Ep 18. The Busted Mogul

In season 15 episode 18 of American Greed, titled "The Busted Mogul," viewers are taken inside the world of a once-high-flying entrepreneur whose greed and ambition led to his downfall. The episode follows the rise and fall of George French Jones, Jr., a self-made millionaire who built his fortune by convincing investors to sink their money into what turned out to be a fraudulent real estate scheme.

Viewers learn about Jones' early days, including how he grew up in a working-class family and dreamed of making it big. After a stint in the military and some time working in the insurance industry, Jones struck out on his own and eventually landed in the world of real estate. He had a talent for convincing people to put their trust and money in him, and he quickly became one of the most successful developers in the country.

Jones' scheme involved convincing people to invest in real estate development projects, promising high returns on their investment. However, the properties he claimed to be developing were often either non-existent or not worth nearly as much as he claimed. Instead of using investor funds to develop properties, Jones used the money to fund his lavish lifestyle, buying cars, boats, and even a private jet.

The episode follows the investigation into Jones' activities, including how he was eventually caught by authorities and sentenced to prison. Viewers learn about the lengths Jones went to in order to cover up his tracks, including forging documents and creating fake companies.

Throughout the episode, viewers are also introduced to some of the people who fell victim to Jones' scheme. They share their stories of investing their life savings with Jones, only to later discover that they had been scammed. Many of them lost everything, including their retirement savings and even their homes.

"The Busted Mogul" is a cautionary tale about the perils of trusting in someone too much. It shows how greed and ambition can lead people to do terrible things and hurt others in the process. But perhaps most importantly, the episode is a reminder that even the most convincing and successful entrepreneurs can be capable of fraud and deceit.