Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images and United States District Court Central District of California/DOJ
Jason Cardiff was a hands-on type of boss. The CEO of Redwood Scientific Technologies seemed to always be in the Upland, California, office, offering random compliments to staffers and sharing tips on how to sell the dissolvable oral film strips the company claimed were a remedy for smoking cessation, sexual dysfunction, and other health issues.
“He had a romantic view when it came to selling,” Ryan Henry, who worked for Cardiff for two years, told The Daily Beast. “He was a good salesperson and taught me how to appeal to emotion when making a sale.”
“Maybe that idealistic view is what got him in trouble,” he added.