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In this episode of American Greed,
captured.
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These four American Greed fugitives may
have thought they got away with their
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schemes and scams, but they thought too
soon.
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I wasn't going to let this drop.
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I wanted him found.
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Whether flaunting their freedom in the
limelight or taking their newfound
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television fame to heart, they've all
got something to hide.
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And it's only a matter of time before
the predator becomes the prey.
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By land or by sea, and even with the
help of alert American Greed viewers,
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00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,919
enforcement has brought these fraudsters
into custody to face the music for a
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total of more than $90 million worth of
lying and deceit. I am just so
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grateful that the show found him as the
answer to a prayer.
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Nisha is Nisha Jackson.
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Chucky or Charles is Charles Barksdale.
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And in the summer of 2008, they're
wanted by federal investigators.
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Over the past several years, the two
have found a way to rob banks not only
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without a gun, but without the banks
even knowing they're being robbed.
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Barksdale speaks to American Greed the
Fugitives about how they got banks to
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just hand over piles of cash.
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Robbing a bank with a cell phone and a
prepaid credit card, of course.
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No violence, nobody get hurt.
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Barksdale and Jackson's scheme recruits
women all across the country to walk
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into banks and convince tellers to pay
cash advances on almost worthless
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credit cards.
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simply by asking them to call the credit
card company to confirm their balance.
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There's only one problem with the phone
number these teams provide the teller.
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That's not the number of the credit card
company. It's really 1 -800 -CO
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-CONSPIRATOR, and the person answering
the phone is Nyasha Jackson.
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Like a con game, like an old con game.
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You know, you could talk a person into
doing whatever you want them to do. If
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you say it, if you ask them right.
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The scheme steals more than $2 .5
million from banks all across the
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I ain't going to say I'm proud of it.
Well, I ain't mad that I did it,
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dog. Everybody's a little bit greedy.
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Barksdale claims that the fraud he
masterminds is the result of a personal
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offensive.
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I'm a ladies' man. I could have whatever
female I was with at the time do that.
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Whoever was riding with me.
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I give them the script and they're going
to say it. But the feds think it's Nisa
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Jackson who has the skills that make the
fraud work.
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None of this could have happened without
Jackson's knowledge of how to
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impersonate the customer service rep at
the card company and how to walk the
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teller through the key presses necessary
for a forced transaction.
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In early 2008, the FBI and Secret
Service pieced together the nearly
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cases across the country.
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and follow the money back to Sacramento,
California, and Charles Barksdale.
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Barksdale pleads guilty to one count of
bank fraud. And now, from behind bars,
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he says he knew all along exactly how
this story would end.
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Hey, for real, real American Greek, I
mean, I knew I would get caught.
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But I didn't know I was going to get
this much time.
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Mark Dale is sentenced to nearly 11
years in prison, and it appears to be a
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-up call for Jackson.
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After pleading guilty to bank fraud, she
is released on a $50 ,000 bond.
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On October 6, 2011, she is scheduled to
return to court to face sentencing.
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Nyasha Jackson was looking at some
years.
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There's no doubt about it.
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And there we are in the morning, and
it's time for Nyasha Jackson actually to
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sentenced.
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Her lawyer's there, and I'm there, the
judge is there.
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No Jackson.
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According to Jackson's defense, Jackson
spends the next two and a half years
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leading a transient and dangerous life,
selling herself to make money.
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When American Greed the Fugitive
features Nisha Jackson in the episode
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Bank Robbing Babe in September 2012, her
defense claims things only get worse.
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They say she is held hostage and
tortured by a former friend demanding
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she made during the scam.
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But on April 25, 2014, Nisha Jackson's
life on the run comes to an end when she
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once again finds herself on TV.
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00:05:23,180 --> 00:05:27,759
And it appears that she didn't disdain
her appearance on American Greed as much
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as the defense suggests.
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Her real name, Naisha Nicole Jackson.
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She was caught leaving a hotel in
Fairfield. But what she had with her was
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more interesting.
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She had T -shirts and business cards
with the American Greed logo on them, as
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well as her moniker, the fake robbing
babe. It's almost like wearing a wanted
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poster.
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In addition to her customized American
Greed swag.
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She is found with $84 ,000 worth of cash
and this array of luxury brand shoes,
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jewelry, and more than 25 designer
handbags.
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She is also found with a bank card and
ID in someone else's name, indicating
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that she was possibly engaging in some
kind of fraud while on the run.
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Jackson is not charged with any new
frauds, but her time on the run is over.
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On May 16, 2015...
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She is scheduled to face a judge once
again, and this time, there will be no
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escape.
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She is sentenced to 15 years and 7
months in a federal prison in Central
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California.
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When American Greed the Fugitives
returns, a man accused of embezzling
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million tries to start a new life on the
Appalachian Trail.
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But there are some secrets he can't walk
away from.
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The agent had told me that Jim Hammons
has to be lucky every day of his life.
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We only have to be lucky one day.
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And May 16th was that day.
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The Appalachian Trail.
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Between two and three million people a
year hike at least some portion of the 2
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,100 -mile journey that passes through
14 states from Georgia to Maine.
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To many hikers, it's a weekend getaway.
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And for others, it's a chance to get in
touch with nature.
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But for some, it's a quest to escape
from the world and become an entirely
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person.
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evens everybody out.
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You do not know if the man coming in my
door is a state senator or if he's a bad
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boy at the grocery store that saved his
money.
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Susie Montgomery runs the Montgomery
Homestead Bed and Breakfast in Damascus,
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Virginia, known as the friendliest town
on the Appalachian Trail.
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She sees thousands of hikers pass
through her 814 -person town every year,
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she says, That live and let live is a
key motto on the trail.
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Hikers even adopt trail names instead of
going by the names they're known by in
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the outside world.
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Names like Thunder Chicken or Eternal
Optimist. Or in the case of one man who
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first stays at Montgomery's Bed and
Breakfast in 2010,
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Bismarck.
