Step into the heart of rural Mississippi in the mid-1980s, where a small-town scandal erupted into one of the most extensive public corruption cases in the state’s history. What began as whispers of misconduct soon unraveled into an audacious FBI sting operation that exposed a deeply entrenched system of fraud. County supervisors—long seen as trusted pillars of their communities—were revealed to be orchestrating a complex pay-to-play scheme, siphoning taxpayer dollars through inflated invoices, kickbacks, and backdoor deals.

Through meticulous undercover work, federal agents and local informants infiltrated this network of deceit, gathering damning evidence that would lead to dozens of arrests and convictions. But the takedown wasn’t just about individual wrongdoings—it was a reckoning that forced Mississippi to confront the vulnerabilities in its political landscape and implement sweeping reforms.

Join us as we explore the shocking details of Operation Pretense, the hidden alliances that kept the corruption alive, and the moment it all came crashing down. How did these crimes go unchecked for so long? What was the fallout for those involved? And does the legacy of this scandal still linger today?

Disclaimer: This show is for entertainment purposes only. All accounts, allegations, and events discussed are based on publicly available information and are not intended to assert guilt or wrongdoing by any individual.

A quiet Midwestern town. A trusted city official with decades on the job. Nearly $54 million in public funds—vanished. For over 20 years, Rita Crundwell, the longtime comptroller of Dixon, Illinois, orchestrated the largest municipal embezzlement by a single person in U.S. history. She funneled millions into a secret account, funding a lavish lifestyle of luxury homes, high-end horse breeding, and cross-country competitions—all while her hometown struggled with crumbling roads and perpetual budget shortfalls.

How did one woman exploit a small-town system built on trust? Why did no one notice for two decades? And what finally brought the scheme crashing down? This is the true story of how a seemingly ordinary public servant betrayed an entire city, and how Dixon fought to rebuild in the wake of one of the most shocking financial crimes in American history.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. All claims are alleged.