1 00:00:07,807 --> 00:00:09,953 - Narrator: In this episode - of "American Greed," 2 00:00:10,710 --> 00:00:12,227 Aaron Shamo was 3 00:00:12,251 --> 00:00:13,766 the kid next door. 4 00:00:13,790 --> 00:00:15,114 Narrator: Eagle Scout, 5 00:00:15,138 --> 00:00:16,459 churchgoer... 6 00:00:16,483 --> 00:00:18,816 kingpin. 7 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,396 He ran a criminal syndicate 8 00:00:20,420 --> 00:00:21,582 that had numerous people 9 00:00:21,606 --> 00:00:22,765 underneath him. 10 00:00:22,789 --> 00:00:24,367 Millions of dollars. 11 00:00:24,391 --> 00:00:25,736 Narrator: Aaron Shamo 12 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,103 is a clean-cut millennial 13 00:00:27,127 --> 00:00:28,704 from Salt Lake City. 14 00:00:28,728 --> 00:00:30,457 A young man with 15 00:00:30,481 --> 00:00:32,208 the resources to succeed. 16 00:00:32,232 --> 00:00:34,711 - He had very, very good parents, - good siblings, 17 00:00:34,737 --> 00:00:35,829 And really sort of 18 00:00:35,853 --> 00:00:36,946 fashioned himself 19 00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:38,581 a little bit of an entrepreneur. 20 00:00:38,605 --> 00:00:39,700 Narrator: But despite 21 00:00:39,724 --> 00:00:40,816 his daily affirmations 22 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,737 and positive thinking, 23 00:00:43,761 --> 00:00:46,656 he's breaking bad... very bad. 24 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,576 He was down in the basement 25 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,493 running a pill press. 26 00:00:50,517 --> 00:00:52,947 And you're able to produce 27 00:00:52,971 --> 00:00:55,398 7,000 to 10,000 pills an hour, 28 00:00:55,422 --> 00:00:57,017 and you're churning out 29 00:00:57,041 --> 00:00:58,634 pills all day, you do the math. 30 00:00:58,658 --> 00:01:00,737 Narrator: Tonight, the story of 31 00:01:00,761 --> 00:01:02,838 an unlikely dark web drug lord 32 00:01:02,862 --> 00:01:04,608 whose lifestyle is documented 33 00:01:04,632 --> 00:01:06,375 in social media photos 34 00:01:06,399 --> 00:01:07,561 that would come back 35 00:01:07,585 --> 00:01:08,744 to haunt him at trial. 36 00:01:08,768 --> 00:01:10,297 A story told by the reporters 37 00:01:10,321 --> 00:01:11,847 who chased him... 38 00:01:11,871 --> 00:01:13,567 Whitehurst: 39 00:01:11,871 --> 00:01:15,284 of what a drug kingpin is, 40 00:01:15,308 --> 00:01:17,087 - and I don't think, - for a lot of people, 41 00:01:17,113 --> 00:01:18,789 He would necessarily fit 42 00:01:18,813 --> 00:01:20,489 that stereotype. 43 00:01:20,513 --> 00:01:21,825 Narrator: the feds 44 00:01:21,849 --> 00:01:23,159 who collared him... 45 00:01:23,183 --> 00:01:24,999 Stejskal: This product went 46 00:01:25,023 --> 00:01:26,836 to all 50 states, 47 00:01:26,860 --> 00:01:27,851 and the amount 48 00:01:27,875 --> 00:01:28,864 going to each place 49 00:01:28,888 --> 00:01:30,633 was just astronomical. 50 00:01:30,657 --> 00:01:33,281 Narrator: and the families 51 00:01:33,305 --> 00:01:35,926 whose lives he'd change forever, 52 00:01:35,950 --> 00:01:37,343 - Tova: When we found out it was - made in someone's basement, 53 00:01:37,367 --> 00:01:38,709 We were just like, 54 00:01:38,733 --> 00:01:40,076 "You have to be kidding me." 55 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:41,644 Kelli: This was one pill. 56 00:01:41,668 --> 00:01:43,063 They didn't know 57 00:01:43,087 --> 00:01:44,504 what they were really buying. 58 00:01:45,505 --> 00:01:47,684 Mr. Shamo was motivated 59 00:01:47,708 --> 00:01:49,885 entirely by greed. 60 00:01:49,909 --> 00:01:52,888 Captions by VITAC... 61 00:01:52,912 --> 00:02:00,912 ♪♪ 62 00:02:04,824 --> 00:02:06,336 It's 10:00 A.M. 63 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:07,870 on a quiet residential street 64 00:02:07,894 --> 00:02:10,007 in the picturesque suburb 65 00:02:10,031 --> 00:02:12,141 of Cottonwood Heights, Utah. 66 00:02:12,165 --> 00:02:13,861 Inside this home, 67 00:02:13,885 --> 00:02:15,578 26-year-old Aaron Shamo 68 00:02:15,602 --> 00:02:18,232 is in his basement playing 69 00:02:18,256 --> 00:02:20,883 the video game "Battlefield 1." 70 00:02:20,907 --> 00:02:22,351 [ Radio chatter ] 71 00:02:22,375 --> 00:02:23,854 And just outside, 72 00:02:23,878 --> 00:02:25,354 a SWAT team is mobilizing 73 00:02:25,378 --> 00:02:28,491 to break his door open. 74 00:02:28,515 --> 00:02:30,761 - Besser: We had to do this all - very quickly, 75 00:02:30,787 --> 00:02:32,263 So the officers made a quick 76 00:02:32,287 --> 00:02:33,763 and rapid deployment entry 77 00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:35,164 into the house, 78 00:02:35,188 --> 00:02:36,683 and everything was just 79 00:02:36,707 --> 00:02:38,200 kind of frozen as-is 80 00:02:38,224 --> 00:02:40,059 until we knew what 81 00:02:40,083 --> 00:02:41,916 we were dealing with. 82 00:02:41,940 --> 00:02:43,530 Narrator: What they are dealing 83 00:02:43,554 --> 00:02:45,141 with is synthetic opioids, 84 00:02:45,165 --> 00:02:46,976 including deadly fentanyl... 85 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,296 Up to 100 times stronger 86 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,614 than morphine... and lots of it. 87 00:02:51,638 --> 00:02:53,550 - Crane: - During that time in 2016, 88 00:02:53,576 --> 00:02:55,185 - Fentanyl was not - one of those things 89 00:02:55,211 --> 00:02:57,186 We really had an eye on. 90 00:02:57,210 --> 00:02:58,322 We had heard about it 91 00:02:58,346 --> 00:02:59,455 but didn't have any 92 00:02:59,479 --> 00:03:00,474 active investigations 93 00:03:00,498 --> 00:03:01,490 and did not expect 94 00:03:01,514 --> 00:03:03,126 to find one of this scope, 95 00:03:03,150 --> 00:03:04,760 especially here 96 00:03:04,784 --> 00:03:06,163 in relatively quiet 97 00:03:06,187 --> 00:03:07,587 Salt Lake City, Utah. 98 00:03:09,322 --> 00:03:11,385 Narrator: 99 00:03:09,322 --> 00:03:13,469 a new kind of drug ring... 100 00:03:13,493 --> 00:03:15,456 Not Mexican cartels 101 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,440 or inner-city street gangs, 102 00:03:17,464 --> 00:03:19,709 but middle-class millennials 103 00:03:19,733 --> 00:03:21,529 choosing to create and sell 104 00:03:21,553 --> 00:03:23,346 illegal counterfeit opioids 105 00:03:23,370 --> 00:03:26,050 on the so-called "dark web" 106 00:03:26,074 --> 00:03:28,775 for one reason... pure greed. 107 00:03:29,943 --> 00:03:31,455 - One of the first - and most prolific 108 00:03:31,481 --> 00:03:34,525 Is Utah's Aaron Michael Shamo, 109 00:03:34,549 --> 00:03:37,593 AKA "Pharma-Master." 110 00:03:37,617 --> 00:03:44,533 ♪♪ 111 00:03:44,557 --> 00:03:45,986 Aaron Shamo is born 112 00:03:46,010 --> 00:03:47,436 in Salt Lake City... 113 00:03:47,460 --> 00:03:50,239 The youngest child and only son 114 00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:51,391 to a family 115 00:03:51,415 --> 00:03:52,541 with three daughters. 116 00:03:52,565 --> 00:03:54,811 Mr. Shamo was a average, 117 00:03:54,835 --> 00:03:57,079 clean-cut, American kid. 118 00:03:57,103 --> 00:03:58,614 Was raised in the faith 119 00:03:58,638 --> 00:04:01,387 - of the Church of Jesus Christ - of Latter-Day Saints. 120 00:04:01,413 --> 00:04:03,320 - Skordas: He had a fairly - normal childhood. 121 00:04:03,346 --> 00:04:05,856 - He had very, very good parents, - good siblings. 122 00:04:05,882 --> 00:04:07,823 Had some learning issues. 123 00:04:07,847 --> 00:04:09,325 Was popular. 124 00:04:09,349 --> 00:04:11,261 Wasn't bullied or particularly 125 00:04:11,285 --> 00:04:13,219 troubled as a child. 126 00:04:14,421 --> 00:04:16,098 Narrator: But in junior high, 127 00:04:16,122 --> 00:04:17,417 Aaron begins to head 128 00:04:17,441 --> 00:04:18,734 down a darker path, 129 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:20,287 skipping school 130 00:04:20,311 --> 00:04:21,837 and getting in trouble. 131 00:04:21,861 --> 00:04:23,624 So his parents send him 132 00:04:23,648 --> 00:04:25,408 to a strict Utah boarding school 133 00:04:25,432 --> 00:04:27,361 where he seems to excel, 134 00:04:27,385 --> 00:04:29,312 earning his high school diploma 135 00:04:29,336 --> 00:04:30,564 and the highest 136 00:04:30,588 --> 00:04:31,814 Boy Scout honor... 137 00:04:31,838 --> 00:04:33,884 The Eagle Scout Award 138 00:04:33,908 --> 00:04:35,951 for Service and Valor. 139 00:04:35,975 --> 00:04:37,455 - That was one - of the things I think 140 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,556 - That helped his family - feel like, "Okay, 141 00:04:39,582 --> 00:04:41,157 He's really turned this around. 142 00:04:41,181 --> 00:04:42,943 He's gonna grow up, 143 00:04:42,967 --> 00:04:44,727 and he's gonna be a man 144 00:04:44,751 --> 00:04:46,796 we can really be proud of." 145 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:49,083 Narrator: In 2009, Shamo enrolls 146 00:04:49,107 --> 00:04:51,367 at Utah Valley University. 147 00:04:51,391 --> 00:04:53,602 Aaron has always been fascinated 148 00:04:53,626 --> 00:04:55,072 with making it rich 149 00:04:55,096 --> 00:04:56,539 as an entrepreneur. 150 00:04:56,563 --> 00:04:58,410 - Stejskal: His siblings - are all very successful, 151 00:04:58,434 --> 00:05:00,344 - And so they kinda - set the bar high. 152 00:05:00,370 --> 00:05:01,879 And he felt like 153 00:05:01,903 --> 00:05:03,412 he wasn't living up 154 00:05:03,436 --> 00:05:05,114 to his family's expectations. 155 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:07,216 And I guess, to him, 156 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,152 - part of that - was the money side... 157 00:05:09,178 --> 00:05:10,790 To make money 158 00:05:10,814 --> 00:05:12,426 and show that you're successful 159 00:05:12,450 --> 00:05:13,589 by the money you bring in. 160 00:05:13,613 --> 00:05:14,958 And really interested 161 00:05:14,982 --> 00:05:16,325 in having sort of 162 00:05:16,349 --> 00:05:17,411 the million-dollar 163 00:05:17,435 --> 00:05:18,494 business idea. 164 00:05:18,518 --> 00:05:19,530 Reading books like 165 00:05:19,554 --> 00:05:20,563 "Think and Grow Rich" 166 00:05:20,587 --> 00:05:23,061 and books like "The Secret" 167 00:05:23,085 --> 00:05:25,556 to manifest your desires 168 00:05:25,580 --> 00:05:27,870 and your destiny. 169 00:05:27,894 --> 00:05:29,540 Narrator: But two years in, 170 00:05:29,564 --> 00:05:31,207 he's failing classes 171 00:05:31,231 --> 00:05:32,276 and spending most 172 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:33,342 of his time partying 173 00:05:33,366 --> 00:05:35,612 and delving into the fledgling 174 00:05:35,636 --> 00:05:37,880 world of Bitcoin mining. 175 00:05:37,904 --> 00:05:39,750 So he drops out and lands 176 00:05:39,774 --> 00:05:41,617 an entry-level job at eBay 177 00:05:41,641 --> 00:05:43,170 with his best friend, 178 00:05:43,194 --> 00:05:44,720 Drew Crandall. 179 00:05:44,744 --> 00:05:46,106 In less than a year, 180 00:05:46,130 --> 00:05:47,490 Crandall is fired, 181 00:05:47,514 --> 00:05:48,626 and Aaron Shamo thinks 182 00:05:48,650 --> 00:05:49,759 it's "unfair" 183 00:05:49,783 --> 00:05:51,679 that he still has to work, 184 00:05:51,703 --> 00:05:53,620 so he quits. 185 00:05:54,754 --> 00:05:56,116 The friends soon come up 186 00:05:56,140 --> 00:05:57,500 with a business plan 187 00:05:57,524 --> 00:05:58,886 combining two of their 188 00:05:58,910 --> 00:06:00,269 favorite things... 189 00:06:00,293 --> 00:06:03,266 Party drugs and Bitcoin. 190 00:06:03,290 --> 00:06:04,805 They start off selling 191 00:06:04,829 --> 00:06:06,342 their own prescription Adderall 192 00:06:06,366 --> 00:06:07,877 on the dark web... 193 00:06:07,901 --> 00:06:10,414 - A part of the internet reached - through a special browser 194 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,648 Where guns and drugs are traded, 195 00:06:12,672 --> 00:06:14,618 and money is exchanged 196 00:06:14,642 --> 00:06:16,585 through cryptocurrency. 197 00:06:16,609 --> 00:06:18,372 It was really 198 00:06:18,396 --> 00:06:20,156 his ability to use 199 00:06:20,180 --> 00:06:22,325 and to manage the cryptocurrency 200 00:06:22,349 --> 00:06:24,078 that helps unlock the door 201 00:06:24,102 --> 00:06:25,828 for him to be able 202 00:06:25,852 --> 00:06:28,782 to set up shop and become 203 00:06:28,806 --> 00:06:31,734 an e-commerce pioneer, 204 00:06:31,758 --> 00:06:34,600 if you will, on the dark web. 205 00:06:35,562 --> 00:06:37,583 Narrator: Shamo and Crandall 206 00:06:37,607 --> 00:06:39,626 learn all they need on the web, 207 00:06:39,650 --> 00:06:41,787 searching with simple queries 208 00:06:41,811 --> 00:06:43,946 like "how to ship drugs." 209 00:06:43,970 --> 00:06:45,933 Sales are immediate, 210 00:06:45,957 --> 00:06:47,917 so they decide to expand... 211 00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:49,618 Ordering drugs in bulk, 212 00:06:49,642 --> 00:06:51,505 repackaging and selling 213 00:06:51,529 --> 00:06:53,389 at a mark-up. 214 00:06:53,413 --> 00:06:54,925 And he found that 215 00:06:54,949 --> 00:06:56,459 it was easy to purchase 216 00:06:56,483 --> 00:06:57,695 controlled substances 217 00:06:57,719 --> 00:06:58,928 through the internet... 218 00:06:58,952 --> 00:07:00,296 Illegally of course... 219 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,197 - And that there was - a huge market for that. 220 00:07:02,223 --> 00:07:03,483 At first, it was 221 00:07:03,507 --> 00:07:04,767 drugs like Xanax 222 00:07:04,791 --> 00:07:07,104 or erectile dysfunction pills, 223 00:07:07,128 --> 00:07:09,462 because they were very popular. 224 00:07:11,264 --> 00:07:12,326 Narrator: A few months 225 00:07:12,350 --> 00:07:13,409 into the operation, 226 00:07:13,433 --> 00:07:14,878 a local drug dealer 227 00:07:14,902 --> 00:07:16,345 gives Aaron Shamo some intel 228 00:07:16,369 --> 00:07:18,481 that changes his life - 229 00:07:18,505 --> 00:07:20,134 the big money 230 00:07:20,158 --> 00:07:21,784 is in fake oxycodone. 231 00:07:21,808 --> 00:07:23,454 Reporter: Opioid abuse 232 00:07:23,478 --> 00:07:25,121 in the United States 233 00:07:25,145 --> 00:07:27,590 is at epidemic levels. 234 00:07:27,614 --> 00:07:29,043 Narrator: In 2016, 235 00:07:29,067 --> 00:07:30,493 opioid abuse... 236 00:07:30,517 --> 00:07:32,379 And particularly OxyContin 237 00:07:32,403 --> 00:07:34,263 addiction... is blowing up... 238 00:07:34,287 --> 00:07:35,466 And it's getting worse 239 00:07:35,490 --> 00:07:36,666 by the day. 240 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:37,718 With limits on 241 00:07:37,742 --> 00:07:38,768 prescription pills, 242 00:07:38,792 --> 00:07:40,621 thousands of people 243 00:07:40,645 --> 00:07:42,495 are turning to illegal sources. 244 00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:45,826 Shamo's entrepreneurial mind-set 245 00:07:45,850 --> 00:07:48,077 finally has a focus, 246 00:07:48,101 --> 00:07:51,686 and he decides to go all-in, 247 00:07:51,710 --> 00:07:52,769 counterfeiting 248 00:07:52,793 --> 00:07:53,849 the pills himself. 249 00:07:53,873 --> 00:07:56,036 Shamo orders bulk supplies 250 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:58,220 including fentanyl from China... 251 00:07:58,244 --> 00:07:59,723 A much cheaper and more potent 252 00:07:59,747 --> 00:08:01,223 synthetic opioid 253 00:08:01,247 --> 00:08:03,392 used in counterfeit drugs. 254 00:08:03,416 --> 00:08:05,115 He sets up a pill press 255 00:08:05,139 --> 00:08:06,836 in his basement 256 00:08:06,860 --> 00:08:08,856 and watches Youtube videos 257 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,863 to figure out how to make 258 00:08:10,887 --> 00:08:12,868 fake OxyContin and Xanax. 259 00:08:12,892 --> 00:08:14,270 Mui: These kids were trying 260 00:08:14,294 --> 00:08:15,939 to come up with these recipes 261 00:08:15,963 --> 00:08:17,606 on their own. 262 00:08:17,630 --> 00:08:18,408 They weren't chemistry majors. 263 00:08:18,432 --> 00:08:20,509 They found information online, 264 00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:22,479 - and they did this - through trial and error. 265 00:08:22,505 --> 00:08:24,181 - The first batch - of pills they made 266 00:08:24,207 --> 00:08:25,548 Were sort of turned away 267 00:08:25,572 --> 00:08:27,453 - because they didn't quite - look like oxycodone. 268 00:08:27,477 --> 00:08:29,386 - They were all splotchy - and speckled. 