American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 8 Episode 5 Make Me Rich or Die / Kids For Cash

In episode 5 of season 8 of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals, viewers are taken on a journey through two separate stories of greed and manipulation: Make Me Rich or Die and Kids For Cash.

First, the show delves into the story of a former insurance agent named Joe Guckin. Guckin promised his investors high returns on their investments, claiming he had access to exclusive, high yield investment opportunities. However, Guckin was actually running a Ponzi scheme, using new investor money to pay off earlier investors. Over the course of several years, Guckin defrauded his investors out of nearly $8 million.

The show explores Guckin's deceptive tactics, including using fake account statements and lying about investment returns to keep his clients from becoming suspicious. The episode also features interviews with several of Guckin's victims, who recount the devastating impact the scam had on their lives.

The second story featured on the episode is that of two judges from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania named Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan. The judges were involved in a scheme to send juveniles to a private detention center in exchange for kickbacks.

The judges were accused of sending thousands of minors to the detention center, where they were often subjected to harsh conditions and abuse. The scheme notoriously became known as "Kids For Cash."

The episode details how the judges received millions of dollars in bribes from the detention center's owner, and how their actions were finally uncovered after several years of suspicion. The show features interviews with several families who were impacted by the scheme, as well as legal experts and journalists who covered the story.

Throughout both stories, the episode emphasizes the devastating impact of greed and corruption on individuals and communities. It sheds light on the tactics used by con artists and manipulators, and highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and aware of potential scams and fraud. Overall, this episode of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals provides a gripping and informative look into two of the most notorious cases of greed and corruption in recent history.