Grifters, Frauds, and Crooks: True Stories of American Corruption

by Richard Estep

… a great look at law, order, and the lack thereof.

Indianapolis Recorder

… chronicles country’s long and colorful history of cons and corruption. … The deals seemed too good to be true, and they were. … Richard Estep’s “Grifters, Frauds and Crooks: True Stories of American Corruption” lays it all out. It’s a history of American rogues dedicated to life, larceny, and the pursuit of happiness — well, their own, anyway. … the book offers a wide array of lowlifes.

New York Daily News

Power, Money, Sex: The Corrupt Trifecta!

This captivating book uncovers the insidious web of deceit that infiltrates every facet of our nation's past and present. Immerse yourself in the stories of 50 of the most audacious frauds, cons, and lies!

Discover the dark underbelly of American history as you delve into the gripping pages of Grifters, Frauds, and Crooks: True Stories of American Corruption. From the heights of Wall Street to the heart of Main Street, from the hallowed halls of the Capitol to the battlefields of the military, and from the glitz and glamour of entertainment to the sanctity of science, no realm is immune to the clutches of corruption. Through meticulous research, this riveting account exposes both notorious figures and obscure swindles, including …

Bernie Madoff's infamous Ponzi schemes

Big Pharma scandals

the Black Sox

the dark secrets of the Catholic Church

Operation ABSCAM

the seedy underworld of the Mafia

Harvey Weinstein

Corruption in the White House

the Enron deceit

the shocking depths of NYPD corruption

Jim and Tammy Bakker

the Lehman Brothers collapse

the Watergate break-in and cover-up

Clinton/Lewinsky affair

J. Edgar Hoover’s abuse of power

the Sackler family’s narcotic empire

And many other dishonest and duplicitous people and organizations!!

With more than 120 photos and graphics, Grifters, Frauds, and Crooks is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. In the pursuit of money, influence or fame, the line between right and wrong sometimes becomes blurred, leaving a trail of shattered trust and broken dreams. Take an illuminating journey into the cons, scams, and shady deals that have shaped our nation.

About Richard Estep

Richard Estep is the author of more than fourty books, most of them in the field of paranormal non-fiction, including The Haunting of Asylum 49: Chilling Tales of Aggressive Spirits, Phantom Doctors, and the Secret of Room 666. He is a regular columnist for Haunted Magazine and has also written for the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. His lifelong fascination for ghosts has led him to investigate haunted locations around the world for the past 25 years. Richard appears regularly on the TV shows Haunted Case Files, Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, and Paranormal Night Shift. British by birth, Richard now makes his home in Colorado, a few miles north of Denver, where he serves as a paramedic and lives with his wife and a menagerie of adopted animals.