American Greed

Case 1: Hook, Line and Sucker Barry Hunt—a successful con artist who left a coast-to-coast trail of deception, deceit and empty bank accounts. A profile of Hunt’s crime and the investors who bought his story. Case 2: Maxfield Parish Art Heist A daring heist. Under the cover of darkness, a hole is expertly cut in the roof. An alarm goes haywire. Two paintings by famed American Artist Maxfield Parrish disappear into the night.

Case 1: Art Heist: Fine Arts Express A museum quality art collection worth more than $4 million dollars is stolen! Two men, who in a twist of fate, end up working at Fine Arts Express, together hatch a plan to steal the art… museum quality pieces by Picasso, Matisse, and Rothko. Case 2: Medical Scams: Dr. Martinez It sounds like a nightmare—long needles repeatedly jabbed to a patient’s back. But for Dr. Jorge Martinez, its routine business. Expensive, painful and unnecessary shots are all part of a multi-million dollar billing scheme.

Case 1: Religious Prey: Baptist Foundation of Arizona The Baptist Foundation of Arizona is a non-profit fundraiser dedicated to the church. Investors believe their money will be secure but millions are lost! “American Greed" unravels the elaborate Ponzi scheme which left a religious community betrayed and baffled. Case 2: Medical Scams: Dr. Mikos The story of a murderous Chicago doctor who bilked Medicare! He’s a caring doctor with a sterling bedside manner. His practice is lucrative. But beneath the charm lies a con artist; a doctor playing the system and making off with more than a million.

An enigmatic hedge fund manager desperate to succeed... and the scam that bilked investors out of $300 million! Sam Israel lived through the most decadent era in human history. His hunger for fame and fortune... his greed, ultimately leads to a bridge and a suicide note. This is the strange story of a con artist who fell for the ultimate con himself!

Raffaello Follieri is young, handsome and at the top of his game. He makes millions with a successful real estate business. He hobnobs with world leaders. And, he’s found love with a Hollywood A-Lister, Anne Hathaway. But Follieri is about to see his American dream fall apart... when his fraud is exposed.

Marcus Schrenker makes millions. He’s a Wall Street money manager and a stunt pilot. But clients say he’s a con man who had the country wondering for days whether he was dead or alive. American Greed profiles a multi-million dollar story of deception!

One man’s bold scheme to get rich quick. Albert Talton puts a modern twist on one of the nation’s oldest crimes – making counterfeit money. American Greed profiles a multi-million dollar con!

Steven Warshak is persuasive. He makes millions by selling a product to enhance the sex lives of men. Enzyte appears to be the herbal answer to Viagra. But, Warshak takes advantage of his buyers. He’s racking up illegal credit card charges on thousands of customers! He’s a hedge fund superstar. Investment Manager Kirk Wright takes on tough clients…and steals their money. He recruits NFL football players and they invest. But, when he’s tackled for a multi-million dollar loss, will Wright’s game go into sudden death?

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dr. Robert Stokes runs a thriving dermatology practice. He’s making millions. But Dr. Stokes has a dark secret. He’s stealing patient’s money. He reuses medical supplies and endangers patients. Darlene Wooten and Charlene Corley are twin sisters. They’re making a fortune in defense contracts. But behind the scenes, things are not as they seem. American Greed profiles a multi-million dollar fraud against the government!

Kenneth Ira Starr is a money manager. He courts celebrity clients…Sylvester Stallone, Uma Thurman and Wesley Snipes. But Starr doesn’t stop there. He steals $30 million to buy his way onto Hollywood’s A-list and live a life of luxury … all in the name of love. American Greed has the story of the money manager, the stripper and a multi-million dollar ponzi scheme.

Nevin Shapiro is the conman at the center of a college football scandal. He kicked off the controversy with stunning stories of gifts to players and allegations of broken NCAA rules. Who is this man who jeopardized the future of the University of Miami’s football team and how did he steal the millions that made it all possible? American Greed profiles a case of major league fraud!

