The Ponzi Playbook

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Welcome to The Ponzi Playbook, the podcast that exposes the dark underbelly of the financial world. Join hosts Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva as they take you on a journey through the seedy world of financial fraud, exploring the twisted minds of the people behind some of the most audacious Ponzi schemes in history.

2025-05-08

The Gucci Goddess

Meet Janet Yamanaka Mello—better known as the "Gucci Goddess." She wasn’t your typical fraudster. Dripping in designer labels, driving luxury cars, and amassing an absurd collection of real estate, she managed to siphon off over $100 million from the U.S. Army’s youth programs. How did a civilian employee turn a government grant program into her personal ATM? And why did nobody notice for six years? In this episode, Javier and Neal break down how Mello pulled off one of the most brazen frauds against the U.S. military. From creating fake vendors and ghost accounts to laundering millions into mansions, sports cars, and $11 million worth of luxury jewelry, this story takes “flashy fraud” to a whole new level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2025-04-23

23: My Wife, The Ponzi Schemer

This is an Interview with a man convicted of a Ponzi scheme. It originally aired on the PRETEND podcast. Bill Livolsi says he was just trying to help his wife, Linda, the ringleader of a multi-million dollar investment scam. In this episode, Bill opens up about how he got roped into the scheme, ignored every red flag, and ultimately landed in prison. He describes fake hedge funds, imaginary employees, and a key investor who also happened to be a self-proclaimed witch and lottery winner. But here’s the twist: Linda isn’t just any con artist. She’s the sister of the woman who tried to steal Elvis Presley’s Graceland—something we covered in a previous episode of PRETEND. Yeah, this story just got a whole lot weirder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2025-03-31

22. The Ponzi Defense: Elliot Abrams on White-Collar Legal Tactics

What happens after the feds kick in your door? In this special bonus episode of The Ponzi Playbook, we sit down with white-collar defense attorney Elliot Sol Abrams—partner at Cheshire Parker Schneider Abrams—for a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to defend clients facing federal fraud charges. You’ll hear: What goes down in the hours and days after an FBI raid How money—or the lack of it—affects your legal defense What a “win” actually looks like for a defense attorney Plus, we unpack a notable case—Chamberlain v. United States—that helped limit the government’s power to seize assets not directly tied to alleged crimes and explore the psychology behind Ponzi schemes, sociopathy, and second chances. Guest: Elliot Sol Abrams is a partner at Cheshire Parker Schneider Abrams in Raleigh, NC. He defends individuals in high-stakes white-collar cases, asset forfeiture disputes, and professional discipline matters. 👉 Follow The Ponzi Playbook on LinkedIn for updates and deeper dives into white-collar crime. Connect with Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva to keep the conversation going. 👍 Like, rate, and leave a comment wherever you listen—your feedback helps others find the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2025-03-27

Bots Instead of Investors: Michael Smith’s Ponzi for the Spotify Era

What if you could create thousands of songs using AI… and make millions off them without a single fan? That’s exactly what prosecutors say Michael Smith did. In this episode of The Ponzi Playbook, Javier and Neal are joined by criminal defense attorney Elliot Abrams to unpack a case that’s not your typical Ponzi scheme—but definitely fraud-adjacent. We're talking about AI-generated music, armies of bots streaming tracks nonstop, and royalty checks that rival Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic. About Elliot Abrams: Elliot Abrams is a white-collar defense attorney and partner at Cheshire Parker Schneider Abrams. He represents clients in criminal cases, asset forfeiture, and professional licensing matters, as well as civil rights, NCAA, and government ethics investigations. https://www.linkedin.com/in/esabrams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2025-02-26

The Ponzi Priestess

When the FBI raided financial advisor Dawn Bennett’s luxury penthouse in 2017, they expected to find evidence of fraud. What they didn’t expect? Freezers packed with mason jars—each containing a severed cow tongue, labeled with the initials of SEC attorneys investigating her. Bennett, once a well-respected investment advisor, promised her clients 15% annual returns. Instead, she drained millions from retirees and funneled the cash into her lavish lifestyle—funding high-end fashion, $100K in cosmetic treatments, and nearly $1 million in payments to Hindu priests she believed could perform rituals to keep investigators at bay. In this episode, we unravel the bizarre world of Dawn Bennett’s Ponzi scheme—where financial fraud meets mysticism. From luxury sportswear investments that never paid off to occult rituals designed to silence her enemies, this case proves that some con artists will try anything to keep the scam alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2025-02-12

Burkhalter’s $372M Drive Planning Scheme

A guaranteed 10% return in just 90 days—sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it was. In this episode, we investigate Todd Burkhalter and Drive Planning, a Georgia-based financial firm that promised real estate-backed investments but instead ran a massive $372 million Ponzi scheme. Hosts Javier and Neal expose how Burkhalter and his team lured in over 2,000 investors, convinced them to hand over their life savings, and then used their cash to fuel an extravagant lifestyle—complete with private jets, luxury vacations, and a $3.1M yacht named Live More. We break down the tactics he used, the warning signs investors ignored, and how the SEC finally unraveled the scheme. Plus, we dig into exclusive testimony from Drive Planning’s executives—including some incredibly shady responses (or lack thereof) during questioning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2024-10-22