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He got along with everybody very well.
He was a very pleasant person, very
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man.
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The two get along so well that Bismarck
comes back every year to stay with
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Montgomery during Damascus' annual
spring festival for hikers, Trail Days.
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But despite the personal connection,
like many hikers on the trail,
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past remains a mystery.
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I don't know what he did in the winter.
I don't know what he did when he was off
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of the trail.
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He never just really revealed it, so I
didn't inquire anymore.
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If she had, it's doubtful he would tell
her the truth, because the truth is
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something Bismarck is trying very hard
to hide.
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February 2009, in the G &J Pepsi
Bottling Company offices of Lexington,
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Kentucky, the FBI awaits the arrival of
the company's controller, James Hammes.
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They believe that Hammes has embezzled
$8 .7 million from the company.
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over the previous ten or more years.
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But when Hammes arrives, the meeting
doesn't go as planned.
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My expectation, generally, when someone
is confronted with a situation where
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there's such a preponderance of
evidence, is that the person will say,
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okay, I did it.
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Not Mr. Hammes. He completely denied any
part of it. When Hammes asks for an
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attorney, the meeting is cut short.
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And the next meeting won't be for a very
long time.
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After Hammes leaves that day, the FBI
won't see him for another six years.
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For Hammes' former sister -in -law, Jane
Ryan, it's six years of torment and
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frustration.
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This is just one of those things that
you never would have seen coming.
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And I like to think of myself as a
pretty good judge of character.
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But he just, he fooled everybody.
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But for Ryan, the most troubling part
isn't what Hammond stole.
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It's what he willingly left behind, his
22 -year -old daughter, Amanda.
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I'm a mother, so I can't imagine
abandoning a child like he did. She
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thought she had the best dad in the
whole world.
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and that he was a good, honorable,
honest man.
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And when she found out that he wasn't,
that was very
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devastating.
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Heartache seems to follow James Hammes.
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Six years earlier, Jane's sister Joy is
killed in a fire in the home she shares
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with Hammes while Amanda is out on a
date.
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Not only does the tragedy shatter the
family, there are also several
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details about the fire that the family
can't stop questioning.
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The smoke alarm he had taken down, the
dogs were pinned in the kitchen and they
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couldn't wake her up.
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He was out for a walk. This looks not
great for Jim, but at the same time I
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would rationalize it and say, there is
no way.
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that he would have done this, what would
his motivation have been?
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At the time, the family largely accepts
it as an accident.
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00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:15,379
But knowing what they know now about
Hammes' alleged secret dealings, the
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has a hard time believing his story.
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This isn't Hammes' first experience with
a building going up in flames.
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This man had...
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been involved in five different fires.
And you know, when I would ask somebody
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what they thought about that, their
comment would say, you know, I've never
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involved in one fire, let alone five.
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According to Ryan, once the family
learns of Hammes' fraud and flight, they
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begin to think about the fire and Hammes
in a whole new way.
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I think we kind of all felt that he was
running from more than just...
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You know, a lot of people are caught
embezzling, but when you just take off
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you're missing, then there's something
more that he's running from.
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00:13:04,430 --> 00:13:09,329
In 2012, the family is interviewed for
an episode of American Greed, The
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Fugitives, hoping that someone will
identify Hammett and they can have some
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00:13:14,310 --> 00:13:15,630
their questions answered.
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Until they do, no one is going to give
up the hunt.
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Not the FBI, and especially not Jane
Ryan.
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I wasn't going to let this drop.
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I wasn't going to let them forget.
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I wanted him found.
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00:13:32,130 --> 00:13:36,790
When American Greed returns, a new look
and a new life.
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But James Hammes can't disguise his lies
forever.
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00:13:40,851 --> 00:13:42,229
It's him.
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I was 100 % sure.
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I just thought, he's alive.
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He's alive and he's out there and we're
going to get him.
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00:14:06,860 --> 00:14:13,339
By 2015, accused Lexington, Kentucky,
embezzler James Hammis has been on the
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00:14:13,340 --> 00:14:15,520
from the FBI for nearly six years.
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00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:19,739
And it's been three years since his
story was told on American Greed, The
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Fugitives. When three years went by, I
won't say, I didn't give up hope,
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00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:30,380
but I thought he might have gotten away
with this.
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00:14:31,820 --> 00:14:34,000
He just might have gotten away with
this.
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00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,980
The disappearance is hard for Jane Ryan
and her family to believe.
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00:14:39,540 --> 00:14:43,820
But for Hammes' daughter, Amanda, it's
not just hard to believe.
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00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:45,780
It's hard to live with.
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00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:52,600
Every holiday was very hard because I
think in her mind she was maybe
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00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,780
is this the time when he'll reach out if
he's out there somewhere?
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00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,220
Amanda declined to speak with American
Greed for this episode.
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00:15:03,820 --> 00:15:08,300
But in her interview for the original
show, she is desperate to have him
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00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,100
And she has an idea about how her father
is living his life on the run.
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00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,059
I think he's enjoying it. I think he's
probably somewhere where he can do the
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00:15:18,060 --> 00:15:23,079
things that he likes, and I would not be
surprised if there were other people
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that he has duped into being close to
him.
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She doesn't know how right she is.
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00:15:37,310 --> 00:15:42,289
Patrick Bredlow first meets a hiker
going by the name of Bismarck at the end
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00:15:42,290 --> 00:15:47,289
the summer in 2014, while Bredlow is in
the final month of his first complete
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00:15:47,290 --> 00:15:49,430
hike of the Appalachian Trail.
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00:15:49,690 --> 00:15:52,530
We spent a lot of time just talking
about family.
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00:15:52,850 --> 00:15:59,769
He talked a little bit about his one
child, that she was in medicine, and
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00:15:59,770 --> 00:16:00,820
he missed her.
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00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:06,219
But he hadn't seen her for quite a long
time just because he preferred to stay
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in the woods and she was quite
independent, as he described it, and
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00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,839
well. Bismarck tells Bredlow that he's
hiked the trail every summer the last
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00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:15,890
five years.
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00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,320
And he isn't doing it alone, either.
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00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:24,139
He's with a woman he met on the trail
several years ago and has been with ever
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00:16:24,140 --> 00:16:25,190
since.
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00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:30,420
He always said, this is everything I
ever sought and wanted.
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00:16:30,860 --> 00:16:34,820
I've got nature's beauty always around
me and a woman I love.
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00:16:35,060 --> 00:16:37,540
What else can a person ask for?
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00:16:38,060 --> 00:16:42,919
He said many times he would want to
spend the rest of his life hiking the
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00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:44,600
Appalachian Trail back and forth.
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00:16:45,740 --> 00:16:47,160
It beats prison.
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00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:53,859
Because this gregarious hiker is not a
selfless nomad with the wanted fugitive
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00:16:53,860 --> 00:16:55,000
James Hammes.
224
00:16:55,630 --> 00:17:00,449
And despite his status as a fugitive, he
allows dozens of photos to be taken of
225
00:17:00,450 --> 00:17:03,510
him, each one smiling more broadly than
the last.
226
00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:06,810
But his overconfidence will be his
downfall.
227
00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:12,169
One day, I was on my way home from the
grocery store, and Amanda called me and
228
00:17:12,170 --> 00:17:13,550
said, where are you?
229
00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:16,170
I've got an email you need to see.
230
00:17:16,730 --> 00:17:21,329
Amanda Hammes forwards Ryan a remarkable
email from an American Greed viewer.
231
00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,760
who tracks Amanda down after watching a
rebroadcast of the show.
232
00:17:26,339 --> 00:17:29,440
It is the message the family has been
waiting for.
233
00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:36,459
He had said, I believe I've traveled the
Appalachian Trail with your father, and
234
00:17:36,460 --> 00:17:37,780
here are pictures of him.
235
00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:43,839
I took one look at the pictures, and he
was bearded and long hair and
236
00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,700
everything. I took one look, and I knew.
237
00:17:46,170 --> 00:17:47,830
100 % sure it was him.
238
00:17:48,070 --> 00:17:53,049
Ryan contacts the FBI and gets them in
touch with the hiker who identifies
239
00:17:53,050 --> 00:17:55,220
Hammes from American Greed the
Fugitives.
240
00:17:55,750 --> 00:18:02,029
Now the FBI has to try to determine
where on this 2 ,100 -mile trail they
241
00:18:02,030 --> 00:18:06,210
able to track down the rambler who goes
by Bismarck.
242
00:18:06,550 --> 00:18:12,149
They eventually zero in on the one event
he never misses, Damascus, Virginia's
243
00:18:12,150 --> 00:18:14,370
annual festival, Trail Days.
244
00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:21,419
And on the morning of May 16, 2015,
Hammes is once again staying at the
245
00:18:21,420 --> 00:18:24,680
Montgomery homestead, just like he does
every May.
246
00:18:25,220 --> 00:18:28,640
But this year's wake -up call is going
to be different.
247
00:18:29,140 --> 00:18:33,759
I heard a knock at the door, and I came,
I was in the kitchen, I came to the
248
00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,860
door, and the first thing I thought was
all these, all these men.
249
00:18:38,060 --> 00:18:40,020
I thought, these are not hikers.
250
00:18:40,620 --> 00:18:41,680
No, they are not.
251
00:18:42,540 --> 00:18:46,379
They are FBI agents, and they say they
want to speak to a man who goes by the
252
00:18:46,380 --> 00:18:47,900
name Bismarck.
253
00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,720
I said, okay, and I went upstairs, and I
knocked on the door.
254
00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:54,960
I said, Bismarck, are you here?
255
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:56,500
And he said, yeah.
256
00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,530
And I said, well, there's some guys out
here that want to talk with you.
257
00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:06,099
The FBI agents speak with Hammes in his
room for approximately 15 minutes, then
258
00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:07,700
lead him back to the living room.
259
00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,420
They came down the stairs, and he was
handcuffed at that point.
260
00:19:11,780 --> 00:19:17,620
And I was able to hug him, and he said,
just whispered to me, said, I'm sorry,
261
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,160
Susie. And then they just left.
262
00:19:20,980 --> 00:19:22,420
And that was how it was.
263
00:19:24,180 --> 00:19:28,699
That afternoon, Jane Ryan gets the call
she and her family have been awaiting
264
00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:29,940
for six years.
265
00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:35,920
It was the FBI, and he said, we arrested
Jim Hammond this morning in Damascus,
266
00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,510
Virginia. I almost dropped the phone. I
can't even explain the feeling.
267
00:19:40,210 --> 00:19:41,430
Mission accomplished.
268
00:19:41,910 --> 00:19:44,330
That's what I thought. Mission
accomplished.
269
00:19:45,070 --> 00:19:50,370
Currently, James Hammes awaits
sentencing after pleading guilty to wire
270
00:19:50,790 --> 00:19:55,569
The family believes that the truth about
the fire that killed his wife may never
271
00:19:55,570 --> 00:19:56,469
be known.
272
00:19:56,470 --> 00:20:00,809
But it's been reported that the
Lexington Fire Department at one point
273
00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:04,770
the investigation, though nothing
conclusive has yet been revealed.
274
00:20:05,110 --> 00:20:06,250
In the meantime...
275
00:20:06,750 --> 00:20:11,609
They are just glad that the journey down
this long trail has finally come to an
276
00:20:11,610 --> 00:20:12,629
end.
277
00:20:12,630 --> 00:20:16,889
I don't think we'll ever know the truth
about Joy's death, but as long as he's
278
00:20:16,890 --> 00:20:18,870
behind bars, it doesn't matter what for.
