128. The Charade (Scott W. Rothstein)

A Virginia governor and his wife are indicted after receiving lavish gifts from a local businessman. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A tiny Calgary-based exploration company ignites a global market frenzy when it discovers the world's largest gold deposit before collapsing into one of the biggest frauds in mining history. Prelude: The "Bushman of the Shuswap" flees society after uncovering a massive conspiracy. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A newly elected congressman is expelled and prosecuted for financial crimes after his elaborate web of personal and professional lies unravels. Prelude: JP Maroney's inventive "digital marketing arbitrage" is revealed to be a Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prominent Christian businessman operates a massive, "too-good-to-be-true," charity-based Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠ CONSUME: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠Deformr⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter.com⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A catastrophic contamination strikes Michigan when an industrial chemical (PBB) is mistakenly mixed into cattle feed. Prelude: Workers at a Texas chemical plant are turned into “zombies" after exposure to the toxic pesticide Phosvel. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A proposed libertarian paradise in the Chilean countryside devolves into a spectacle of betrayal and broken promises. Prelude: Lazarus Long's Principality of New Utopia. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Originally published June 5, 2022. The untimely death of an outspoken advocate for foster children reveals his despicable double life. Prelude: A tragedy occurs after a woman in Rhode Island adopts eight children with developmental issues. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠ WATCH: ⁠⁠SwindledVideo.com⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A self-proclaimed “socially conscious” entrepreneur uses church seminars and motivational speeches to lure investors into a nationwide Ponzi scheme. Prelude: "King" Perry Santillo and Chris Parris perpetuate a financial fraud to which they had fallen victim. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A tourism industry's ugly past is revealed after a "duck boat" sinks on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, during a storm. Prelude: The sinking of Miss Majestic in Hot Springs, Arkansas. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Fort Lauderdale lawyer's ostentatious lifestyle is supported by the largest Ponzi scheme in Florida history. Prelude: The body of attorney Melissa Britt Lewis is found in a Florida canal. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ WATCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledVideo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices