American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 1 Episode 2 The Imposter: Dr. Barnes/Interstate Bank Mart Bandit

In the second episode of season 1 of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals, viewers are introduced to two separate cases of fraud and deception. The first case involves a man named James Hogue, an imposter who poses as a student at prestigious universities such as Princeton and Stanford in order to gain access to resources and facilities. The second case revolves around an individual known as the Interstate Bank Mart Bandit, who conducts a series of robberies at ATM machines across the United States.

The episode begins with a closer look at James Hogue, an individual who has spent a significant portion of his life impersonating others and engaging in deceitful behavior. Hogue's story first made headlines in the early 1990s, when he posed as a high school student in Palo Alto, California, using the name Alexi Indris-Santana. Despite his lack of credentials, Hogue was able to convince school officials that he was a bright and ambitious student, eventually earning himself a scholarship to attend Stanford University.

Once at Stanford, Hogue maintained his facade of being a bright and driven individual, all while living a life of deception. He was eventually caught and expelled, but that didn't deter him from continuing his life of fraud. Hogue went on to pose as a war veteran, a ranch hand, and even a professional football player. However, he truly gained notoriety in the late 1990s, when he posed as a 16-year-old high school student in Texas, using the name Jay Huntsman. This time, Hogue's deception caught the attention of national media outlets, and his story was featured on shows such as 20/20 and Dateline.

The second case featured in this episode revolves around the Interstate Bank Mart Bandit, a man who conducted a series of robberies at ATM machines across the United States in the early 2000s. The robberies were audacious and carefully planned, with the perpetrator using a special tool to gain access to the ATM's cash dispenser. He was able to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from banks in states such as Texas, Nebraska, and Colorado, all while managing to avoid detection from law enforcement.

The episode delves into the investigation that ultimately led to the arrest of the Interstate Bank Mart Bandit, a man named Marion Frye. Frye had a history of criminal behavior and had previously served time for bank robbery. However, he had managed to avoid detection for the interstate ATM robberies for several years, until a tip from an employee at a convenience store led authorities to Frye's location. He was eventually arrested and convicted for his crimes, and is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given an in-depth look at the individuals involved in both cases, as well as the strategies and tactics used by law enforcement to catch them. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of fraud and deception, and highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting oneself against these types of crimes. Overall, American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals season 1 episode 2 provides an intriguing and captivating look at two very different cases of criminal behavior, and serves as a reminder of the lengths that individuals will go to in order to deceive and defraud others.