A Minneapolis businessman buys big companies and makes himself rich in the process

A televised art auction appears to showcase masterpieces. It’s billed as your chance to own a Rembrandt, Chagall or Dali. A rare Picasso sells for $500. Too good to be true? American Greed takes you inside a picture perfect art scam.

The collapse of Erpenbeck wreaks financial havoc for area home buyers, subcontractors and banks with three company employees pleading guilty to bank fraud.

Michael Lock was a man driven by ambition. He was a Milwaukee crime boss with a business model that took him from cocaine dealing to bank fraud … and Lock had a surefire way to beat the competition.

In the city of brotherly love, car wrecks piled up and auto insurance policies were treated like ATM machines. American Greed takes you inside a Philadelphia car insurance fraud ring where everybody got a piece of the action.

Sir Allen Stanford was once one of the richest men in America. He lived and loved the high life - cruising around the world on private jets and helicopters and bouncing between multiple mansions. He even bought his own island for $63 million. But it was all based on lies. His company, The Stanford Financial Group, made its name selling what’s usually a safe bet for investors – certificates of deposits. He claimed the CDs came from his offshore bank on the island of Antigua, and because of that, the company offered return rates higher than those in the U.S. When the lies grew too big and his money supply dried out – he was convicted of running an international $7 billion Ponzi scheme, and is serving a 110-year sentence in federal prison. He left a trail of some 20,000 burned investors, many of whom now live in financial ruin.

Michael Vorce spends lavishly on clothes and cars and leaves thousand-dollar tips at bars.

Perry Griggs ran an investment fraud claiming to sell coffee futures, when all he did was keep investor money. He was convicted of securities fraud and sentenced to eight years in federal prison.

With a 30 year career in real estate, many thought broker Doug Vaughan was a man to be trusted. His charisma helped make him a fortune in New Mexico real estate. But it was all lies.

In Chicago, Jack Walsh and Charles Martin appear to be getting very rich running a foreign currency trading brokerage. But is the money really coming from savvy trades? In 2007, a routine audit reveals some "irregularities" in One Worlds accounting.

Trevor Cook appears to be a local boy made good in Minneapolis, where he runs an investment fund called the Oxford Group. Along with three cohorts, Cook solicits an amazing $190 million dollars from 700 U.S. investors, many of whom heard his message through a talk radio star.

A New Age evangelist becomes a greedy, groovy, guru telling Florida investors that positive thinking can lead to positive returns in her auto financing business. But this false prophet is returning nothing but false profits in her $113 million scam. She draws in some 2000 victims but when the F.B.I. finds out about Cladeks scam, this greedster doesnt have a prayer. And, civilization is on the verge of collapse, Ronnie Gene Wilson tells his followers, and the only path to a secure future is paved with investment in precious metals. But for a guy who predicts the imminent demise of the dollar, this South Carolinian certainly seems greedy for greenbacks. He takes in $93 million. Over time, investors realize that Wilson isnt investing their money in metal, but using it to build a luxurious doomsday bunker complete with an organic farm.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael McCant is a former bank robber who says hes gone "legit," and is now making millions by promoting up-and-coming rap musicians. But these millions are coming from investors like Bernice Tingle who have given McCant their entire nest eggs. Mark Anderson owns a fine wine storage business in Sausalito, California. But when clients discover their wine is missing, they accuse Anderson of theft. Anderson tries to conceal his crime with gasoline and a blowtorch, destroying more than $200 million dollars worth of wine, and bringing scores of family-owned wineries to the brink of ruin.

Middle-aged commercial real estate investor Ed Okun is in love with a boat show model almost half his age. He showers her with jewels, cars, even a helicopter. To fund his hormone-induced multimillion dollar spending spree, Okun steals client money to live large and impress his new bride.

(1) Feds investigate financial advisor J.D. Salinas and discover a $39 million scam. (2) A Chicago-area rapper convinces a local businessman that hes got a new gig that doesnt exist.

A former Detroit mayor and his friends extort city contractors, abuse public funds and turn the mayors office into their own cash-making machine.