The White Collar Support Group

Hey everyone, it's Javier. Neal and I are working hard on season two of the Ponzi Playbook. In the meantime, I want to share an episode that I think you'll enjoy from my other podcast PRETEND. It’s hard to imagine former executives, investment fraudsters, and insider traders gathering for weekly support meetings. When I first heard about a support group for white-collar criminals, I was skeptical. It sounded like an SNL sketch: former hedge fund managers, insider traders, and embezzlers sitting in a circle, sharing their woes. However, Jeff Grant, the founder of the White Collar Support Group, doesn’t see it that way. After serving time for his crimes, Grant emerged with a mission—to help others like him rebuild their lives, one meeting at a time. “I was lost,” he admits. After his release from prison, Grant realized there was no blueprint for people like him to re-enter society. That’s why he founded the White Collar Support Group, a space for those prosecuted for financial crimes to navigate life after prison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2024-04-09

Confessions of a Ponzi Schemer: The Timepiece Gentleman (Anthony Farrar)

This episode offers an unprecedented look into the life of the 'Timepiece Gentleman' Ponzi schemer, Anthony Farrar, whose love for luxury watches spiraled into a deceitful web of lies, culminating in a rare and candid confession. If you want to hear more wild Ponzi stories, subscribe to The Ponzi Playbook hosted by me, Javier Leiva, and my buddy Neal McTighe. SUBSCRIBE: https://t.co/M02YhRa5Iq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome to The Ponzi Playbook, the podcast that exposes the dark underbelly of the financial world. Join hosts Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva as they take you on a journey through the seedy world of financial fraud, exploring the twisted minds of the people behind some of the most audacious Ponzi schemes in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web. Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons PRETEND explains how and why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storytelling. Featured in lists of the best podcasts about con artists and scams, PRETEND investigates crimes of persuasion, trust, and betrayal. New episodes drop regularly with stories that reveal how manipulation shapes modern life, both online and off. PRETEND is produced by Creative Babble, LLC. © 2026 Creative Babble LLC [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

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Detectives accuse Tanya Fernandez of being a cyberstalker and having a split personality. Rick and Tanya Fernandez, a seemingly ordinary middle-aged couple, say they’ve been living in a nightmare for over three years. What started as an unsettling online presence has escalated into a sadistic cyber stalking ordeal that continues to torment them. The police assigned to their case have shown skepticism and even suggested that Tanya Fernandez may be fabricating the harassment herself. As they struggle to comprehend the motives behind their alleged tormentor, the couple is now sharing the explicit and disturbing messages they have received, shedding light on the horrors they have endured. The Stalker The following podcast is based on true events but uses a pseudonym for the individuals involved. The names “Claudia Rodriguez” and “David Rodriguez” are fictional names used in the PRETEND podcast. Additionally, an update regarding the case has emerged since the initial reporting. Tanya and Rick Fernandez have been charged with harassment and computer tampering as a result of this series. Their trial is scheduled for December 6, 2023. Couple terrorized by a sadistic cyber stalker for years Rick and Tanya Fernandez, a Phoenix Arizona couple, have found their lives shattered by an unrelenting cyber stalker who has haunted them for more than three years. Despite their desperate pleas for help, the couple has faced an uphill battle, with law enforcement authorities seemingly aligning themselves with the alleged stalker. The Fernandezs, both devout Jehovah’s Witnesses and active members of their local church, are terrified by the relentless harassment they endure daily. Their hopes for justice have been crushed by detectives who have shown disbelief and have even accused Tanya of orchestrating the stalking herself, insinuating a split personality disorder and medical child abuse (Munchausen by proxy) against her children. The couple’s plea for support has been met with suspicion and skepticism instead of the protection they desperately need. The alleged tormentor is a man they know all too well: the husband of their daughter’s pediatric neurologist. Tanya and Rick, whose daughter has received medical care from the alleged stalker’s wife. Determined to expose the torment they have endured, Tanya Fernandez has decided to share the explicit and disturbing messages she and her husband have received. The content of these messages is deeply unsettling, highlighting the sadistic nature of their cyber stalker’s actions and underscoring the urgent need for authorities to take decisive action. As Rick and Tanya Fernandez continue to fight against their relentless cyber stalker, they hope that their harrowing experiences will finally be acknowledged and the perpetrator brought to justice. In a world where the virtual realm can become a breeding ground for terror, their story serves as a chilling reminder of the dark side of the digital age and the devastating consequences it can inflict on unsuspecting victims. Please note that this podcast contains explicit language and is unsuitable for children or the workplace.

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Criminal Conduct is an investigative true-crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva. Season 1: The hosts look into the death of Michelle O'Connell, picking up the investigation where the murdered sleuth, Eli Washtock, left off. Season 2: The investigation of a rogue constable in Kentucky who is accused of planting drugs, stealing money, and shaking people down. Season 3: An American Serial Killer in Paradise: The story of serial killer William Holbert, aka "Wild Bill," and his victims. Season 4: Getting Away with Murder: The Death Investigation of Pravin Varughese Season 5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim Barrier

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Welcome to The Ponzi Playbook, the podcast that exposes the dark underbelly of the financial world. Join hosts Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva as they take you on a journey through the seedy world of financial fraud, exploring the twisted minds of the people behind some of the most audacious Ponzi schemes in history.