Skip navigation
REAL-TIME QUOTES
FREE Real-Time Quotes for EXTENDED HOURS now available from the NYSE and the NASDAQclose messageFREE Real-Time Quotes for EXTENDED HOURS now available from the NYSE and the NASDAQ
American GreedAmerican Greed - Some People Will Do Anything For Money
In this episode of American Greed

Case 1: Driven By Greed

James Nichols Con Man
James Nichols
Con Man

Robert Gomez
a.k.a. "Buddha"
Curt Bohling - The Prosecutor
Curt Bohling
The Prosecutor

Best Friends
James Nichols and Robert Gomez are friends.  They work security together at a local office complex and dream of finding the fast track out of their poor L.A. County neighborhood.  A lucrative opportunity emerges.

Miracle Car Club
Gomez claims he's the sole heir to a $411 million estate left by his adoptive father who wants to donate his assets to Christian people.  The plan is simple.  For $1,000 you can buy one of the estate's cars.  Sounds like a steal. The faithful believe.

The Scam
Thousands of buyers, many from churches around the country,  send their hard-earned cash to Nichols and Gomez.   During the next four years, they take in more than $21 million!  It's a story of American Greed.


Current DateTime: 04:30:17 22 Nov 2008
LinksList Documentid: 23240852

Case 2: Conned in the Caribbean

The Bank First Int'l Bank of Grenada
The Bank
First Int'l Bank of Grenada
The Mastermind
Van Brink
The Mastermind
The Victims Jim and Phyllis Miller
Jim and Phyllis Miller
The Victims

An Offer Too Good To Be True
The First Int'l Bank of Grenada offers certificates of deposits with annual returns of more than  250%!  Thousands buy into the plan.  But, there's a catch...FIBG isn't worth the paper its shiny brochures are printed on.

The Mastermind
Con artist Van Brink and others used FIBG investor money as their personal piggy-bank account, buying luxury cars, expensive homes, private Learjet trips, an organic tomato farm and a yacht named "Off Shore Funs".

The Scam
FIBG's guaranteed high rates of return are nothing more than a fantasy.   Investors lose more than $170 million. The FIBG con was the biggest Ponzi scheme in Oregon history.


Current DateTime: 04:30:17 22 Nov 2008
LinksList Documentid: 23240858

SHOW TIMES

Episode 1:
Saturday, December 6th 1a ET

Episode 2:
Saturday, December 13th 1a ET

Coming Wednesday, January 7, 2009... an all new season of American Greed!
Watch the Preview


STACY KEACH PROFILE

"American Greed" is narrated by Stacy Keach.  The award-winning actor of stage, film and television, is best known as the star of "Prison Break" and his portrayal of Detective Mike Hammer.

AMERICAN GREED CRIME STORIES

Do you have a story of American Greed?
email: americangreed@cnbc.com 

RELATED LINKS


Current DateTime: 04:30:18 22 Nov 2008
LinksList Documentid: 23240846
HOME  |  NEWS  |  MARKETS  |  EARNINGS  |  INVESTING  |  VIDEO  |  CNBC TV  |  CNBC PLUS  |  CNBC MOBILE  |  CNBC HD+
About CNBC   |   Site Map   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service   |   Advertise   |   Help   |   Feedback   |   Video Reprints
  Data is a real-time snapshot   *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes

Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis