Ep 24. Fame, Fortune & Fraud

In the latest episode of American Greed season 15 titled "Fame, Fortune & Fraud," the show delves into the stories of several individuals who used deceit and fraud to achieve their dreams of fame and fortune.

The first story centers around a man named John Rogers, who posed as a successful financial advisor and investment guru, even going so far as to create a fake investment portfolio for his clients. In reality, Rogers was using his clients' money to fund his own lavish lifestyle, including extravagant trips and expensive cars. Eventually, his lies caught up with him and he was arrested for fraud, but not before he had stolen millions from his clients.

Next, the show tells the story of Jan Gutschow, a woman who became a prominent figure in the New York art scene by selling and promoting the work of up-and-coming artists. However, it was discovered that Gutschow had been selling fraudulent artworks and pocketing the profits, including a painting sold for $6.5 million that turned out to be a forgery. Gutschow was eventually caught and served time in prison for her crimes.

The episode also explores the story of Michael Hindmarsh, who claimed to be an expert in cryptocurrency trading and convinced several individuals to invest their life savings with him. Despite promising high returns and assuring his clients that their money was safe, Hindmarsh was actually using their funds to support his own expensive lifestyle. When his scheme was discovered, Hindmarsh fled to Mexico, where he continued to run his fraudulent operations until he was finally apprehended and extradited back to the United States to face charges.

Finally, the show explores the case of Barry Minkow, a former business whiz-kid who founded the ZZZZ Best carpet cleaning company that quickly became a multi-million dollar empire. However, it was soon discovered that Minkow had been engaging in widespread fraud, including faking insurance claims and inflating the value of his company's assets. Minkow eventually served time in prison for his crimes, but after his release, he reinvented himself as a white-collar crime expert and consultant. However, it was later revealed that Minkow had once again been involved in fraud, this time through a fraudulent investment scheme that cost his clients millions.

Overall, "Fame, Fortune & Fraud" is a fascinating look into the various ways in which people use deceit and fraud to achieve their dreams of success. From financial advisors to art dealers to cryptocurrency traders, the individuals featured in this episode demonstrate the lengths to which some will go to attain wealth and fame. However, their stories also serve as a reminder of the importance of ethical business practices and the dangers of unchecked greed.