July Scam Roundup

Pat shares a roundup of recent scammy behavior, and we talk about the blue wave of the midterms that flipped Pat's home state of Texas.

Kath tells Pat about a Russian nesting doll of scandals surrounding Alina Habba Mildon, Trump's former lawyer and US attorney for New Jersey. We discuss her recent job appointment working for a recently pardoned Venezuelan billionaire, and her new husband, who also has connections to Venezuela. The info in this story comes from several pieces written by the New York Times, which you can read here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/politics/julio-herrera-pardon-alina-habba.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KFE.Ck8H.E2UUUTjvIIko&smid=bs-sharehttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/17/us/politics/trump-allies-grenell-mildon-congo.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/a-trump-loyalist-a-turkish-investor-and-a-battle-for-wealth-and-influence.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/schwartz-trump-pardon-industry.html

Pat tells Kath about the recent allegations of financial impropriety against the Man City football club and their owners, members of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.

Kath tells Pat the tale of White Boy Rick, East Detroit's famed teenage crack dealer, who's fate was sealed not just by his drug dealing but by his entanglements with a corrupt police department and an FBI playing fast and loose with its rules about informants.Most of the info in this episode came from Evan Hughes' 2014 article "The Trials of White Boy Rick", which you can read here.

In this episode originally recorded for our patreon, Pat tells Kath about a developing story in which a man pretended to be simultaneously a Swiss banking heir, a real estate agent, and a member of the San Francisco 49ers, all in service of a romance scam that ensnared at least 26 different women. If you like this episode, sign up for more bonus eps at patreon.com/liecheatandsteal!

Kath tells Pat about Tim Pughsley, who ran a wildly successful offshore sportsbook that combined gambling with multi level marketing, until it all came crashing down.Info in this episode is primarily from Keith O'Brien's New Yorker Article from June 2026, "America's Last Bookie Goes Down", which you can read here.

Pat tells Kath about some recent bad behavior by history's perennial scammers - members of various royal families.

Kath tells Pat the story of the first person prosecuted in the US for gaming music streaming services, aspiring musician Mike Smith. Much of the info in this episode comes from a January 2026 Rolling Stone article by Jon Blistein called The Wannabe Rock Star Accused of Scamming Streamers. Read it here!

Pat tells Kath about some recent scam stories - from Mitch McConnell Misinfo, to a bear related theft, to some small town scammers with big city scam dreams.

In this unlocked patreon episode recorded in person! Pat tells Kath about a San Antonio beer magnate, who's complicated affairs with three women sharing the same first name ultimately lead to his death, and a subsequent coverup by powerful interests.