About this season
A dissection of the dark side of the American Dream, a survey of how far some people go to become rich, no matter the cost to themselves and those around them. Real-life cases are reviewed and involve such criminal activity as credit card scams, identity theft, counterfeiting and Ponzi schemes.
Episodes (17)
1. Celebrity Scam Artist
Aired 25 January 2012 • 43 min
Kenneth Ira Starr is a money manager. He courts celebrity clients…Sylvester Stallone, Uma Thurman and Wesley Snipes. But Starr doesn’t stop there. He steals $30 million to buy his way onto Hollywood’s A-list and live a life of luxury … all in the name of love. American Greed has the story of the money manager, the stripper and a multi-million dollar ponzi scheme.
2. Master of Deadly Deceit
Aired 1 February 2012 • 43 min
Carlos Perez-Olivo is a successful lawyer with a silver tongue and solid gold taste. But when he’s disbarred for fleecing desperate clients, he finds another way to make money…and proves how greed really is a deadly sin. American Greed profiles the story of murder for money.
3. Major League Fraud
Aired 8 February 2012 • 43 min
Nevin Shapiro is the conman at the center of a college football scandal. He kicked off the controversy with stunning stories of gifts to players and allegations of broken NCAA rules. Who is this man who jeopardized the future of the University of Miami’s football team and how did he steal the millions that made it all possible? American Greed profiles a case of major league fraud!
4. Baby Broker Scam
Aired 15 February 2012 • 43 min
Kevin Cohen is an attorney who says he can make dreams come true for couples wanting children. He promises babies … for a hefty price. But unknown to his trusting clients, Cohen is exploiting their hopes and dreams. American Greed profiles a cruel con artist.
5. Tom Petters Generous With Other Peoples Money
Aired 22 February 2012 • 43 min
A Minneapolis businessman buys big companies and makes himself rich in the process
6. The Insider
Aired 29 February 2012 • 43 min
It’s one of the biggest cases of insider trading in history. Raj Rajaratnam had it all…a wildly successful hedge fund, billions in the bank and the respect of Wall Street. But behind closed doors, Rajaratnam was gaming the system to the tune of $75 million-dollars! American Greed takes you inside a trading scandal.
7. Fine Art: Portrait of a Fraud
Aired 14 March 2012 • 43 min
A televised art auction appears to showcase masterpieces. It’s billed as your chance to own a Rembrandt, Chagall or Dali. A rare Picasso sells for $500. Too good to be true? American Greed takes you inside a picture perfect art scam.
8. Loan Scam Money For Nothing
Aired 21 March 2012 • 43 min
A sting operation brings down a Denver businessman; a charismatic con man uses the promise of huge returns to put $30 million in his own pocket.
9. William Erpenbeck Real Estate Home Wrecker
Aired 4 April 2012 • 43 min
The collapse of Erpenbeck wreaks financial havoc for area home buyers, subcontractors and banks with three company employees pleading guilty to bank fraud.
10. Nicholas Cosmo All Interest No Return
Aired 2 May 2012 • 43 min
Nicholas Cosmo pleads guilty to federal mail fraud and wire fraud in 2009 for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme that resulted in losses of more than $195 million.
11. Michael Lock Pimp Preachers Profiteer
Aired 9 May 2012 • 43 min
Michael Lock was a man driven by ambition. He was a Milwaukee crime boss with a business model that took him from cocaine dealing to bank fraud … and Lock had a surefire way to beat the competition.
12. The Tran Organization Blackjack Cheaters
Aired 30 May 2012 • 43 min
Van Thu Tran and her crime ring steal millions by cheating casinos.
13. The Mormon Madoff
Aired 20 June 2012 • 43 min
Shawn Merriman was a bishop in the Mormon Church, a family man and the head of a thriving investment business pulling in millions. But unknown to investors, Merriman was living a lie and ripping off his neighbors, friends…even his own mother. American Greed takes you inside a multi-million dollar con!
14. Crash for Cash
Aired 27 June 2012 • 43 min
In the city of brotherly love, car wrecks piled up and auto insurance policies were treated like ATM machines. American Greed takes you inside a Philadelphia car insurance fraud ring where everybody got a piece of the action.
15. Financial Home Invasion
Aired 11 July 2012 • 43 min
Lee Farkas was a mortgage mogul, a millionaire and chairman of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker. But unknown to his clients, Farkas made his fortune by peddling fake mortgages and looting his company. American Greed takes you inside a multi-billion dollar scam!
16. The Jersey Score
Aired 25 July 2012 • 43 min
Solomon Dwek was a real estate mogul, philanthropist … and an expert flimflammer. He was the mastermind behind a multi-million dollar real estate scam and bank fraud. But when Dwek’s luck runs out, he becomes an informant in the biggest case of corruption and greed in New Jersey history.
17. Allen Stanford: The Dark Knight
Aired 1 August 2012 • 43 min
Sir Allen Stanford was once one of the richest men in America. He lived and loved the high life - cruising around the world on private jets and helicopters and bouncing between multiple mansions. He even bought his own island for $63 million. But it was all based on lies. His company, The Stanford Financial Group, made its name selling what’s usually a safe bet for investors – certificates of deposits. He claimed the CDs came from his offshore bank on the island of Antigua, and because of that, the company offered return rates higher than those in the U.S. When the lies grew too big and his money supply dried out – he was convicted of running an international $7 billion Ponzi scheme, and is serving a 110-year sentence in federal prison. He left a trail of some 20,000 burned investors, many of whom now live in financial ruin.