Swindled

A bizarre and sinister harassment campaign targeting a married couple in Massachusetts is linked to executives at one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies.

A family is torn apart as the lives of two wealthy brothers unravel in spectacular fashion on opposite sides of the world.

An imposter uses a stolen name for 30 years, sparking a bizarre struggle between two men to prove who truly owns the identity.

A self-proclaimed visionary's promise to revolutionize the trucking industry is revealed to be an "intricate fraud."

A Virginia-based peanut processing company unleashes one of the most massive and lethal food-borne contamination events in United States history.

A small Missouri town faces a compounded catastrophe as a devastating flood follows the discovery of toxic contamination.

An offshore maintenance job in Trinidad & Tobago turns into a deadly catastrophe when divers are violently sucked into an oil pipeline. Prelude: Trinidad's oil industry is scrutinized after fourteen men are killed in an offshore explosion in 1985.

Indianapolis' most prominent businessman scrambles to preserve the elaborate financial fraud that funds his lavish lifestyle. Prelude: The CEO of National Lampoon orchestrates a scheme to manipulate the company's stock price.

A modern faith healer's scandal-plagued ministry faces accusations of forced labor and money laundering. Prelude: Kathryn Kuhlman's miracle healings are analyzed and imitated.

Twin brothers in Florida become pioneers of a pain clinic industry that fuels a nationwide opioid epidemic. Prelude: Purdue Pharma introduces its new, extended-release painkiller called OxyContin.

The quest to build the world's tallest water slide ends in tragedy. Prelude: A 14-year-old boy dies after falling from an amusement ride in Florida. (Originally published April 17, 2022)

The leaked files of a Panamanian law firm offer a glimpse into the offshore economy used by politicians, criminals, and celebrities to hide wealth, evade taxes, and launder money. Prelude: The assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Malta's most feared investigative journalist.

A Virginia governor and his wife are indicted after receiving lavish gifts from a local businessman. (Originally published July 9, 2024)

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.

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.

A prominent Christian businessman operates a massive, "too-good-to-be-true," charity-based Ponzi scheme. (Originally published February 11, 2025)

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.

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.

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. (Originally published June 5, 2022)

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.

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.

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.

Incompetence and negligence lead to a devastating loss of life at a concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Prelude: A fight in the E2 nightclub in Chicago triggers a deadly stampede. (Originally published September 27, 2021)

A bizarre and sinister harassment campaign targeting a married couple in Massachusetts is linked to executives at one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies. Prelude: A content creator orchestrates a grievance-driven attack on YouTube's headquarters.

An estimated one million people are exposed to decades of toxic water contamination at a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, leading to serious health issues, cover-ups, and endless legal battles for justice. Prelude: A mysterious leukemia cluster appears in Woburn, Massachusetts.

An investigative journalist is murdered in an act of retaliation by a Clark County elected official accused of misconduct. Prelude: The mysterious death of Las Vegas casino heir, Ted Binion.

A series of infomercials lands a TV pitchman in federal prison. Prelude: The founder of Hooked on Phonics is criticized over dubious advertising claims before he settles a sexual assault lawsuit with his corporate attorney, who then purchases a ranch from a phony French noblewoman who faked her own death. (Originally published April 30, 2023)

An American automotive company is charged with reckless homicide related to the defective design of a popular car. Prelude: Toyota is held responsible for the ghastly deaths of three sisters.

The founder of a fintech company is accused of defrauding JPMorgan Chase by falsifying customer data to secure a $175 million acquisition deal. Prelude: Joanna Smith-Griffin's rising startup is built on lies.

A viral video sparks accusations of charity fraud and other improprieties while exposing a potentially much darker truth. Prelude: Efforts to neutralize a brutal warlord in central Africa are unsuccessful.

A train derailment in Ohio caused by corporate greed leads to widespread environmental contamination, conspiracy, and political mudslinging. Prelude: A train derailment in Paulsboro, New Jersey, raises concerns about rail transportation safety throughout the U.S.

The Pacific Northwest's "mini Madoff" escapes prison after being convicted of operating a $140 million Ponzi scheme. (Originally published September 11, 2024)

An experimental deep-sea submersible disappears during an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck. Prelude: Legendary explorer Steve Fossett disappears during a casual plane ride.

A trendy new diet drug combination subjects millions of users to serious health effects, resulting in a monumental legal battle. Prelude: Cancer concerns force Belviq, a popular diet drug, to be withdrawn from the marketplace.

A government employee posing as a Tahitian prince commits the largest public sector fraud in Queensland history. Prelude: The catastrophic implementation of Queensland Health's new payroll system.

A budget airline's penny-pinching strategy is examined after one of its planes crashes in the Florida Everglades. Prelude: Allegiant Air's safety history is called into question after a rash of concerning incidents.

A "quintessential" civil rights battle ignites when fans of the much-maligned rap group Insane Clown Posse are officially classified as a "street gang" by the federal government. Prelude: Two Juggalos are charged with the murder of a man in Pennsylvania.

A flashy Brooklyn pastor finds himself in the media spotlight due to his current lifestyle and criminal past. Prelude: An unprovoked murder on the New York subway.

A compounding pharmacy's attempt to maximize revenue leads to a devastating public health crisis. Prelude: Pharmakon Pharmaceuticals ships overly-potent medication to hospitals, including a neonatal intensive care unit.

A former Shark Tank contestant’s fraud spree leaves a trail of destruction. (Originally published October 3, 2023)

A proposal to build a massive movie studio in Northern California signals the end of a 17-year-old scheme. (Originally published January 11, 2023)

A reformed Satanic priest becomes America's most prominent Christian comedian and authority on the occult. Prelude: Cassette recordings of John Todd's conspiratorial seminars spread through Evangelical communities.

Dedicated fans of country band Sugarland are crushed when a stage collapses during a storm at the Indiana State Fair. Prelude: A gust of wind destroys the stage at Ottawa Bluesfest while Cheap Trick performs.

The arrest of Fall River's 23-year-old mayor ignites a political fiasco. Prelude: A popular Massachusetts State Senator is convicted of bribery.

The largest disability fraud case in United States history is linked to a flamboyant lawyer in a small Kentucky town. Prelude: The history and abuse of Social Security Disability Insurance.

A multinational meat processing company wreaks havoc on animals and people in pursuit of profits. Prelude: Cody Easterday's $233 million "ghost cattle" scheme.

The eccentric director of a veterans charity goes on the run after being exposed as a fraud. Prelude: The downfall of a county commissioner in Florida.

A Nevada-based alkaline water company owned by a local politician is blamed for an outbreak of serious illnesses. Prelude: The events surrounding a Nevada state senator's resignation.

A village clerk in Nebraska leads the charge to rebuild after a catastrophic tornado and becomes the focal point of an international mystery. Prelude: Twin tornadoes devastate Pilger, Nebraska.

A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program overseas. (Originally published July 18, 2021)

A utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history. Prelude: A natural gas leak destroys a neighborhood in San Bruno.

The manufacturer of a persistent pesticide endangers the people and environment of Hopewell, Virginia. Prelude: Two islands in the French West Indies are contaminated with chlordecone.

A renowned sinus surgeon disappears after malpractice allegations surface. Prelude: Philip and Marcella Gabriele are accused of performing unnecessary eye surgeries.

A mistress' 12-year-long affair with a wealthy department store heir ends in violence and conspiracy. Prelude: The collapse of Bernie Cornfeld's financial empire.

A worker (Jose Melena) at a canned tuna factory becomes trapped in an industrial oven and burns to death. A worker (Alan Catterall) at a plastic kayak company becomes trapped in an industrial oven and burns to death. Two workers (Ian Erickson and David Mayes) at a bakery become trapped in an industrial oven and burn to death. (originally published June 30, 2023)

A Sydney-based financial advisor disappears hours after federal agents raided her house. Prelude: $60 million is lost as a result of Brad Sherwin's Ponzi scheme.

Rick Singer is exposed as the leader of a widespread college admissions bribery conspiracy. Prelude: A digital bank and Swiss asset manager work together to conceal dozens of illegal pump-and-dump stock schemes.

More than one hundred people are killed when two overhead walkways collapse in the lobby of a Kansas City hotel. Prelude: The failure of a much-needed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University.

A nationally-known attorney specializing in lottery winnings rips off those who entrusted him. Prelude: Winning the lottery ruins Billie Bob Harrell Jr.'s life.

A popular Austin, Texas, jeweler is murdered in his home on the same day a serial bomber begins terrorizing the city. Prelude: Erik Charles Maund reacts to an extortion attempt.

A fledgling Long Island professional hockey team is revived when sold to a Texas-based con artist. Prelude: William "Boots" Del Biaggio III purchases a minority stake in the Nashville Predators.

Tragedy at a marine animal amusement park illuminates the issues surrounding keeping killer whales in captivity. Prelude: A campaign to save Keiko, the orca whale star of 'Free Willy.'

A series of infomercials lands a TV pitchman in federal prison. Prelude: The founder of Hooked on Phonics is criticized over dubious advertising claims before he settles a sexual assault lawsuit with his corporate attorney, who then purchases a ranch from a phony French noblewoman who faked her own death.

An 18-year-old boy in Florida is caught masquerading as a medical doctor. Prelude: A 17-year-old boy in Florida is caught masquerading as a physician assistant.

Workers at a chicken processing plant in North Carolina become trapped inside a burning building. Prelude: Tragedy at the Triangle Waist Company in Manhattan leads to worker safety reforms.

A botched backyard science experiment sends a 6-year-old boy soaring through the Colorado sky on a balloon. Prelude: Lawn Chair Larry fulfills a lifelong dream.