269 00:08:29,412 --> 00:08:31,388 But eventually, 270 00:08:31,412 --> 00:08:33,389 they got the formula down. 271 00:08:33,413 --> 00:08:35,939 And that means that their pills 272 00:08:35,963 --> 00:08:38,486 became incredibly popular. 273 00:08:38,510 --> 00:08:39,832 - Narrator: - Powdered binders and fillers 274 00:08:39,856 --> 00:08:41,548 Are mixed with fentanyl 275 00:08:41,572 --> 00:08:43,265 and shaken by hand. 276 00:08:43,289 --> 00:08:45,419 Dyes are added... 277 00:08:45,443 --> 00:08:47,570 Blue for Oxy's, for example. 278 00:08:47,594 --> 00:08:49,106 The mixture goes 279 00:08:49,130 --> 00:08:50,639 into the pill press hopper, 280 00:08:50,663 --> 00:08:52,709 and extruded pills are stamped 281 00:08:52,733 --> 00:08:54,777 with illegal counterfeit stamps, 282 00:08:54,801 --> 00:08:56,313 also purchased online, 283 00:08:56,337 --> 00:08:57,847 to match the original 284 00:08:57,871 --> 00:08:59,749 pharmaceutical markings. 285 00:08:59,773 --> 00:09:01,518 - Besser: It is not uncommon - with any type 286 00:09:01,544 --> 00:09:02,619 Of even tabletop 287 00:09:02,643 --> 00:09:03,719 industrial pill press 288 00:09:03,743 --> 00:09:05,414 to be able to produce 289 00:09:05,438 --> 00:09:07,106 in between 7,000 290 00:09:07,130 --> 00:09:09,558 to 10,000 pills an hour. 291 00:09:09,582 --> 00:09:11,194 So, if each pill on the street 292 00:09:11,218 --> 00:09:12,828 roughly goes for, say, 293 00:09:12,852 --> 00:09:15,431 in between $20 to $40 294 00:09:15,455 --> 00:09:18,102 and you're able to produce 295 00:09:18,126 --> 00:09:20,770 7,000 to 10,000 pills an hour 296 00:09:20,794 --> 00:09:22,523 and you're churning out pills 297 00:09:22,547 --> 00:09:24,273 all day, you do the math. 298 00:09:24,297 --> 00:09:25,791 You end up coming up 299 00:09:25,815 --> 00:09:27,306 with millions in dollars 300 00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:29,679 of illegal drug proceeds. 301 00:09:29,703 --> 00:09:31,615 Shamo calls his online 302 00:09:31,639 --> 00:09:33,549 storefront Pharma-Master 303 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:34,968 on one of the largest 304 00:09:34,992 --> 00:09:36,385 dark net marketplaces... 305 00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:38,972 AlphaBay, which acts much like 306 00:09:38,996 --> 00:09:41,557 the legitimate eBay marketplace. 307 00:09:41,581 --> 00:09:43,393 Within a few months, word 308 00:09:43,417 --> 00:09:45,227 of Pharma-Master's reliability 309 00:09:45,251 --> 00:09:47,414 and the quality of his pills 310 00:09:47,438 --> 00:09:49,598 starts to spread. 311 00:09:49,622 --> 00:09:51,101 Sellers like Mr. Shamo 312 00:09:51,125 --> 00:09:52,601 would be rated on things 313 00:09:52,625 --> 00:09:54,571 like quality, price, stealth... 314 00:09:54,595 --> 00:09:56,539 And that's their term 315 00:09:56,563 --> 00:09:58,342 for how expertly 316 00:09:58,366 --> 00:10:00,142 the seller ships the drugs 317 00:10:00,166 --> 00:10:02,312 - to avoid law enforcement - detection. 318 00:10:02,338 --> 00:10:05,115 And Mr. Shamo's feedback 319 00:10:05,139 --> 00:10:07,917 was 360 pages-worth 320 00:10:07,941 --> 00:10:09,418 of positive comments. 321 00:10:09,442 --> 00:10:10,720 You know, people saying 322 00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:13,023 he's the best 323 00:10:13,047 --> 00:10:15,324 dark net vendor, period. 324 00:10:15,348 --> 00:10:17,159 Narrator: Business is so good 325 00:10:17,183 --> 00:10:18,712 that Shamo hires 326 00:10:18,736 --> 00:10:20,262 his gym buddy Luke Paz 327 00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:21,965 to mix and press 328 00:10:21,989 --> 00:10:23,666 thousands of oxy pills a week. 329 00:10:23,690 --> 00:10:25,719 He hires two friends full-time 330 00:10:25,743 --> 00:10:27,770 for order fulfillment... 331 00:10:27,794 --> 00:10:29,490 Packaging drugs 332 00:10:29,514 --> 00:10:31,207 in vacuum-sealed Mylar bags 333 00:10:31,231 --> 00:10:33,577 - and shipping out - hundreds of orders coming in 334 00:10:33,603 --> 00:10:35,344 By encrypted mail. 335 00:10:35,368 --> 00:10:37,564 Shamo also hires his pal 336 00:10:37,588 --> 00:10:39,782 Sean Gygi as a "runner"... 337 00:10:39,806 --> 00:10:41,251 Picking up the packed orders 338 00:10:41,275 --> 00:10:42,718 five days a week 339 00:10:42,742 --> 00:10:43,937 and dropping them off 340 00:10:43,961 --> 00:10:45,154 at various mail boxes 341 00:10:45,178 --> 00:10:47,857 around the Salt Lake Valley. 342 00:10:47,881 --> 00:10:50,294 Whitehurst: Aaron Shamo was not 343 00:10:50,318 --> 00:10:52,728 your sort of bad-guy movie image 344 00:10:52,752 --> 00:10:53,929 of a drug ring leader. 345 00:10:53,953 --> 00:10:55,231 Lots of texting. 346 00:10:55,255 --> 00:10:56,700 Lots of smiley face emojis, 347 00:10:56,724 --> 00:10:58,167 "LOLs." 348 00:10:58,191 --> 00:11:00,137 - These were sort of - generally his friends, 349 00:11:00,163 --> 00:11:02,238 And the communication reflected 350 00:11:02,262 --> 00:11:03,540 a lot of friendship 351 00:11:03,564 --> 00:11:04,840 between them. 352 00:11:04,864 --> 00:11:06,877 Narrator: No wonder Aaron Shamo 353 00:11:06,901 --> 00:11:08,911 is yukking it up with his pals. 354 00:11:08,935 --> 00:11:11,414 He's growing richer by the day. 355 00:11:11,438 --> 00:11:12,850 But Defense Attorney 356 00:11:12,874 --> 00:11:14,283 Greg Skordas insists 357 00:11:14,307 --> 00:11:16,036 that for his client, 358 00:11:16,060 --> 00:11:17,787 it isn't all about the money... 359 00:11:17,811 --> 00:11:20,189 Just partly about the money. 360 00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:22,797 - I know that - people will not believe this, 361 00:11:22,823 --> 00:11:24,530 - But they really thought - they were filling a niche. 362 00:11:24,554 --> 00:11:26,196 - They thought that - a lot of people 363 00:11:26,222 --> 00:11:28,015 Were needing pain medication 364 00:11:28,039 --> 00:11:29,832 and couldn't get it. 365 00:11:29,856 --> 00:11:31,365 They were young kids, 366 00:11:31,389 --> 00:11:32,896 and they really felt like 367 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:33,670 they were helping people. 368 00:11:33,694 --> 00:11:34,737 And I know that's naive, 369 00:11:34,761 --> 00:11:36,573 - but that's really - what got them into it. 370 00:11:36,599 --> 00:11:38,192 And, of course, they made 371 00:11:38,216 --> 00:11:39,809 a tremendous amount of money. 372 00:11:39,833 --> 00:11:41,579 Narrator: 373 00:11:39,833 --> 00:11:43,346 he's only helping people 374 00:11:43,370 --> 00:11:45,082 with chronic pain, 375 00:11:45,106 --> 00:11:46,816 by the summer of 2016, 376 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,636 Pharma-Master is shipping out 377 00:11:48,660 --> 00:11:50,453 up to 50 orders a day 378 00:11:50,477 --> 00:11:53,956 to customers in all 50 states 379 00:11:53,980 --> 00:11:56,693 and is in the top 1% of all 380 00:11:56,717 --> 00:11:59,428 distributors on AlphaBay. 381 00:11:59,452 --> 00:12:01,114 Aaron Shamo sees himself 382 00:12:01,138 --> 00:12:02,798 as a success story - 383 00:12:02,822 --> 00:12:04,718 a budding young entrepreneur 384 00:12:04,742 --> 00:12:06,635 growing his start-up. 385 00:12:06,659 --> 00:12:08,941 - Whitehurst: You both have - somebody who's very motivated 386 00:12:08,965 --> 00:12:10,074 And very much wants 387 00:12:10,098 --> 00:12:11,207 to be this image 388 00:12:11,231 --> 00:12:12,343 of this sort of classic 389 00:12:12,367 --> 00:12:13,476 American image 390 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,578 of a major entrepreneur somehow. 391 00:12:15,602 --> 00:12:17,548 But of course, did apply it 392 00:12:17,572 --> 00:12:19,515 to this very illegal enterprise. 393 00:12:19,539 --> 00:12:20,901 And did, at the very least, 394 00:12:20,925 --> 00:12:22,284 it appears, 395 00:12:22,308 --> 00:12:25,087 not examine the consequences 396 00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:26,440 of what this could 397 00:12:26,464 --> 00:12:27,814 all bring about. 398 00:12:29,883 --> 00:12:32,195 - Narrator: - Next on "American Greed," 399 00:12:32,221 --> 00:12:33,513 Pharma-Master 400 00:12:33,537 --> 00:12:34,830 is raking in profits, 401 00:12:34,854 --> 00:12:37,364 but not every customer 402 00:12:37,388 --> 00:12:39,896 is coming back for more. 403 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:40,671 Besser: He just didn't care. 404 00:12:40,695 --> 00:12:42,171 Money was too good. 405 00:12:42,195 --> 00:12:44,946 Profit was too steep. 406 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:46,375 The luxuries were too high. 407 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:47,845 The problem is, 408 00:12:47,869 --> 00:12:49,312 is that willful blindness 409 00:12:49,336 --> 00:12:51,714 translated over into death. 410 00:12:51,738 --> 00:12:56,643 ♪♪ 411 00:12:58,812 --> 00:13:03,350 ♪♪ 412 00:13:12,192 --> 00:13:13,254 Narrator: In a suburb 413 00:13:13,278 --> 00:13:14,337 of Salt Lake City, 414 00:13:14,361 --> 00:13:15,938 business is booming. 415 00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:18,408 Money is flowing in, 416 00:13:18,432 --> 00:13:20,876 and packages are shipping out. 417 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,713 One of them will travel 418 00:13:22,737 --> 00:13:24,547 2200 miles... 419 00:13:24,571 --> 00:13:26,250 and change the recipients' 420 00:13:26,274 --> 00:13:27,950 lives forever. 421 00:13:27,974 --> 00:13:35,974 ♪♪ 422 00:13:36,483 --> 00:13:38,212 In the quaint Long Island Town 423 00:13:38,236 --> 00:13:39,962 of Center Moriches, 424 00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:42,331 on Main Street's retail row, 425 00:13:42,355 --> 00:13:43,834 Tova Keblish owns 426 00:13:43,858 --> 00:13:45,334 Gavin's Treasure's... 427 00:13:45,358 --> 00:13:47,037 A gift shop named after 428 00:13:47,061 --> 00:13:48,762 her only child. 429 00:13:49,763 --> 00:13:51,992 In 2016, Gavin Keblish 430 00:13:52,016 --> 00:13:54,243 is 23 years-old 431 00:13:54,267 --> 00:13:56,780 - and a recent - University of Albany graduate 432 00:13:56,806 --> 00:13:58,565 Working as a counselor 433 00:13:58,589 --> 00:14:00,349 for children in foster care. 434 00:14:00,373 --> 00:14:02,285 - Tova: He graduated - with a bachelor's, 435 00:14:02,311 --> 00:14:04,820 Became an incredible counselor 436 00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:06,673 basically for kids 437 00:14:06,697 --> 00:14:08,524 that were a little difficult. 438 00:14:08,548 --> 00:14:09,792 He understood them. 439 00:14:09,816 --> 00:14:11,561 - He got them, - and he did it very well 440 00:14:11,587 --> 00:14:14,431 - Because he knew what it was like - to be misunderstood. 