279
00:20:19,150 --> 00:20:23,769
As long as he's behind bars, that gives
me satisfaction. I just hope he's there
280
00:20:23,770 --> 00:20:24,970
for a really long time.
281
00:20:25,250 --> 00:20:31,130
And if he had anything to do with it, he
will get his justice later on.
282
00:20:31,670 --> 00:20:34,270
Amanda Hammes has moved on with her
life.
283
00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,660
working her way through medical school.
284
00:20:36,860 --> 00:20:40,260
But the sudden reemergence of her father
has been a shock.
285
00:20:41,180 --> 00:20:45,979
Ryan says that Hammes has been in
contact with Amanda since his arrest,
286
00:20:45,980 --> 00:20:50,360
been a challenge for Amanda to reconcile
all the feelings she is going through.
287
00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:56,659
I think it's been difficult emotionally.
I think she's had to relive a lot of
288
00:20:56,660 --> 00:20:59,640
things and face a lot of things.
289
00:21:00,990 --> 00:21:07,449
I think she's trying her best to
continue with her life and deal with the
290
00:21:07,450 --> 00:21:09,590
emotions that come with this.
291
00:21:10,090 --> 00:21:14,290
We're all very proud of her. She's very
tough. She's a tough cookie.
292
00:21:14,550 --> 00:21:18,869
After all she's been through, losing her
mother and then finding out what her
293
00:21:18,870 --> 00:21:24,330
father had done is something that most
people wouldn't rebound from. He has.
294
00:21:24,610 --> 00:21:25,830
Right. It's amazing.
295
00:21:29,260 --> 00:21:34,979
Next on American Greed, a routine
traffic stop leads to the end of the
296
00:21:34,980 --> 00:21:36,540
this American Greed fugitive.
297
00:21:57,550 --> 00:21:59,130
June 16, 2012.
298
00:21:59,890 --> 00:22:05,669
Security video shows investment manager
Aubrey Lee Price at the ferry terminal
299
00:22:05,670 --> 00:22:09,250
in Key West, Florida, buying a ticket to
Fort Myers.
300
00:22:10,350 --> 00:22:15,169
Price has collected approximately $40
million in his Georgia -based investment
301
00:22:15,170 --> 00:22:17,110
fund, PFG.
302
00:22:17,330 --> 00:22:22,149
And by the time he boards the northbound
ferry, it appears he's burned through
303
00:22:22,150 --> 00:22:23,310
nearly all of it.
304
00:22:24,110 --> 00:22:29,329
In a letter sent to regulators and to
investors like Stark Wilbur, just before
305
00:22:29,330 --> 00:22:33,690
his departure, he confesses his guilt
and his intentions.
306
00:22:34,270 --> 00:22:39,249
I apologize in advance for the lack of
structure, grammar, and harmony of
307
00:22:39,250 --> 00:22:44,229
thought. I realize that my time is up,
and there is no way that I can work my
308
00:22:44,230 --> 00:22:46,090
way out of the mess that I have created.
309
00:22:46,190 --> 00:22:51,290
Price leaves regulators and investors to
believe that his last act on Earth...
310
00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:56,259
will be to jump from the ferry into the
Gulf of Mexico, leaving behind a wife
311
00:22:56,260 --> 00:23:01,900
and four children and drowning his once
-admired life in shame and regret.
312
00:23:04,140 --> 00:23:09,560
It's a dramatic conclusion to a
devastating story, if only it were true.
313
00:23:10,380 --> 00:23:12,760
But it's not where this story ends.
314
00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:20,540
FBI Special Agent Douglas Left pours
over security footage from that day.
315
00:23:21,050 --> 00:23:25,450
and finds evidence of a man not looking
to die, but disappeared.
316
00:23:26,150 --> 00:23:30,149
At the airport, he's wearing a burgundy
cap. A short while later, when he
317
00:23:30,150 --> 00:23:32,769
arrives at the ferry terminal, he's now
wearing a white cap.
318
00:23:32,770 --> 00:23:37,789
People that commit suicide, it's
probably unlikely that you'll find too
319
00:23:37,790 --> 00:23:41,149
them that decided that they needed to
change the color hat they were wearing
320
00:23:41,150 --> 00:23:43,790
just before that terrible moment was to
take place.
321
00:23:44,330 --> 00:23:46,230
The FBI never gives up the hunt.
322
00:23:46,470 --> 00:23:50,610
But after nearly two years, no sign of
Price is to be found.
323
00:23:51,150 --> 00:23:57,030
And it appears that the FBI's
investigation may drown along with
324
00:23:57,670 --> 00:24:02,169
That's where the curtain goes down and
we're left to try to put the pieces
325
00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:07,489
together. But behind the curtain,
there's an entirely new show in the
326
00:24:07,490 --> 00:24:10,370
Aubrey Lee Price himself is the author.
327
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:19,419
In 2014, journalist Charles Bethea
writes a story about Price for Atlanta
328
00:24:19,420 --> 00:24:24,879
Magazine, where he gets an exclusive
interview with Price, as well as an
329
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:30,279
from a manuscript Price is writing about
his time on the run called The
330
00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:31,600
Inglourious Fugitive.
331
00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:38,019
In it, Price tells his version of what
happened on that not -so -fateful day in
332
00:24:38,020 --> 00:24:39,070
2012.
333
00:24:40,590 --> 00:24:44,349
When the last light of day was gone, I
became engulfed in a sea of great
334
00:24:44,350 --> 00:24:48,930
darkness, a darkness that would bring
terror to any man's heart.
335
00:24:49,570 --> 00:24:52,590
He sat there, you know, woe is me, why,
why?
336
00:24:53,410 --> 00:24:57,869
And then he had these sort of series of
epiphanies about why he couldn't or
337
00:24:57,870 --> 00:24:59,310
shouldn't jump off the ferry.
338
00:24:59,311 --> 00:25:04,549
Instead, he, with or without a plan, we
don't really know, he set out in a new
339
00:25:04,550 --> 00:25:05,600
life.