(1) Two brothers ripped off millions from homeowners in a remodeling scheme. (2) A serial scam artist tricks Florida retirees into fake New York real estate investments.

An independent film spins out of control when a filmmakers silent partner and spiritual guru helps himself to investor funds.

A man concocts a $50 million phony international real estate scheme spending millions on his own lavish lifestyle.

A former Army intelligence officer known as "Mr. X" stole millions through a fake veterans charity and eluded authorities by using an array of false identities.

A multimillion-dollar yacht, 80 sports cars, a Playboy centerfold girlfriend. Tim Durham is the picture of success as a fix -it-and-flip-it business king. But he’s actually running a $200 million fraud from the comfort of his 12,000 square-foot home.

Rich husband, beautiful wife, perfect life. Pamela Phillips and Gary Triano are Tucsons golden couple. But their life unravels in a fury of greed and hate. When Gary ends up dead, all eyes are on Phillips. Could she kill for money?

Sixteen-year-old Barry Minkow starts ZZZZ Best Carpet Cleaners and quickly realizes theres more cash in fraud.

Stockbroker Jordan Belfort runs a sex, drugs and rock n’ roll brokerage firm. He pleads guilty to fraud and does jail time. After his release, Belfort gets a Hollywood makeover, but do his victims get justice?

A US military contractor loots his company of $190 million and goes on a wild spending spree.

A 28-year-old hacker named Daniel Rigmaiden allegedly steals millions of dollars from the U.S. government; a wise-guy wannabe in witness protection creates a mortgage fraud scam.

Miami party boys turned arms dealers bid on government contracts worth millions to fight the war on terror.

Flashy former cop John Bravata is a corrupt real estate dealer who uses his company to steal $50 million from middle-class investors.

A famous Texas fruitcake bakerys accountant conducts a check writing scam; a self-proclaimed financial wiz rips off investors while he funds a professional race team with money stolen from his church.

A former champion basketball player’s schemes land him in prison and his mother kicked out of her home.

Cancer charities that raise millions but gives only three percent to patients and families; a family brings in millions shoplifting in a nationwide crime spree caught on camera.

A man convinces people that he is a movie producer and money management professional while collecting millions to promote his own image.

Former football star Art Schlichter cons friends and acquaintances to feed his gambling addiction

A man steals millions from rich wine clients, and spends the money on fast cars and faster hookups, until he himself falls prey to a scheme.

Sports memorabilia titan Bill Mastro rigs his auctions to scam both those who buy from him and consign to him.

A man burns through $52 million from a trust he was hired to protect, buying helicopters, fighter jets, rocket launchers, and a fleet of WWII bombers to feed his fantasy of running "black ops" for the CIA.

Two doctors illegally prescribe opioids while destroying lives and pocketing millions.

Polka band leader Jan Lewan rips off his adoring fans with false promises of sizable investment returns.

Superstar disability lawyer Eric C. Conn offers guaranteed client wins by cheating, scoring a massive Social Security fraud, then vanishes.

Kenny Chatman runs a string of corrupt drug rehab facilities, stealing millions by keeping insured addicts hooked on drugs.

Daylon Pierce is a ladies man who claims to be a licensed stockbroker, wooing unsuspecting women through Internet dating sites. But when they hand over millions of dollars to this "investment expert," he robs them blind, parties his way through their money and breaks their hearts.

Florida teenagers cash in on the opioid crisis, then they expand their operation, jeopardizing their lives of sex, drugs and money.

College admissions coach Rick Singer accepts money from parents to have their kids admitted to elite colleges.

From luxury properties to an ostrich coat, the hard charging political insider uses his influence to fuel a multimillion-dollar mortgage and tax fraud.

Three Miami salesmen with gold fever import billions of dollars’ worth of the precious metal from South America.

An outlandish con artist poses as a Saudi royal to cheat investors out of millions, promising them access to Arabian oil stock.

Payday loan scam mastermind, Scott Tucker, swindles millions of cash-strapped borrowers with his convenient online loan business and uses the profits to fuel his race car team dreams.