441 00:14:14,457 --> 00:14:16,537 - Narrator: - According to his mother, 442 00:14:16,561 --> 00:14:17,234 Gavin has worked hard 443 00:14:17,258 --> 00:14:19,386 to overcome a severe 444 00:14:19,410 --> 00:14:21,537 ADHD diagnosis, 445 00:14:21,561 --> 00:14:24,306 and he's her pride and joy. 446 00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:25,875 Tova: We knew he would soar. 447 00:14:25,899 --> 00:14:27,772 We knew he would make incredible 448 00:14:27,796 --> 00:14:29,666 difference in the world 449 00:14:29,690 --> 00:14:30,414 'cause that's what he had, 450 00:14:30,438 --> 00:14:32,483 and I knew he would 451 00:14:32,507 --> 00:14:34,550 do amazing things. 452 00:14:34,574 --> 00:14:36,053 Narrator: Gavin is also 453 00:14:36,077 --> 00:14:37,553 an avid motocross rider, 454 00:14:37,577 --> 00:14:39,123 having picked up the sport 455 00:14:39,147 --> 00:14:40,690 as a kid. 456 00:14:40,714 --> 00:14:42,754 But in 2015, 457 00:14:42,778 --> 00:14:44,816 he crashes on his bike 458 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,797 and suffers a severe leg injury. 459 00:14:47,821 --> 00:14:50,050 After surgery, he is in 460 00:14:50,074 --> 00:14:52,301 excruciating pain for months, 461 00:14:52,325 --> 00:14:53,971 and the surgical site 462 00:14:53,995 --> 00:14:55,638 is not healing. 463 00:14:55,662 --> 00:14:56,890 Tova: We went back to an 464 00:14:56,914 --> 00:14:58,140 orthopedic, and they said, 465 00:14:58,164 --> 00:15:00,343 "That's your bone exposed." 466 00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:02,006 And from there, 467 00:15:02,030 --> 00:15:03,666 he was placed in the hospital 468 00:15:03,690 --> 00:15:04,481 for about three months. 469 00:15:04,505 --> 00:15:05,666 Narrator: Doctors try 470 00:15:05,690 --> 00:15:06,849 several procedures 471 00:15:06,873 --> 00:15:08,384 to help Gavin heal, 472 00:15:08,408 --> 00:15:10,054 each one more painful 473 00:15:10,078 --> 00:15:11,721 than the last. 474 00:15:11,745 --> 00:15:13,107 Tova: This poor kid 475 00:15:13,131 --> 00:15:14,490 in his early 20s 476 00:15:14,514 --> 00:15:15,984 has to live with a leg 477 00:15:16,008 --> 00:15:17,476 that looked like chopped meat. 478 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:18,228 And he carried on. 479 00:15:18,252 --> 00:15:19,631 - After this, - he went back to school. 480 00:15:19,655 --> 00:15:20,747 He graduated. 481 00:15:20,771 --> 00:15:21,864 He finished. 482 00:15:21,888 --> 00:15:23,866 He came home. 483 00:15:23,890 --> 00:15:25,557 - And he was always - in a lot of pain. 484 00:15:25,583 --> 00:15:27,432 It was difficult for him, 485 00:15:27,456 --> 00:15:29,305 and he always dismissed it. 486 00:15:29,329 --> 00:15:31,808 - Narrator: Tova Keblish says - she doesn't know 487 00:15:31,834 --> 00:15:33,810 That Gavin is managing his pain 488 00:15:33,834 --> 00:15:35,811 with opioids. 489 00:15:35,835 --> 00:15:37,514 And when his doctors pull back 490 00:15:37,538 --> 00:15:39,215 on the prescriptions, 491 00:15:39,239 --> 00:15:42,385 Keblish turns to the dark web. 492 00:15:42,409 --> 00:15:43,787 He pulls up a site 493 00:15:43,811 --> 00:15:45,187 called Pharma-Master 494 00:15:45,211 --> 00:15:46,490 and places an order 495 00:15:46,514 --> 00:15:47,790 for oxycodone... 496 00:15:47,814 --> 00:15:49,026 20 pills to be shipped 497 00:15:49,050 --> 00:15:50,259 to his mother's home 498 00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:52,194 in Long Island. 499 00:15:52,218 --> 00:15:54,263 Like every Pharma-Master order, 500 00:15:54,287 --> 00:15:56,265 it is sent in an encrypted email 501 00:15:56,289 --> 00:15:57,484 to two employees 502 00:15:57,508 --> 00:15:58,701 of Aaron Shamo... 503 00:15:58,725 --> 00:16:00,304 Alexandrya Tonge 504 00:16:00,328 --> 00:16:01,904 and Katherine Bustin, 505 00:16:01,928 --> 00:16:03,724 who count out the pills 506 00:16:03,748 --> 00:16:05,541 in their suburban Utah condo, 507 00:16:05,565 --> 00:16:07,644 - package the shipments, - and hand them off 508 00:16:07,670 --> 00:16:09,713 To Sean Gygi, who drops them 509 00:16:09,737 --> 00:16:11,781 in the mail. 510 00:16:11,805 --> 00:16:13,534 The envelope arrives 511 00:16:13,558 --> 00:16:15,284 in Long Island three days later. 512 00:16:15,308 --> 00:16:16,386 Gavin Keblish 513 00:16:16,410 --> 00:16:17,486 receives the package 514 00:16:17,510 --> 00:16:18,488 and makes plans 515 00:16:18,512 --> 00:16:19,489 to spend the weekend 516 00:16:19,513 --> 00:16:20,707 in the Hamptons 517 00:16:20,731 --> 00:16:21,924 with his friends. 518 00:16:21,948 --> 00:16:24,477 - Tova: He goes, "Mom, Dad, - I'm just gonna stay there." 519 00:16:24,503 --> 00:16:26,499 - Because he knew he was gonna - hang out with his friends. 520 00:16:26,523 --> 00:16:28,221 He was gonna be drinking. 521 00:16:29,255 --> 00:16:30,300 Yeah, we were planning 522 00:16:30,324 --> 00:16:31,367 on taking him 523 00:16:31,391 --> 00:16:33,103 - to go get a new truck - the next day. 524 00:16:33,129 --> 00:16:34,473 - He's like, "I want to get - a new truck." 525 00:16:34,497 --> 00:16:35,534 He had his own money 526 00:16:35,558 --> 00:16:36,596 at the time. 527 00:16:36,620 --> 00:16:38,619 - So we said, "Okay, Saturday, - when you come home, 528 00:16:38,643 --> 00:16:41,646 We'll go for a car." 529 00:16:41,670 --> 00:16:43,615 - Narrator: The next day, - Gavin is attending a party 530 00:16:43,639 --> 00:16:45,660 In the beach town 531 00:16:45,684 --> 00:16:47,706 of Montauk, New York. 532 00:16:47,730 --> 00:16:49,081 At some point in the night, 533 00:16:49,105 --> 00:16:50,453 according to investigators, 534 00:16:50,477 --> 00:16:53,346 he takes a Pharma-Master pill. 535 00:16:55,382 --> 00:16:56,894 At 6:00 A.M. the next morning, 536 00:16:56,918 --> 00:16:58,427 a passerby sees 537 00:16:58,451 --> 00:16:59,863 what appears to be 538 00:16:59,887 --> 00:17:01,297 the body of a young man 539 00:17:01,321 --> 00:17:02,883 lying in a grassy area 540 00:17:02,907 --> 00:17:04,491 off the road. 541 00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:07,988 Police respond and identify him 542 00:17:08,012 --> 00:17:10,463 as Gavin Keblish. 