Ep 8. Sick Profits//hollywood Swinging

American Greed is a popular television show that exposes infamous and outrageous cases of fraud and white-collar crime. The Season 10 Episode 8 is titled "Sick Profits//Hollywood Swinging", and it delves into two intriguing cases of greed that rocked the nation.

The first story, "Sick Profits," is about a group of executives who ran a wildly profitable healthcare company called HealthSouth. The company promised to provide top-notch rehabilitation services to patients recovering from surgery or accidents. However, behind the scenes, the executives engaged in a massive fraud scheme, cooking up the books to make it appear as though the company was highly profitable when, in reality, it was hemorrhaging money.

The mastermind behind the fraud was Richard Scrushy, the CEO of HealthSouth. Scrushy used various tactics to inflate the company's earnings, such as creating fake invoices, inflating the cost of services, and booking revenue for services that had not yet been performed. Over time, the fraud became more sophisticated, and Scrushy persuaded his team of executives to participate in the scheme.

As the fraud continued to spiral out of control, Scrushy became more arrogant and cocky, spending millions of dollars on luxurious cars, private jets, and other extravagances. However, his hubris soon caught up with him, and in 2003, he was indicted by the SEC for securities fraud. Scrushy denied any wrongdoing and went to trial to defend himself, but the evidence against him was overwhelming, and he was found guilty on all counts.

The second story in this episode is called "Hollywood Swinging", and it is a fascinating tale of fraud in the entertainment industry. The story revolves around a man named Joseph Medawar, who claimed to be a Hollywood producer with ties to high-profile stars like Harrison Ford and Jennifer Aniston. Medawar promised to finance a series of movies and TV shows, and he convinced investors to pour millions of dollars into his schemes.

However, it soon became apparent that Medawar was nothing more than a con artist. He had no real connections in Hollywood, and the celebrities he named as his friends had never heard of him. Medawar used the money he had raised to fund a lavish lifestyle, buying expensive cars, high-end apartments, and fancy clothes.

Eventually, law enforcement caught up with Medawar, and he was charged with multiple counts of wire fraud and mail fraud. During his trial, it was revealed that he had a long history of fraud, having defrauded investors in previous schemes as well. Despite his attempts to defend himself, Medawar was found guilty and sentenced to years in federal prison.

Overall, the "Sick Profits//Hollywood Swinging" episode of American Greed sheds light on two cases of staggering greed and corruption. Whether it's a healthcare executive cooking the books to make a fortune or a fraudster posing as a Hollywood mover-and-shaker, the episode highlights how easy it can be for individuals to take advantage of others' trust and naivety. The episode serves as a chilling reminder that even the most seemingly respectable people can be capable of committing heinous crimes if given the opportunity.