Behind The Scammer

We’re culturally obsessed with scammers, con artists and fraudsters. People like Elizabeth Holmes and Bernie Madoff dominate headlines and then get films made and books written documenting what they did and how they did it.

But behind the scammers are the victims: individuals who are struggling to recover their sense of safety, their identity … and their money.

In July 2021, Isaiah Goodman was sentenced to 7 years in prison for defrauding clients out of more than $2.3 million dollars. He spent the money on a hot tub, a fancy house, two cars, a cruise … but it wasn’t his money. That money belonged to -- among others -- Celisia Stanton and Rev. Michael Gonzales, two very real people whose lives were materially impacted by Goodman’s materialism.

Resources:

The Gonzales Family GoFundMe

Maple Grove Financial Adviser and MoneyVerbs Owner Charged With Fraud

Maple Grove Investment Advisor Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison For Defrauding Clients Out Of More Than $2.3 Million

5 Facts About Prisoners and Work, Before and After Incarceration

Can’t get enough TTFA? Sign up for TTFA Premium for $7.99 a month. You’ll get access to exclusive bonus content, ad-free episodes, extended guest interviews and more! Visit TTFA.org/Premium to get started.

When you shop our Bookshop.org store, you support the author, independent bookstores AND our show! Shop here.

You can purchase Nora’s books here.

Shop for your favorite TTFA gear at TTFAmerch.com.

Read the transcript for this episode here.

You can catch up with TTFA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using @ttfapodcast. Nora's Instagram is @noraborealis.

TTFA is public media. Which means we are supported by you. You can join us with a contribution at ttfa.org/donate.

And check out our sponsors this week:

Calm: calm.com/thanks

Rothy’s: rothys.com/terrible

Purple: purple.com/thanks10 with code terrible10

Talkspace: talkspace.com with code TTFA