it turns out he also had a side hustle, AllergyTestingCompany.com. It offered hair analysis testing for over 800 potential food and environmental sensitivities, everything from egg yolk to swine urine protein to formaldehyde. Thing is, it wasn't exactly on the up and up, and it caught the attention of United States Postal Inspection Service agents.

Kyle was arrested while on vacation in Madrid in 2023 and charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of frauds and swindles. And when he was extradited to the U.S., he pleaded guilty and provided all the details of his crimes to the court. Here's an actor reading from that transcript.

Kyle was arrested while on vacation in Madrid in 2023 and charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of frauds and swindles. And when he was extradited to the U.S., he pleaded guilty and provided all the details of his crimes to the court. Here's an actor reading from that transcript.

Customers sent their hair samples to a rented mailbox in a town just north of New York City. Over the course of several months, Kyle took in about $6 million from more than 88,000 people.

Customers sent their hair samples to a rented mailbox in a town just north of New York City. Over the course of several months, Kyle took in about $6 million from more than 88,000 people.

There was no test. He simply tossed the samples in the garbage.

There was no test. He simply tossed the samples in the garbage.

After his plea, Kyle went back to jail to await sentencing. And that's why I'm here at this courthouse. Today will mean justice for victims of Kyle's hair testing scam. But for Corral and John and all the other people we met in this investigation, today's sentencing might also be another piece in the puzzle. Another way to get the answers they still need about Vargard Acumetrics.

After his plea, Kyle went back to jail to await sentencing. And that's why I'm here at this courthouse. Today will mean justice for victims of Kyle's hair testing scam. But for Corral and John and all the other people we met in this investigation, today's sentencing might also be another piece in the puzzle. Another way to get the answers they still need about Vargard Acumetrics.

And the man with those answers? The company's owner?

And the man with those answers? The company's owner?