"It doesn't even appear that it ever was working successfully," he said.
Lewis said Mancuso found clients through newspaper advertisements that promised not only introductions but also special events such as rafting trips, midnight cruises, travel to the Caribbean and seminars titled "How to Flirt" and "How to Date a Millionaire."
Deputy Attorney General John E. Kelly said the dating scheme lured mainly those who were "very lonely and seeking people."
A one-year membership in New Expericnce cost $1,375, but Lewis said Mancuso collected smaller fees as down payments. He said that six people filed complaints with the attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection in Philadelphia but that "there could have been more" who lost money.
Lewis said that in 1977, Mancuso was barred by the courts from ever again running a dating service after the Attorney General's Office accused him of violating the state Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
"He would show pictures of models and say, 'These are members of our club,' " said Lewis. The models were not members.
He said that Mancuso was assessed a civil penalty of $35,000 in that case but that he never paid it and "dropped out of sight." He emerged again this year, and the Attorney General's Office in June filed a civil complaint against him for the new complaints.
Lewis said a civil action was filed instead of criminal charges because Mancuso had no money and "if he goes to jail, he won't pay anybody back."
Under terms of the agreement, Mancuso could be imprisoned or forced to pay a $25,000 civil penalty if he fails to make restitution to his former customers.
