Ep 15. Art Schlichter: All American Fraud
- TV-PG
- July 24, 2017
- 42 min
Art Schlichter: All American Fraud is the fifteenth episode of the eleventh season of American Greed. The episode tells the story of Art Schlichter, a former Ohio State quarterback who became a notorious con artist and compulsive gambler.
Schlichter was once a promising athlete who was widely regarded as the next great quarterback. He was a star player for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was named the Big Ten Conference's MVP in 1981. However, his career took a dramatic turn when he became addicted to gambling.
Schlichter's gambling addiction quickly spiraled out of control. He began to gamble on everything from sports games to horse races, and he soon found himself in debt to the tune of millions of dollars. To try to pay off his debts, Schlichter turned to fraud.
He began to con people out of money by selling them phony sports-related investments. He promised high returns on investments in sports teams, race horses, and even a golf course. However, these investments were all scams, and Schlichter kept the money for himself.
Schlichter's frauds eventually caught up with him, and he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of fraud. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he continued to wreak havoc even from behind bars.
Schlichter was caught running a sports betting ring from his prison cell, and he even conned his own mother out of thousands of dollars. He was released from prison in 2006, but he quickly returned to his old ways.
In 2012, Schlichter was once again arrested and charged with fraud. This time, he had stolen over $1 million from several victims through a variety of scams, including a scheme to sell luxury cars that didn't exist. Schlichter was sentenced to 10 years in prison, where he remains to this day.
Art Schlichter: All American Fraud is a cautionary tale about the dangers of compulsive gambling and the devastating consequences that can result from a life of fraud. It shows how even someone who was once a respected and admired member of society can become a criminal through addiction and greed.