340
00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:14,119
According to U .S. Attorney Ed Tarver,
Price most definitely had a plan, and he
341
00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:16,300
started preparing it far in advance.
342
00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:23,459
We think about 2011, he realized that
things were going south. He purchased a
343
00:25:23,460 --> 00:25:27,679
condo down in Orlando, Florida, and he
purchased a truck, I believe it was,
344
00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:33,079
he pre -positioned in Bradenton,
Florida. And he started making plans to
345
00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:34,700
further detection.
346
00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,659
According to Tarver, it's all part of a
plan Price is ready to execute the
347
00:25:39,660 --> 00:25:42,380
moment he steps off the ferry in Key
West.
348
00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,579
He left the ferry, made his way to
Bradenton, got in the truck and drove to
349
00:25:46,580 --> 00:25:50,320
Orlando and began his new life as a
fugitive.
350
00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:55,539
Tarver says that Price gets work where
he can to try to keep his new life
351
00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:58,340
afloat. That's the official version,
anyway.
352
00:26:01,180 --> 00:26:05,219
According to Bethea, Price's version of
what happened after he gets off the
353
00:26:05,220 --> 00:26:11,139
ferry in Fort Myers is a remarkable and
somewhat self -aggrandizing story of a
354
00:26:11,140 --> 00:26:12,360
man seeking redemption.
355
00:26:12,361 --> 00:26:16,339
He gets on the ferry in Key West with, I
think he said, you know, a couple
356
00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:20,599
dollars in his pocket, with the
understanding that he can't or shouldn't
357
00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,220
to his family, but instead...
358
00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:27,100
Set off and find a way to make back the
money that he's lost.
359
00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,859
I mean, it's this sort of heroic
narrative, setting off into the
360
00:26:31,860 --> 00:26:33,740
unknown, with the holy mission.
361
00:26:34,380 --> 00:26:38,420
But the holy mission takes a decidedly
unholy turn.
362
00:26:41,220 --> 00:26:42,780
When American Greed returns,
363
00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:49,019
Aubrey Lee Price claims his personal
tale of redemption takes him south of
364
00:26:49,020 --> 00:26:53,830
border. and this time he may be faced
with a death that can't be faked.
365
00:26:54,230 --> 00:26:55,770
He heard me cock the trigger.
366
00:26:56,130 --> 00:27:01,030
I said, listen to me very carefully. Do
not take your eyes off of my eyes.
367
00:27:01,310 --> 00:27:05,310
Do not even blink at your bodyguards. We
will both die right here, right now,
368
00:27:05,450 --> 00:27:06,890
and I'm more than ready to go.
369
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:33,579
In June 2012, alleged $40 million
fraudster Aubrey Lee Price is on the
370
00:27:33,580 --> 00:27:38,000
run from law enforcement. And in an
interview with journalist Charles
371
00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:44,239
the Georgia native claims he hits the
high seas once more, this time to the
372
00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,500
south. He said Venezuela at one point,
he said Central America, South America.
373
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,400
It was south, south of the United States
somewhere in his telling of it.
374
00:28:00,330 --> 00:28:05,669
He went down there and quickly fell in
with a guy who he called Pedro, which
375
00:28:05,670 --> 00:28:08,550
perhaps not the most creative of names
if it was made up.
376
00:28:09,090 --> 00:28:13,729
Before Price managed hedge funds, he was
a Baptist preacher who did missionary
377
00:28:13,730 --> 00:28:15,630
work in Central and South America.
378
00:28:16,190 --> 00:28:21,649
And according to his retelling, he knows
Pedro as a legitimate businessman from
379
00:28:21,650 --> 00:28:22,700
those earlier days.
380
00:28:24,010 --> 00:28:26,030
But there's a dark side to Pedro.
381
00:28:27,370 --> 00:28:31,469
In Price's telling of it, This man sort
of had Price where he wanted him and
382
00:28:31,470 --> 00:28:34,540
could use Price to further his ends,
whatever those might be.
383
00:28:34,790 --> 00:28:40,169
And so he began to work for him as a bag
man, essentially, for a cocaine
384
00:28:40,170 --> 00:28:45,630
operation. And a bag man for a cocaine
operation is a dangerous job.
385
00:28:46,390 --> 00:28:51,949
He said that Pedro made it very clear to
him that if he were to out Pedro for
386
00:28:51,950 --> 00:28:55,929
Pedro's illegal activities, Pedro would
kill his family, that Pedro knew exactly
387
00:28:55,930 --> 00:28:56,980
where they lived.
388
00:28:59,210 --> 00:29:02,220
Maybe it contained some truth, maybe it
contained no truth.
389
00:29:02,870 --> 00:29:07,649
We don't really know, but it was Lee's
attempt at creating a narrative about
390
00:29:07,650 --> 00:29:09,530
this missing time.
391
00:29:09,910 --> 00:29:11,870
And it's a fascinating narrative.
392
00:29:12,930 --> 00:29:16,829
Talking to him convinces Bethea how
Price could have swindled more than 100
393
00:29:16,830 --> 00:29:19,110
people of $40 million.
394
00:29:20,330 --> 00:29:24,209
He told good stories. Whether or not
they're true, people like to be around
395
00:29:24,210 --> 00:29:27,820
storytellers. It doesn't really matter
at the end of the day, and that's...
396
00:29:27,870 --> 00:29:32,069
That's how he got as far as he did in
life, I think. And even though at the
397
00:29:32,070 --> 00:29:36,989
I felt like this guy almost certainly
has lied to me throughout this process,
398
00:29:36,990 --> 00:29:39,650
still felt a genuine connection to him.
399
00:29:39,930 --> 00:29:44,309
Price tells Bethea that for several
months he works as a bag man and a
400
00:29:44,310 --> 00:29:47,170
bodyguard, a drug dealer and a pimp.
