25: 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.
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The Ponzi Playbook
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.
- No. of episodes: 27
- Latest episode: 2025-05-08
- Business News Business News
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