American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 2 Episode 3 Unsolved: $300 Million Art Heist/Preying on Faith
- February 13, 2008
American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals returns with another thrilling episode in season 2, titled "Unsolved: $300 Million Art Heist/Preying on Faith". This episode delves into two distinct cases of greed and deception that left victims reeling in their wake.
In the first case, viewers are taken to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, where on March 18, 1990, the largest art heist in American history occurred. Thieves disguised as police officers stole 13 works of art worth an estimated $300 million, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Manet, and Degas.
Despite numerous investigations and leads, the art has never been recovered, and no arrests have been made. Viewers will hear from witnesses and experts in the case, including individuals who were present at the museum during the robbery and former FBI agents who led the investigations.
The episode also touches on the theories and rumors surrounding the stolen art's whereabouts, from organized crime syndicates to rogue nations' involvement.
In the second case, viewers are introduced to a man posing as a pastor, who preyed on vulnerable individuals in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area. The "pastor" convinced congregants and community members to invest significant sums of money into a supposed church group, promising massive returns.
However, the "church group" did not exist, and the money went directly to the con man's pockets. Victims lost their life savings and were left struggling to make ends meet.
This segment of the episode explores how the predator preyed on his victims' religious beliefs and manipulated their trust to perpetuate his scheme. It also features interviews with some of the victims and law enforcement officials who worked on the case.
Ultimately, "Unsolved: $300 Million Art Heist/Preying on Faith" is a gripping episode that showcases two very different cases of greed and deception. It highlights the impact that these criminal acts can have on individuals and communities and showcases the lengths that law enforcement officials and victims will go to achieve justice.