Throughout this week, people around Carbon and Schuylkill counties have reported seeing trucks linked to a country singer who direct-markets his music around the country.

The Maverick Dirt Road Street Team travels around the country selling the albums and merchandise of country rapper Mikel Knight and associated acts.

Posts were circulating Monday through Wednesday about the team being seen at Walmart locations in Mahoning Township and Rush Township.

Most of the material online about the street team is from skeptics who say that the group is running a scam of some kind. But according to posts from people claiming to be former members, the group is a direct-marketing corporation not unlike Amway or Mary Kay.

A police department in Berks County said they stopped vans operated by street team members last week, and cited them for vehicle code violations.

Police in Mahoning Township said they were not aware of the street team.

Cpl. Duane Frederick, the officer in charge for Rush Township Police Department, said the department received a call saying they saw a truck at Walmart earlier this week, but they were unable to make contact. Frederick said that it appeared they were just passing through the area and not soliciting.

The Times News spoke to a member of the street team in 2014, when they were selling CDs at the Mahoning Township Walmart.

A MDRST member from Alabama named Ben Segrest said that the team is composed of about 45 cowboys who travel the country, selling Knight's album to passers-by, or making deals with businesses who want to sell the album as well.

Segrest said that a portion of the proceeds benefit Safe Haven, a foundation that helps homeless women and children.

"We do things a little differently," said Segrest in 2014, "and you're going to see that."