543 00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:12,910 Later that day, 544 00:17:12,934 --> 00:17:14,310 Tova Keblish learns 545 00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:17,213 that her only child is gone... 546 00:17:17,237 --> 00:17:20,273 Dead of a fentanyl overdose. 547 00:17:21,341 --> 00:17:22,618 Tova "We had found your son, 548 00:17:22,642 --> 00:17:24,988 and he had died roughly 549 00:17:25,012 --> 00:17:27,356 around 2:00 A.M." 550 00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:28,591 And that's all I remember. 551 00:17:28,615 --> 00:17:30,044 I don't remember 552 00:17:30,068 --> 00:17:31,518 anything else after that. 553 00:17:32,485 --> 00:17:34,398 - Narrator: For a year, - the family is left 554 00:17:34,424 --> 00:17:36,866 With nothing but questions. 555 00:17:36,890 --> 00:17:40,576 How did this happen, and why? 556 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:41,874 - Tova: I will no longer - have grandchildren. 557 00:17:41,898 --> 00:17:43,574 I'll no longer have 558 00:17:43,598 --> 00:17:45,274 our own wedding for our son. 559 00:17:45,298 --> 00:17:46,460 [ Inhales deeply ] 560 00:17:46,484 --> 00:17:47,643 That's rough. 561 00:17:47,667 --> 00:17:49,229 [ Voice breaking ] 562 00:17:49,253 --> 00:17:50,813 That's really rough. 563 00:17:50,837 --> 00:17:52,149 Not being able to see 564 00:17:52,173 --> 00:17:53,482 the best of what he was 565 00:17:53,506 --> 00:17:55,802 going forward as he grows 566 00:17:55,826 --> 00:17:58,120 is very hard. 567 00:17:58,144 --> 00:18:00,313 Yeah, that's pretty hard. 568 00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:03,329 - Reporter: Opioid nation... - [ Indistinct ] 569 00:18:03,353 --> 00:18:04,445 Narrator: Next on 570 00:18:04,469 --> 00:18:05,561 "American Greed," 571 00:18:05,585 --> 00:18:06,713 all over the country, 572 00:18:06,737 --> 00:18:07,863 cases like Gavin's 573 00:18:07,887 --> 00:18:10,876 are happening every day, 574 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:12,374 and the fentanyl death toll 575 00:18:12,398 --> 00:18:13,869 goes nowhere but up. 576 00:18:13,893 --> 00:18:16,340 - Gadd: Mr. Shamo was putting - approximately a milligram 577 00:18:16,366 --> 00:18:18,174 Of fentanyl in each pill. 578 00:18:18,198 --> 00:18:20,044 Two milligrams is enough to kill 579 00:18:20,068 --> 00:18:21,911 someone even with a tolerance. 580 00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:23,397 Crush up and snort two pills, 581 00:18:23,421 --> 00:18:24,880 you're dead. 582 00:18:24,904 --> 00:18:30,377 ♪♪ 583 00:18:43,323 --> 00:18:45,519 ♪♪ 584 00:18:43,323 --> 00:18:47,737 26-year-old Aaron Shamo 585 00:18:47,761 --> 00:18:49,772 is living his dream. 586 00:18:49,796 --> 00:18:52,809 - The college dropout - has created a start-up business, 587 00:18:52,835 --> 00:18:54,544 Hired his closest friends, 588 00:18:54,568 --> 00:18:56,278 and grown to profitability 589 00:18:56,302 --> 00:18:57,880 in less than a year. 590 00:18:57,904 --> 00:18:59,575 Besser: He was kind of 591 00:18:59,599 --> 00:19:01,268 a young, college-age playboy. 592 00:19:01,292 --> 00:19:03,354 - He liked to lift weights. - He liked to be with the girls. 593 00:19:03,378 --> 00:19:05,455 - He liked to look good, - drive the nice cars, 594 00:19:05,481 --> 00:19:06,807 Wear the fancy watch 595 00:19:06,831 --> 00:19:08,157 and the sporty clothes. 596 00:19:08,181 --> 00:19:09,392 That was him. 597 00:19:09,416 --> 00:19:10,611 He's young, 598 00:19:10,635 --> 00:19:11,827 living what he viewed 599 00:19:11,851 --> 00:19:14,196 as his best life now. 600 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:15,367 Narrator: 601 00:19:15,391 --> 00:19:16,536 In his personal journal, 602 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,654 he writes affirmations inspired 603 00:19:18,678 --> 00:19:20,770 by his self-help books. 604 00:19:20,794 --> 00:19:22,171 "I am Shamo. 605 00:19:22,195 --> 00:19:24,106 I am awesome. 606 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:25,708 My friends love me, 607 00:19:25,732 --> 00:19:27,343 I created an empire. 608 00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:29,645 People look up to me. 609 00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:31,014 It sort of brings to mind 610 00:19:31,038 --> 00:19:32,381 almost a combination 611 00:19:32,405 --> 00:19:34,418 of "Breaking Bad" 612 00:19:34,442 --> 00:19:36,452 and "The Social Network." 613 00:19:36,476 --> 00:19:38,087 He would write these things 614 00:19:38,111 --> 00:19:39,490 and try to manifest them 615 00:19:39,514 --> 00:19:40,914 into the world. 616 00:19:42,449 --> 00:19:44,563 - Narrator: By the end - of his first year in business, 617 00:19:44,587 --> 00:19:48,230 Shamo clears nearly $3 million. 618 00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:49,532 The only catch... 619 00:19:49,556 --> 00:19:51,468 His business model 620 00:19:51,492 --> 00:19:53,402 is totally illegal. 