Carissa Carpenter is an aspiring movie mogul who plans to construct a major movie studio in Northern California. But the feds say that investors end up bankrolling her big-budget lifestyle.

Mike The Situation Sorrentino flaunts washboard abs and a party boy image, but when it comes to paying his taxes, he’d rather play than pay.

Well-heeled financial advisor Peggy Ann Fulford builds a cache of all-star clients and a personal fortune by convincing A-list players like Dennis Rodman that she’s in their corner.

Michael Avenatti makes a splash as the litigator representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her dispute with Donald Trump...but it’s soon revealed that he has legal troubles of his own brewing.

A delusional, debt-ridden, and allegedly drug-dabbling spine surgeon maims and even kills patients in one botched surgery after another. It falls to two colleagues to step in where others won’t.

When all four members of the McStay family seemingly vanish into thin air, a yearslong quest for answers begins; a biker in the Mojave Desert finds the family members bodies in shallow graves; a close friend of the family falls under suspicion.

Tells the story of the twins who helped land El Chapo in custody.Tells the story of the twins who helped land El Chapo in custody.

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Few are familiar with the betrayal that helped land Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, a billionaire drug lord and for years the world’s most wanted man, in prison; the Flores twins earned El Chapo’s trust and then helped the Feds put him away for life.

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Joel Greenberg is a privileged millennial from a rich Florida family who one day decides to run for Seminole County Tax Collector and wins; once in office, he embarks on a breathtaking series of crimes, ranging from fraud to sex trafficking.

Inside the rise and near-collapse of WeWork, the startup co-founded by its former CEO, Adam Neumann, who mesmerizes venture capitalists with grandiose promises, even though WeWork turns out to be a traditional real estate leasing business.

Jho Low is accused of being one of the biggest thieves the world has ever seen; authorities say he’s the mastermind of an international scheme to steal over $4 billion from the government of Malaysia.

CEO Jacob Kingston appears to be a rising star in Utah’s fledgling biofuel industry, until a member of a secretive polygamist group called The Order reveals that Kingston is committing a 1.1 billion dollar fraud.

While an estimated $100 billion in COVID relief funds is stolen, this seasoned family of fraudsters easily grabs millions of dollars Americans desperately need to buy themselves mansions, jewelry and gold.

Purported entrepreneur Antonio Mariot Wilson changes his name, pitch, and act to play a series of roles, and the inveterate huckster fleeces unsuspecting investors for decades, including television star Jenifer Lewis. In this installment, Jenifer Lewis opens up about her relationship with Antonio Wilson and how it went from a storybook romance to a nightmare. In the end, Antonio Mariot Wilson, aka Brice Carrington and Dr. Tony Mariot, age 58, was sentenced in March 2021 to 8 years in federal prison for deceiving women he met online and elsewhere into investing ...

Chris Epps charms his way from prison guard to the top post of Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner. Once in office, he siphons off millions in bribes and kickbacks.

Zachary Horwitz has dreams of making it big in Hollywood; while his onscreen career never quite flourishes, Horwitz acts his way into raising more than $600 million for an investment opportunity that is completely bogus.

American Greed Murdaugh Saga, Part 2: Alex Murdaugh, a well-respected lawyer from a prominent family is accused of stealing millions of dollars from the suffering clients who turn to him for his legal knowledge, compassion and help. This brazen act of fraud results in the decline of a dynasty. This installment discusses details about the deaths and multiple legal cases surrounding South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who was accused of killing his wife and son in June 2021. The sprawling investigation into the prominent and powerful Murdaugh family uncovers years of unchecked power and privilege that has allegedly resulted in years of fraud, conspiracy, corruption and murder.

When an epidemic of teenage nicotine addiction breaks out across the country, some people ask whether Juuls founders are intent on saving lives or targeting the next generation.

Marlon and LaShonda Moore are accused of exploiting vulnerable people during the pandemic and convincing thousands of their fans to invest in their illegal scheme; regulators claim the Moores "blessed" themselves to the tune of millions of dollars.

Covers a film financier companys $68M scheme, involving bank fraud, wire fraud, and spanning eight (8) years.