X3 Web Development and Graphics John Amodea; Editor of PaintballX3 Magazine, YM Shorts Magazine, and Paintball2Xtremes Magazine Internet Fraud , Pay Pal Fraud , Craig's List Fraud Occoquan Virginia

You are not the only one who has experienced this.  I worked for Mr. Amodea when he was co-owner and executive editor for Paintball2Xtremes.  When payments for articles and photos began to be late or complete stopped I ended up leaving Paintball 2Xtremes with him owing me between $3000-5000.  I questioned him before leaving how was it that he and his wife could travel to places such as Jamaica a couple times a year but not pay the people contributing to the magazine.  I did not receive a convincing answer.

After moving to Europe in 2004 I gave him a second chance. So in 2011 Paintball X3 Euro released its first issue. The idea of Paintball X3 Euro was my conception fully. I saw the need for coverage from the European paintball scene. Every month from November 2011 until my departure October 2013 I had created more than 75% of the Euro side of the magazine family.

We had a working agreement that he sent to me via email (still have that) stating that I would receive a percentage of the revenue from advertising.  I was to receive 40% of sales that were originated in the US and 60% that originated from the EU side after expenses.  Due to my extensive travel schedule covering events for the magazine that I produced the content for it was his idea to have him help with the canvasing for ads stating that I had more important things to accomplish.

Each month I would ask for accounting.  Most of the time the answer would be "oh shoot I forgot, will get that to you as soon as possible".  When I persisted enough I would get "accounting" in the form of a Word document, nothing more.  Over the course of three years I saw maybe $400-600 total.  Usually in the form of a "here is little Christmas gift to you". The accounting documents usually noted things such as ”part of a bigger deal”, etc. but no explanation of the agreement was ever given. 

This also the format when I would ask for statistics for the website and readership that potential advertisers were wanting to see to evaluate the benefit of purchasing ads.  When these could not be produced in acceptable format potential clients would decline.  I also requested help recruting more writers and photographers and social media assistance.  I accomplished the task on my own accord.

When I asked what the situation was with ad sales I was told that "we" were barely breaking even due to the expenses.  I never once received an expense report even though I requested it I thought that I could help find solutions to decrease expenses and increase profit. I was only told that there were costs for the flipbook production, the Joomag services, phone, webhosting office space (the magazine is based out of his home) etc.  Never any numbers and exact details behind that nor offers to cover some of the very same expenses I had. When I was leaving X3 in October it was explained tom e that X3 made no money at all, in fact it lost money that is the reason he started the X3 Web Development and Design. 

Mid 2013 I discussed with Amodea some of my private projects that I was working on outside of the magazine and we talked about the possibilities of X3 being able to deliver the content for those projects. He gladly offered his assistance and support.   One month before I left I had a discussion about the graphics layout and quality of the magazine. Any and every problem brought up was because of the software problem or "oh darn let me fix that now" or he didn’t get the material in time.  During this discussion I pointed out several things that needed to change if I were to continue.   Now those solutions to problems and my project plans are being implemted by Mr. Amodea claiming as his own, "we have been working on a new look and improvements coming in the near future" (was recently published in his "From the Prez" in the November issue of Paintball X3).

Over the course of three years I even ended up taking on more responsibilities that were actually his responsibility such as confirming press passes for three of the photographers I worked with in a cooperative group and answering messages from web service clients. These clients after not receiving replies with issues with their services had sent messages to the Paintball X3 Facebook page. The clients stating that since there was no response to the emails they sent they would try to contact Amodea via the magazine fan page.  I forwarded the messages to John and was asked to reply with what the solution was etc.  I sent these replies from my own personal Facebook account. Needless to say there were repeated messages from the X3 Web Development & Design clients.  During the time I was with X3 there were many problems causing the website to stop functioning or a frequent reply would that it was hacked or was hit with a DDOS attack. The contributing photographers began to come to me instead of Amodea for the confirmation of press passes.

Photographers that I had introduced/recruited for Paintball X3 became over two years the main source for photographic content for the magazine.  Their payment was an ad in each month's issue. Mr. Amodea tells everyone that becomes a contributor that his is working on an incentive program for payments but is still in the development stages.  He also offers contributors sponsorships with gear from various industry companies. I have heard this for three years and I am assuming that the program is still in developmental stage.

Many occasions I had companies come to me asking why their sponsored team or product was not in the magazine at all or very little.  When I asked Amodea I was told that the company did no support the magazine like other companies do, i.e. advertising. I took that, as since they don't pay for ads the magazine was not going to promote them. That assumption was confirmed when I approached to prominent industry companies and asked about advertising. 

Moments after I announced I had left the magazines I began to receive messages and emails usually starting with ”So John’s not paying again”? I am not the only one over the course of 15yrs in paintball that has had such experiences.  I spent the following 5 days after my departure going through back issues of both magazines and counting up ads or in some cases multiple ads for each company.  Since I had not been given complete accounting I could only estimate the earnings that I should have received.  I based my figures on the ad rate sheet that I was given and instructed to sell to clients at that price.  The result just for the ten months of 2013 I worked was staggering.  There was even a special edition issue that I did not know that it was being sold though the Joomag services.  My photos along with others were in that issue.  None was aware that this magazine with their work was being sold thus no one received any compensation from the proceeds of the sales. 

The details and facts I have stated can be confirmed by the emails, iMessages as well as Facebook conversations that I have saved so in the event that it is claimed that my response here is of a disgruntled former employee I could defend my statements.  In retrospect it was a bad decision on my part to give Amodea a second chance but due the fact that he and his wife are devout Christians I gave him the benefit of the doubt and that people can change.  This would be a costly decision on my part. Amodea has since then received a cease and desist notice that no material, projects and media may be used in any form including but not limited to the clipping of excerpts from archived editions of the magazines to be used either on the website, Facebook page or new publications. 

Any type of rectification of the situation will be quite interesting to see the outcome.  I would not be surprised at all if there were more statements such as mine reported here in the near future.

John is in the process of recifying the situation