401
00:29:49,050 --> 00:29:53,629
Authorities haven't been able to confirm
Price's claims, but facts that are not
402
00:29:53,630 --> 00:29:57,730
in dispute... are that Price eventually
ends up near Jacksonville, Florida,
403
00:29:57,910 --> 00:30:00,910
where he begins to explore a new line of
work.
404
00:30:01,350 --> 00:30:04,910
When he was growing up, a young man, he
loved planting palm trees.
405
00:30:05,330 --> 00:30:10,369
He had a green thumb of some kind. So
here was a guy who had an ability with
406
00:30:10,370 --> 00:30:15,349
growing plants, now needing money, and
in a rural part of Florida where people
407
00:30:15,350 --> 00:30:18,430
probably bought and sold marijuana, and
he began to do that.
408
00:30:20,330 --> 00:30:27,229
Price has 225 marijuana plants growing
in a mobile home and unattached garage
409
00:30:27,230 --> 00:30:30,670
a property he rents in Citra, Florida,
under a fake name.
410
00:30:31,170 --> 00:30:35,870
And the former preacher seems to believe
he's found yet another calling.
411
00:30:36,190 --> 00:30:40,209
He talked to me a lot about different
varieties. He learned about the names,
412
00:30:40,210 --> 00:30:43,469
I think he kind of enjoyed the fact that
he was becoming this connoisseur of
413
00:30:43,470 --> 00:30:44,520
cannabis.
414
00:30:44,530 --> 00:30:48,990
And it appears his resurrection is not a
surprise to everyone.
415
00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,819
U .S. Attorney Ed Tarver believes that
Price makes contact with both his father
416
00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:56,900
and his daughter while on the run, and
even a girlfriend.
417
00:30:58,220 --> 00:31:00,780
But oddly, not his wife.
418
00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:07,659
The indication is that he asked his
father and his daughter not to tell his
419
00:31:07,660 --> 00:31:08,800
that he was still alive.
420
00:31:09,340 --> 00:31:13,560
And we have no evidence that they told
her.
421
00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:16,640
But she and the rest of the world...
422
00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,160
are about to find out.
423
00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:24,819
It was New Year's Eve in 2013 when we
observed an old Dodge pickup truck in
424
00:31:24,820 --> 00:31:29,719
slow lane that had a large crack in the
windshield and the window tint was
425
00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:35,579
illegal. A cracked windshield and tinted
windows. The ultimate downfall of a $40
426
00:31:35,580 --> 00:31:36,860
million fugitive.
427
00:31:37,540 --> 00:31:38,720
How you doing, sir?
428
00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,470
I'm Deputy Giuliano with the Glynn
County Sheriff's Office.
429
00:31:42,471 --> 00:31:44,709
I knew he was very nervous from the
beginning.
430
00:31:44,710 --> 00:31:48,109
He was holding the license in his hand
and he started fumbling through
431
00:31:48,110 --> 00:31:51,729
looking for his license. I actually had
to tell him that I wanted the license
432
00:31:51,730 --> 00:31:52,780
that was in his hand.
433
00:31:52,810 --> 00:31:56,610
Deputy Justin Giuliano asks Price to
step out of the car.
434
00:32:00,571 --> 00:32:07,739
And I searched him first, and as I was
searching him, he kept trying to reach
435
00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:12,159
into his pocket to grab something. And I
removed another license from his
436
00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,459
pocket, different from the license he
had given me.
437
00:32:14,460 --> 00:32:15,510
Who is this guy?
438
00:32:15,660 --> 00:32:19,160
That's me.
439
00:32:19,780 --> 00:32:20,830
Who is that?
440
00:32:21,020 --> 00:32:27,119
That's when we determined that he was
giving us a
441
00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:30,140
false name and date of birth. He was
lying about his identity.
442
00:32:33,719 --> 00:32:37,420
The deputies slap on the cuffs and take
him to the sheriff's office.
443
00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,279
Once we got him into the booking room, I
told him he was going to be
444
00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:45,299
fingerprinted in, and we were going to
learn his true identity one way or the
445
00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:50,339
other. At that point, he said, if y 'all
can get a reward, y 'all are going to
446
00:32:50,340 --> 00:32:50,999
be rich.
447
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,479
And he gave us his name, and he gave it
to us by spelling it out, at which point
448
00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,200
I had to ask him, all right, who is
Aubrey Lee Price?
449
00:32:58,970 --> 00:33:04,329
Deputy Giuliano may not know the name
Aubrey Lee Price, but when he contacts
450
00:33:04,330 --> 00:33:06,430
FBI, they certainly do.
451
00:33:07,350 --> 00:33:11,930
And while Deputies Giuliano and Brian
Falk aren't eligible for the reward
452
00:33:12,390 --> 00:33:16,610
the arrest does put the Glynn County
Sheriff's Office in the national
453
00:33:17,190 --> 00:33:21,789
Now to a headline -making arrest out of
Georgia. A former banker accused of
454
00:33:21,790 --> 00:33:25,850
faking his own death to cover up the
theft of millions of dollars captured...
455
00:33:26,330 --> 00:33:29,040
During a routine traffic stop, Peter has
more on that.
456
00:33:29,990 --> 00:33:35,749
When I found out he was alive, I was
immediately thinking, what does this
457
00:33:35,750 --> 00:33:37,430
for the victim?
458
00:33:37,910 --> 00:33:41,909
Melanie Damien is assigned as the court
receiver while Price is still a
459
00:33:41,910 --> 00:33:46,669
fugitive. And it is her job to get as
much money back for Price's victims as
460
00:33:46,670 --> 00:33:50,650
possible. His capture puts her in an
awkward position.
461
00:33:50,651 --> 00:33:54,969
Frankly, there's pros and cons because
there was a lot of information we needed
462
00:33:54,970 --> 00:34:00,209
from Mr. Price. So it has been helpful
to have him to explain things and to
463
00:34:00,210 --> 00:34:05,709
provide information and tell us where
additional assets might be. But the
464
00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:08,388
biggest struggle with it has been the
life insurance.
