Ep 7. The Falcon & the Con Man
- TVPG
- June 11, 2014
- 2580 min
In season 8, episode 7 of American Greed, viewers will be introduced to "The Falcon & the Con Man." This episode tells the story of how a group of individuals, led by a man named Andy Harrington, committed a large-scale fraud by convincing investors to put their money into a luxury resort development that never came to fruition.
Harrington was the mastermind behind the scheme, using his reputation as a respected businessman and his connections to lure unsuspecting victims into investing millions of dollars into his vision of a grand resort development called "The Sanctuary Belize." Harrington had promised that the resort would include high-end amenities such as a marina, a golf course, and even a private airstrip. Investors were told that they could expect an easy return on their investment once the project was completed.
However, the reality was far from what Harrington had promised. The investment money was squandered on extravagant purchases and personal expenses, leaving the project severely underfunded and the investors with nothing to show for their money. Those who did receive returns on their investment were simply paid with money from other investors or through wire transfers from offshore accounts.
The episode features interviews and commentary from those who were involved in or affected by the fraudulent scheme, including investors, a former employee of Harrington's, and law enforcement officials who worked on the case. Through their stories, viewers will learn about the tactics used to deceive investors, as well as the lengths to which Harrington and his associates went to avoid being caught.
Despite the complex web of illegal activity, law enforcement officials were eventually able to bring Harrington and his accomplices to justice, though many investors never received the full amount of their investment back. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly trusting individuals and the importance of conducting thorough research and due diligence before investing money.
Overall, "The Falcon & the Con Man" is a gripping and informative episode of American Greed that highlights the consequences of greed and the lengths to which people will go to defraud others.