Some claim it was Marie Timms’ money and there is a reason why she is no longer a shareholder effective August 2017, while others say differently - again, irrelevant.
Bob wasn’t just a regular contractor or whatever the claims are
From the company records, the initial share allocation was 100% Joe Watts, but some time later (2016 or 2017, it's on the thread somewhere but I'm not trawling through it all again to find!) the majority control was passed over to Marie Timms.
Then, at approximately the same time as Bob left Trinity she relinquished majority control, ceased to be a person with significant control, and it seems that the shares reverted to Joe Watts. However, Joe claims that the company records are not up to date and that he is no longer involved. Not quite sure how true that is.
I know that Bob likes to indignantly remind us that he "was never the owner there" but after seeing the bankruptcy details it is clear that at the time of Trinity's establishing he would not have been legally able to hold office, manage or promote the company. Trinity was always seen as Bob's idea, his "brainchild", his vision, his products... basically his company! But technically the owner? No, he is correct, he wasn't because he couldn't be! I am sure that he would have liked to have been, since it was his idea! So he operated on a freelance contractual basis, to comply with legal restraints. Not quite the same thing as "only" being a contractor, with no obligations or responsibilities for the direction or operation of the company.
What bothers some, I feel, is that Bob never fully told the truth, preferring instead to hide behind partial facts and obfuscations.
All the lies that he told customers, all the lies he told here, not using his full name, the fact that his wife was indeed majority shareholder for a time, that Jake is his (presumed) son, his undischarged bankruptcy, the use of the email lists from Trinity, the fact that his bankruptcy was for activities related to sales and marketing...so very many red flags!
Even his creation of IMR is inside his time limit of bankruptcy restrictions, unless he has discharged them or obtained court permission.
People have said that he is humble, likeable, a good guy. I'm sure he is. Jordan Belfort seems to be a great guy also, but I wouldn't trust him or give him money! Not that I am equating the two in terms of success or venality..
As long as people are happy with their IMR products, great! But I don't think that casting around to find out who was responsible for the Trinity situation is necessary. There were two people - Robert Timms and Joe Watts. One or both bear responsibility for the money that you may have lost, and I don't think that it is more complicated than that.