Ignored warnings and delayed disaster relief transforms a hurricane in New Orleans into a true American horror story. Prelude: Hurricane Betsy causes widespread flooding in New Orleans.

An aspiring rapper ("Razzlekhan") and her Russian-born husband are accused of attempting to launder billions of dollars in stolen Bitcoin. Prelude: The rise and fall of AlphaBay, the world's largest darknet market.

A multinational corporation discontinues the sale of its famous baby powder after thousands of users allege that the product causes cancer. Prelude: Ethicon's pelvic mesh implants feature a critical design flaw.

A pharmaceutical company widely promotes an antipsychotic drug that causes young boys to develop female breasts. Prelude: DePuy's new metal hip implant features a critical design flaw.

The charismatic CEO of HealthSouth stands trial for a $2.8 billion accounting fraud. Prelude: Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, becomes a political target.

A beloved ice cream brand issues a recall when its products are linked to a listeria outbreak. Prelude: Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida, continues to sell tainted ice cream while under investigation.

A funeral director in a small town in Colorado is accused of selling human body parts. Prelude: A raid on Arthur Rathburn's body brokering business in Detroit leads to arrests in Phoenix and Chicago.

A former exotic dancer and his girlfriend are questioned when a house explodes in the Richmond Hill subdivision in Indianapolis. Prelude: A massive explosion in downtown Richmond, Indiana, kills 41 people.

America's oldest gun manufacturer denies that its most popular product is defective and dangerous. Prelude: A deadly toy gun is recalled by Family Dollar.

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.

After refusing to pay taxes, a New Hampshire couple engages in a months-long standoff with federal authorities. Prelude: The Montana Freemen perpetrate a massive fraud scheme under the guise of sovereignty.

A lifelong impostor is accused of murdering a couple in California and kidnapping his daughter. Prelude: Chris Rockefeller is revealed to be French con artist Christophe Rocancourt.

The quest to build the world's tallest water slide ends in tragedy. Prelude: A 14-year-old boy dies after falling from an amusement ride in Florida.

A revolutionary microbiome testing company often described as "the 23andMe of poop" is accused of illegal billing practices. Prelude: A former music pirate transitions to a healthcare fraud scheme.

A popular vegan restaurant is destroyed when its beloved owner falls for the wrong man. Prelude: The PlantLab culinary academy cancels classes after the CEO disappears.

The State of Illinois' newly appointed Director of Special Investigations is exposed as a lifelong con artist and notorious property squatter. (Originally published on March 8, 2021)

A massive explosion in Lebanon's capital city is revealed to be a symptom of a corrupt system. Prelude: A fertilizer plant explosion destroys the small town of West, Texas.

An anonymous tip leads to the arrest of a beloved gynecologist in Chesapeake, Virginia. Prelude: Dr. Roger Beyer is investigated for improperly reusing a rectal pressure device.

A charismatic real estate guru builds a fortune with infomercials. Prelude: Charles J. Givens sells financial advice to a susceptible audience.

A muffler shop owner exacts revenge over a zoning dispute in the mountain town of Granby, Colorado. Prelude: Tom Leask makes a violent statement against a small-town government.

Incompetence and negligence lead to a devastating loss of life at a concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Prelude: A fight in the E2 nightclub in Chicago triggers a deadly stampede.

A Virginia-based peanut processing company unleashes one of the most massive and lethal food-borne contamination events in United States history. Prelude: The Jensen brothers are charged with crimes after a deadly listeria outbreak.

A Wall Street tycoon's money management firm is revealed to be the world's largest Ponzi scheme. Prelude: Samuel Israel III disappears after his hedge fund collapses.

A sheriff in Alabama uses the inmate food budget to purchase personal property. (Originally published on August 2, 2021)

A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program overseas.

In Celebration, Florida, a family disappears in the wake of the father's physical therapy insurance scam. Prelude: John Chairmonte attempts to burn down his own home.

A multinational consumer goods corporation finds itself mired in controversy. Prelude: The Fenholloway River is classified as an "industrial waterway."

A corporate accountant lives luxuriously by embezzling millions from a family-owned bakery. Prelude: Alvin Kennard is sentenced to life in prison on a non-violent robbery charge.

An intelligent imposter steals the identity of a missing woman to con her way into Columbia University. Prelude: James Arthur Hogue's compulsion leads to a life of crime.

An unknown entity attempts to manipulate the stock prices of two companies by mailing threats to investment firms. Prelude: Luke Helder places pipe bombs in mailboxes across the Midwest.

Unprecedented rainfall in a small Ontario township leads to a public health disaster. Prelude: Thousands fall ill after attending the Washington County Fair in New York.

An infamous First Amendment activist becomes the "most hated woman in America" then mysteriously disappears. Prelude: The constitutionality of state-sponsored prayer in public schools is challenged in the United States Supreme Court.

A soda company's botched promotional game leads to unrest in the Philippines. (Originally published on August 19, 2020)