20/20 Season 36 Episode 38 Catch Me if You Can: The Anthony Curcio Bank Heist

In season 36, episode 38 of ABC's 20/20, the focus is on Anthony Curcio, a former college football player who becomes involved in a bank heist. The episode details the events leading up to the robbery, the heist itself, and the consequences that followed for all involved.

The episode opens with a news clip of the incident that shook the small town of Monroe, Washington in September 2008. A man wearing a mask and carrying a gun entered a bank and made off with nearly $400,000. The police were able to apprehend the suspect in a nearby parking lot, but what shocked the community was who they had captured - Anthony Curcio, a local football hero turned entrepreneur.

The episode delves into Curcio's background, tracing his story from his days as a promising football player to his injury and subsequent struggles to find direction in life. As he tried to figure out his next steps, he began to explore new business ventures, including a wine importing business and a real estate investment company. However, these ventures ultimately fell through, and Curcio found himself in significant debt.

Desperate to avoid bankruptcy, Curcio turned to a risky and illegal plan to make money quickly - robbing a bank. He recruited a team of accomplices, each with a specific role in the heist, and spent months meticulously planning the operation.

The episode uses interviews with Curcio's family, friends, and law enforcement officials to provide a thorough account of how the heist unfolded. It describes how Curcio and his accomplices disguised themselves as road workers, with Curcio even wearing a vest that read "SLOW" on the back to blend in with other workers in the area. They timed their entrance to the bank with the arrival of a Brink's armored truck, hoping to create chaos and confusion. They were successful in their heist, but things quickly fell apart as they tried to make their escape.

Interviews with law enforcement officials provide insight into the extensive and exhaustive investigation that led to Curcio's arrest. The episode also explores the legal aftermath of the heist, including Curcio's trial and sentencing.

Throughout the episode, viewers are left to question the motives and mindset of someone who could go from a celebrated athlete to a criminal mastermind. The episode touches on themes of ambition, risk-taking, and the desperate lengths people will go to when faced with insurmountable challenges.

Overall, "Catch Me if You Can: The Anthony Curcio Bank Heist" offers a detailed and captivating look at one of the most notorious bank robberies in recent history. It provides a glimpse into the motivations and methods of a criminal, as well as the impressive efforts of law enforcement to bring him to justice.