James Fairbanks: A Hero and a Devil

Listen to the new season of Opportunist, out now wherever you listen to podcasts. In the 10th season of "The Opportunist: Tim Ballard," Podcast One will explore controversy surrounding Tim Ballard, the celebrated founder of Operation Underground Railroad, an organization known for its mission to combat human trafficking. Hailed by some as a modern-day hero, Ballard's reputation is now tarnished by controversy as allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged - shaking the foundations of his crusade. Through exclusive interviews with victims and those who know him best, this podcast series aims to unravel the complexities of Ballard's dual persona- a savior to some, a predator to others. Join host Sarah James McLaughlin as she explores the rise and potential fall of a man whose actions have sparked a national conversation on trust, power, and accountability. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seraphine Warren rose to prominence as an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – walking 2,400 miles from Arizona to Washington, D.C. to draw attention to her missing aunt Ella Mae Begay, who disappeared from a Navajo Reservation in 2021. But while she spoke out publicly against the decades-long wave of violence against indigenous people, Warren allegedly led a vigilante kidnapping similar to the violence she ferociously condemned. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chase Johnston is part of a growing trend of online citizen vigilantes who pose as underage kids and use social media to confront and capture would-be sexual predators. But when a sting operation goes bad, Chase Johnston finds himself the one arrested and behind bars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Byron Smith was tired of his home being burgled. He said it had been broken into at least a half dozen times. And he was determined not to let it happen again. So, Smith set a trap and laid in wait to protect his “castle.” When two teenage cousins broke into his house on Elm Street, it set off a true-life horror story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ransom: Season 1 - Position of Trust is a story of greed and betrayal and how one’s outward appearance can be dangerously deceiving. Go to ransompodcast.com, or follow Ransom on your favorite podcast app. Twelve-year-old McKay Everett disappeared from his Texas home in September 1995. His father Carl returned from an Amway meeting to find the back door ajar and the telephone ringing. On the line, a woman with a raspy voice demanded $500,000. Over the next week, the FBI played a game of cat-and-mouse with the kidnappers, who used inside information to stay one step ahead of the investigation. Ultimately the FBI uncovered a series of crimes that started long before McKay was taken. Most shocking of all was the suspect. McKay had been betrayed by someone he trusted – a pillar of the community hiding a dark secret. But decades later, McKay’s mother, Paulette, still isn’t satisfied with the official story. She doesn’t think everyone involved has been brought to justice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Fairbanks spent his career helping at-risk children. But their stories took a devastating toll on him. In 2020, Fairbanks said he witnessed a registered sex offender - Mattieo Condoluci - scouting out his next victim. Fairbanks vowed on the spot he wouldn’t allow another child to be abused. Taking justice into his own hands, Fairbanks confronted Condoluci, shooting him four times, and killing him. However, Condoluci's daughter praised Fairbanks for killing the man she said repeatedly raped her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the 1970s, San Francisco’s gay community was being terrorized. An unlikely hero emerged - Rev. Raymond Broshears. Determined to protect his flock, the gun-toting, controversial gay priest brought vigilante justice to San Francisco’s streets. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marvin Heemeyer was nearing his breaking point after a decade-long battle with his local zoning commission. He believed they were conspiring against him. Heemeyer demanded justice, and in an effort to secure the justice he believed he deserved, he turned to an armored bulldozer and terrorized his local community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two years ago, Kyle MacLachlan, the star of Twin Peaks, called investigative journalist Joshua Davis with a strange story. Kyle had heard a rumor that Pablo Escobar did a deal in the early 1980s with a remote, coastal Southern town of 300 people. In exchange for vast wealth and limitless cocaine, Escobar would be allowed to land planes and ships in the area. Over the last 24 months, Josh and Kyle investigated the rumor, journeying to Varnamtown to knock on doors and find out what really happens when a firehose of money and cocaine is turned on a small, tight knit community. Listen to and follow Varnamtown at Apple Podcasts now! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/varnamtown/id1725195343 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Allie Conti joins Hannah Smith (The Opportunist) in conversation about the making of Vigilante, season one.   If you have recommendations for people we should profile in futures seasons of Vigilante, please leave them in a review in Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.