465
00:34:08,389 --> 00:34:12,609
While Price was missing, Damien was able
to assist in getting a death
466
00:34:12,610 --> 00:34:18,649
certificate issued by the court,
allowing her to collect $1 .8 million
467
00:34:18,650 --> 00:34:19,700
life insurance.
468
00:34:20,139 --> 00:34:24,199
When Price is found alive, the insurance
company wants their money back.
469
00:34:24,860 --> 00:34:30,599
The court agrees to a compromise, and as
a result, Damien has to give back half
470
00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:31,499
the money.
471
00:34:31,500 --> 00:34:35,718
What would have been a million dollars
better? About $900 ,000 better for the
472
00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:38,179
victims if he had remained dead.
473
00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,739
The living Price has his own problems.
474
00:34:42,460 --> 00:34:47,238
On April 10, 2014, Price is brought to
face arraignment for the 17 -count
475
00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:49,060
indictment relating to his fraud.
476
00:34:50,380 --> 00:34:54,759
The former preacher turned financial
advisor is almost completely
477
00:34:54,760 --> 00:35:01,639
unrecognizable, both in spirit and
appearance, especially to those who
478
00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:02,760
once trusted him.
479
00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:07,400
No, he looked like a kind of a thug that
would do you harm, possibly.
480
00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:13,639
But ironically, it's not the thug, but
the clean -cut Aubrey Lee Price who did
481
00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:14,690
the most damage.
482
00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:18,440
And just weeks after Price's arrest,
Wilbur...
483
00:35:18,710 --> 00:35:23,569
who lost almost his entire retirement
savings in Price's scheme, receives yet
484
00:35:23,570 --> 00:35:27,270
another letter from Price that seems
sadly familiar.
485
00:35:27,970 --> 00:35:33,949
Stark, I am writing to you to once again
express my deepest and most sincere
486
00:35:33,950 --> 00:35:39,069
apologies for the financial, emotional,
and painful losses you have experienced
487
00:35:39,070 --> 00:35:42,210
as a result of my mismanagement of your
investments.
488
00:35:42,860 --> 00:35:48,979
The letter was basically a rehash of
what the original investor's letter had
489
00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:53,419
been. And in this particular letter, he
said that he was going to work for the
490
00:35:53,420 --> 00:35:58,380
rest of his life to try and repay
everybody for what he had lost for them.
491
00:35:58,820 --> 00:36:01,620
Wilbur doesn't buy it, and neither does
the judge.
492
00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:07,300
On June 5, 2014, Price pleads guilty to
three counts of fraud.
493
00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:11,980
And his journey from spiritual advisor
to financial advisor...
494
00:36:12,490 --> 00:36:18,549
fugitive to felon comes to an end as a
prisoner sentenced to 30 years in a
495
00:36:18,550 --> 00:36:19,910
federal penitentiary.
496
00:36:23,510 --> 00:36:28,629
Next on American Greed, American Greed
fugitive David Kauf just can't seem to
497
00:36:28,630 --> 00:36:33,089
keep out of the spotlight and alert
viewers leave law enforcement right to
498
00:36:33,090 --> 00:36:37,069
door. There were a number of calls from
people who had seen the show who knew
499
00:36:37,070 --> 00:36:38,990
that was the person we were looking for.
500
00:36:50,990 --> 00:36:57,309
On November 14, 2013, American Greed to
Fugitives airs the story of Los Angeles
501
00:36:57,310 --> 00:37:03,149
resident David Kaupp, a part -time
mortgage lender, part -time partier, and
502
00:37:03,150 --> 00:37:04,350
-time scam artist.
503
00:37:04,690 --> 00:37:05,870
April 2012.
504
00:37:06,570 --> 00:37:11,549
29 -year -old David Kaupp pleads guilty
in Los Angeles to orchestrating a series
505
00:37:11,550 --> 00:37:14,530
of mortgage and lending frauds across
the country.
506
00:37:14,870 --> 00:37:19,530
Kaupp may be young, but he's destroyed
lives and stolen nearly $11 million.
507
00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,879
At the time, Kalb had skipped his
sentencing and went on the run, even
508
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:25,930
pleading guilty.
509
00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:28,700
His whereabouts were completely unknown.
510
00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:32,759
But according to law enforcement, it is
only a matter of time before he is
511
00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,240
brought back to face the real music.
512
00:37:35,900 --> 00:37:40,779
David Kalb may have avoided the law for
now, but James Bowman assures American
513
00:37:40,780 --> 00:37:42,860
Greed he hasn't forgotten about it.
514
00:37:43,260 --> 00:37:49,099
We're very motivated to do whatever we
can and to follow any lead so that we'll
515
00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:50,150
see Mr. Kalb.
516
00:37:50,250 --> 00:37:51,390
back in that courtroom.
517
00:37:51,930 --> 00:37:53,490
And I look forward to that day.
518
00:37:56,310 --> 00:37:59,350
Joseph Hoffman is one of Cobb's prey.
519
00:37:59,730 --> 00:38:04,929
He hands over $400 ,000 to Cobb with the
expectation that he will earn a $4
520
00:38:04,930 --> 00:38:09,350
million -plus line of credit for his
growing cosmetics business.
521
00:38:09,830 --> 00:38:14,930
We had a written contract that was
signed that clearly stated...
522
00:38:15,420 --> 00:38:20,159
that the funding would be completed
within 45 days, otherwise there'd be a
523
00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:21,210
refund.
524
00:38:21,420 --> 00:38:25,340
Unfortunately, Hoffman never gets the
funding, nor the refund.
525
00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:29,980
And he's been suffering the consequences
ever since.
526
00:38:30,740 --> 00:38:36,259
The company is just really crippled, you
know, at this point, and
527
00:38:36,260 --> 00:38:42,020
it's just like every year it's on its
last leg.
