American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 1 Episode 3 Art Heist: Fine Arts Express/Medical Scams: Dr. Martinez

In season 1, episode 3 of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals, viewers are taken through two different scandals in the art world and the medical industry.

First, the episode covers the Fine Arts Express art heist, one of the largest art thefts in history. The heist occurred in 1990, when thieves stole 13 paintings from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the stolen works were a Vermeer, a Rembrandt, and a Manet, with a total estimated value of $500 million. Despite a massive investigation spanning decades, the paintings have yet to be recovered.

The episode explores the backstory behind the Fine Arts Express, a company that transported works of art between museums around the world. It's revealed that the company was run by a man named Rick Abath, who was working as a security guard at the Gardner Museum at the time of the heist. Investigators began to focus on Abath and two of his accomplices, David Turner and George Reissfelder, but were unable to gather enough evidence to make an arrest.

The second half of the episode delves into a medical scam involving Dr. Pedro "Pete" Martinez, a surgeon in Maryland. Dr. Martinez was known for performing laparoscopic surgeries, which were less invasive and promised a shorter recovery time. However, it was later discovered that he was billing insurance companies for more complex surgeries that he never actually performed.

Viewers learn about one patient, Susan Flanders, who went in for a routine surgery and woke up with a colostomy bag and a permanent change to her body. Flanders, along with other patients, filed a lawsuit against Dr. Martinez and his hospital, which eventually led to a federal investigation and the loss of Dr. Martinez's medical license.

Overall, this episode of American Greed highlights the lengths that people will go to for financial gain, whether it's stealing priceless works of art or scamming patients out of money. It also serves as a cautionary tale for those who may be tempted to cut corners or engage in illegal activities in pursuit of wealth.