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.

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Where do sovereign citizens go when they need medical attention? Some of them seek help from homeopathic quacks like Rick Van Thiel. 

Rick Van Thiel is not a surgeon. He's a porn star operating on people with dirty scalpels, reused needles, surrounded by filth. And the worst part is that he performs his surgeries in the nude. 

This episode is part of my sovereign citizens series. I first learned about this story from Jerri William's podcast called FBI retired Case File Review.

Disclaimer

It's safe to assume that most PRETEND episodes are unsuitable for young children. Unfortunately, this is one of those episodes. In fact, trigger warning: today, we're going to talk about sexual assault and suicide. This episode is pretty disgusting. So, if you have the stomach for it, please proceed. You've been warned.  

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In this episode of PRETEND, we uncover the unbelievable story of Carlos

Henrique Raposo, better known as "Kaiser," the man who lived the life of

a soccer legend without ever kicking a ball. He partied like a star,

signed with major teams, and tricked the entire football world for

nearly three decades. I sit down with the producer of Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football, Louis Myles, to unravel how Kaiser pulled off this audacious stunt and the real story behind the myth.

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In this episode of PRETEND, I’m taking you back to the case of Tanya and Rick Fernandez—the Arizona couple behind one of the most bizarre harassment campaigns I’ve ever covered. For those of you who followed The Stalker series, you might think this story ended when they struck a plea deal, but not so fast. Despite completing court-ordered counseling and walking away without convictions, it looks like the Fernandezes are back at it.

I'll fill you in on everything that's happened since our last episode, including an anonymous email, a bizarre self-published book, and their children's involvement in keeping the harassment alive.

If you thought this story was over, you’ll want to hear what’s happened since.

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Can you believe this is the 16th episode of our investigation into LaDonna Humphrey—a story that, honestly, I didn’t think would last this long. But here we are.

Now, if you’ve followed along, you know this has been a wild ride. LaDonna, once a respected figure in the true crime community, has become the center of some truly shocking accusations. Stealing evidence from the Fort Smith Police Department? Allegations of harassment? Manipulating people for her own gain? It’s been hard to keep up, even for me.

In this episode, we’ll get a little help trying to make sense of it all. I brought in retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley—yes, the Julia Cowley, the one who worked on the Golden State Killer case. She will help us break down LaDonna’s behavior and explain why someone might go to such extreme lengths to control others. You might be surprised by some of the parallels she draws between white-collar criminals and more violent offenders.

We’re also going to revisit some of the disturbing messages that LaDonna has allegedly sent to her victims. And I’ll share some new evidence we’ve uncovered—evidence that links multiple harassing messages to a phone number connected to LaDonna herself. It’s the kind of proof that, quite frankly, is hard to ignore.

But here’s what makes this episode different: today, we’re not just looking at the past. We’re asking what’s next for LaDonna Humphrey. With court cases, potential criminal investigations, and a growing list of accusers, is the end finally near for her? Or is this just another chapter in a never-ending saga?

Guest:

Julia Cowley, Retired FBI Profiler

https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/

Watch LIVE Q&A:

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We continue our investigation into Charles Ray Vines and his potential

involvement in the Melissa Witt murder. In this episode, we track down

Vines’ former neighbor and friend, Thomas Seymour. Seymour claims that

he spoke with Vines just before Vines was heading to the bowling alley

to meet a girl named Melissa. What other information does Seymour have

that could shed light on this 30-year-old mystery?

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I’ve been investigating the Melissa Witt case for a while now, and just

when I thought I had a handle on it, a new lead dropped into my lap. In

this episode, I sit down with Patti Rush, a victim advocate who might

have uncovered the most crucial evidence yet. We’re talking

about a case so warped by misinformation that even those

closest to it can’t tell what’s real anymore. But now, we’re pulling on a

thread that could unravel the whole story—and maybe, just maybe, lead

us to the truth about who really killed Melissa Witt.

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"Javier, aren't you worried that LaDonna might target you next?" That's the question I get asked most frequently. The answer is too late.

Even before this series dropped, LaDonna began sending me spoof emails. I've received various messages, including some from fake accounts, and even attempts to hack into my podcast platform. Additionally, LaDonna tried other creative ways to obstruct my investigation and stop the legitimate reporting of her abusive behavior toward others.

Fun, fun.

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