528
00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:48,119
When Kaupp pleads, Hoffman doesn't even
get the satisfaction of seeing the
529
00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:49,170
shackles put on.
530
00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:55,499
Looking back, former assistant U .S.
attorney James Bowman sees signs that
531
00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:58,680
isn't as remorseful as his guilty plea
might suggest.
532
00:38:59,420 --> 00:39:03,399
The one thing in meeting with him that
just seemed off was he really seemed to
533
00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:07,839
feel like this was just how business is
done. The effects to the victims didn't
534
00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:11,640
really seem to sink in for him, didn't
seem to bother him.
535
00:39:12,220 --> 00:39:16,739
When the feds look into his days leading
up to sentencing, it appears Kaup has
536
00:39:16,740 --> 00:39:20,220
been planning on leaving his dance card
empty for a while.
537
00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:24,419
He had never told his family that he had
pled guilty, that he was going to
538
00:39:24,420 --> 00:39:28,599
prison. He told them that he was going
to be going on a business trip to China
539
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:32,270
and was going to be gone for a little
bit and then turned off his cell phone.
540
00:39:32,620 --> 00:39:34,970
So it didn't look like this was just a
moment of...
541
00:39:34,971 --> 00:39:38,549
The panic, you know, leaving someone at
the altar, got cold feet on his way to
542
00:39:38,550 --> 00:39:41,529
court and just couldn't go through with
it. It was very clear this had been
543
00:39:41,530 --> 00:39:42,829
something he'd been thinking about.
544
00:39:42,830 --> 00:39:46,630
But the more David Kopp changes, the
more he stays the same.
545
00:39:47,650 --> 00:39:49,750
This partier isn't headed overseas.
546
00:39:50,490 --> 00:39:53,050
He's headed to the biggest party city of
all.
547
00:39:58,430 --> 00:40:03,330
Within about a month or two from the
time he fled, he ended up in Las Vegas.
548
00:40:03,790 --> 00:40:09,070
And he used the name Tyler Cohen and
really set up a new life for himself
549
00:40:09,110 --> 00:40:13,929
He met a woman who became engaged. He
started up his own stock trading
550
00:40:13,930 --> 00:40:16,820
investment company, which certainly
raises questions.
551
00:40:16,870 --> 00:40:22,270
But at the time, law enforcement seems
to have no idea where David Kaupp is.
552
00:40:22,690 --> 00:40:26,270
Without any substantial leads, they turn
to the media.
553
00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:32,179
We came on this show, on American Greed
the Fugitive, and explained what
554
00:40:32,180 --> 00:40:36,019
happened and showed a lot of information
that could help people identify him if
555
00:40:36,020 --> 00:40:36,779
they saw him.
556
00:40:36,780 --> 00:40:38,950
And as it turned out, a number of people
did.
557
00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:43,599
Within weeks after the show first airs,
an American Greed viewer reaches out to
558
00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:45,400
the website featured on the program.
559
00:40:45,780 --> 00:40:49,520
And it's only a matter of time before
the feds are ready to act.
560
00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:54,259
So an operation was put into place. The
FBI went out to the house where he was
561
00:40:54,260 --> 00:40:56,250
staying. First thing in the morning,
he...
562
00:40:56,400 --> 00:41:00,719
Saw them coming, actually. I think he
was up early trading and came outside
563
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:04,160
surrendered. But his spirit of surrender
is short -lived.
564
00:41:04,580 --> 00:41:09,519
He decided to fight his sentencing
vigorously. And he explained his reason
565
00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:12,530
fleeing as saying he was really afraid
of one of the victims.
566
00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:16,539
So he said it threatened him before so
severely that he was worried for his
567
00:41:16,540 --> 00:41:20,520
safety. And so he made the rash decision
to flee to protect himself.
568
00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,600
According to Bowman, Kalb's claim
doesn't ring true.
569
00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:30,000
And on November 20, 2014, Kalb is once
again scheduled for sentencing.
570
00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:32,960
This time, there is no running away.
571
00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:37,399
It meant a lot to me. I had thought a
lot about what I wanted to say at that
572
00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:41,039
first sentencing because I really wanted
to do right by the victims. I really
573
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,019
wanted to make sure that for the victims
who couldn't be there, that I was able
574
00:41:44,020 --> 00:41:48,019
to explain to the court in a way that
really gave their voice to what had
575
00:41:48,020 --> 00:41:49,070
happened.
576
00:41:49,071 --> 00:41:51,719
That was even more important the second
time around.
577
00:41:51,720 --> 00:41:56,759
And if Bowman's focus is increased for
Kauff's second chance at sentencing,
578
00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:58,960
only further amplified for the judge.
579
00:41:59,940 --> 00:42:02,640
Judges are mad at me if I'm late to
court by a minute.
580
00:42:02,860 --> 00:42:07,399
You know, for somebody who's late by a
year and a half, that's a whole
581
00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:08,419
matter.
582
00:42:08,420 --> 00:42:12,000
Kauff receives eight years and four
months in federal prison.
583
00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:16,500
But for victim Joseph Hoffman, he's not
sure prison is enough.
584
00:42:16,940 --> 00:42:21,200
I have no doubt that when he is out, he
is going to create.
585
00:42:21,610 --> 00:42:28,449
And he's a guy that needs exposure on TV
so that hopefully
586
00:42:28,450 --> 00:42:33,170
people could be able to see the guy and
run.
587
00:42:36,510 --> 00:42:40,070
On American Reads, cosmetic surgery
nightmare.
588
00:42:40,630 --> 00:42:46,150
Hip -hop hustlers sell backroom beauty
until one client pays the ultimate
589
00:42:46,450 --> 00:42:49,750
American Reads, next, only on CNBC.
590
00:42:51,031 --> 00:42:53,129
Hello.
591
00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:57,680
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