621 00:19:53,426 --> 00:19:54,788 He's selling thousands 622 00:19:54,812 --> 00:19:56,172 of counterfeit opioid pills 623 00:19:56,196 --> 00:19:57,708 through his dark website 624 00:19:57,732 --> 00:19:59,241 Pharma-Master. 625 00:19:59,265 --> 00:20:01,377 But in the rush to meet demand, 626 00:20:01,401 --> 00:20:03,480 the quality of his product 627 00:20:03,504 --> 00:20:05,581 begins to slip. 628 00:20:05,605 --> 00:20:07,417 One review says, 629 00:20:07,441 --> 00:20:09,251 "This is as close to an overdose 630 00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:10,720 as i have ever come. 631 00:20:10,744 --> 00:20:12,606 It just kept coming 632 00:20:12,630 --> 00:20:14,490 stronger and stronger." 633 00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:15,976 Another says, 634 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,460 "People are getting sick," 635 00:20:17,484 --> 00:20:19,179 which means 636 00:20:19,203 --> 00:20:20,896 "people are overdosing." 637 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,000 But if Aaron Shamo was aware of 638 00:20:23,024 --> 00:20:25,101 any problems with his product, 639 00:20:25,125 --> 00:20:27,246 it is not slowing him down. 640 00:20:27,270 --> 00:20:29,439 - At this point, - Pharma-Master is generating 641 00:20:29,465 --> 00:20:31,675 Roughly $100,000 in revenue 642 00:20:31,699 --> 00:20:33,909 each day. 643 00:20:33,933 --> 00:20:35,829 Shamo spends it 644 00:20:35,853 --> 00:20:37,747 on a house, a new BMW, 645 00:20:37,771 --> 00:20:39,733 weekend trips to Vegas 646 00:20:39,757 --> 00:20:41,717 and first-class vacations. 647 00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:43,270 Gadd: He had a heavy 648 00:20:43,294 --> 00:20:44,820 gambling addiction. 649 00:20:44,844 --> 00:20:46,322 He loved travel. 650 00:20:46,346 --> 00:20:48,124 He loved fine wines. 651 00:20:48,148 --> 00:20:50,461 He loved cruises, 652 00:20:50,485 --> 00:20:52,795 going to the beach. 653 00:20:52,819 --> 00:20:55,182 He spent money right and left 654 00:20:55,206 --> 00:20:57,566 as fast as he could get it. 655 00:20:57,590 --> 00:20:59,736 - Narrator: By this time, - Drew Crandall... 656 00:20:59,762 --> 00:21:01,938 - Who started Pharma-Master - with Shamo, 657 00:21:01,964 --> 00:21:04,841 - Is no longer intimately involved - in the business, 658 00:21:04,867 --> 00:21:06,460 And Aaron Shamo 659 00:21:06,484 --> 00:21:08,077 is calling the shots. 660 00:21:08,101 --> 00:21:09,997 Shamo ups his profits when 661 00:21:10,021 --> 00:21:11,914 he starts selling in bulk... 662 00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,234 Up to 20,000 pills at a time... 663 00:21:14,258 --> 00:21:16,552 To local drug dealers. 664 00:21:16,576 --> 00:21:18,439 This is how authorities believe 665 00:21:18,463 --> 00:21:20,323 23-year-old Mitch Kueffner 666 00:21:20,347 --> 00:21:22,042 and his best friend, 667 00:21:22,066 --> 00:21:23,759 23-year-old Devyn Young, 668 00:21:23,783 --> 00:21:25,445 come in possession of Shamo's 669 00:21:25,469 --> 00:21:27,129 30-milligram pills 670 00:21:27,153 --> 00:21:30,290 called Roxy-Oxycodone. 671 00:21:32,425 --> 00:21:33,970 - Kueffner has spent - his whole life 672 00:21:33,996 --> 00:21:36,139 In Woods Cross, Utah... 673 00:21:36,163 --> 00:21:38,331 A suburb of Salt Lake City. 674 00:21:39,299 --> 00:21:40,678 Shaela: 675 00:21:40,702 --> 00:21:42,078 He had a tough-guy shell 676 00:21:42,102 --> 00:21:44,847 with a pretty soft inner self. 677 00:21:44,871 --> 00:21:47,618 He loved to shoot, fish, 678 00:21:47,642 --> 00:21:50,386 his Jeep, Boston Red Sox, 679 00:21:50,410 --> 00:21:53,489 and his friends and family. 680 00:21:53,513 --> 00:21:55,075 Narrator: In 2016, he works 681 00:21:55,099 --> 00:21:56,659 as a dairy manager 682 00:21:56,683 --> 00:21:58,749 at a local grocery store 683 00:21:58,773 --> 00:22:00,836 and is helping to raise 684 00:22:00,860 --> 00:22:02,531 his girlfriend's young son. 685 00:22:02,555 --> 00:22:04,501 - Shaela: He had moved - into an apartment 686 00:22:04,527 --> 00:22:06,039 With his girlfriend 687 00:22:06,063 --> 00:22:07,576 and her little boy. 688 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:08,704 He was looking at a promotion. 689 00:22:08,728 --> 00:22:10,507 - He was doing good. - He was living life. 690 00:22:10,533 --> 00:22:12,866 He had a good future. 691 00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:15,946 Narrator: 692 00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:18,080 suffers from depression. 693 00:22:18,104 --> 00:22:20,416 Devyn's mother Kelli says that 694 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,036 Mitch is Devyn's 695 00:22:22,060 --> 00:22:23,653 biggest supporter. 696 00:22:23,677 --> 00:22:25,489 But on the night 697 00:22:25,513 --> 00:22:27,323 of June 8th, 2016, 698 00:22:27,347 --> 00:22:29,571 the friends make 699 00:22:29,595 --> 00:22:31,816 a fateful decision. 700 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,847 - Kelli: They literally bought one - oxycodone each, 701 00:22:34,873 --> 00:22:37,567 - And the reason for that was, - is my son had been depressed. 702 00:22:37,593 --> 00:22:39,503 And, you know, Mitch had been 703 00:22:39,527 --> 00:22:41,437 working a lot, and they thought, 704 00:22:41,461 --> 00:22:42,875 - well, you know, - if they each got one, 705 00:22:42,899 --> 00:22:44,041 They could go back, 706 00:22:44,065 --> 00:22:45,207 they could go to sleep 707 00:22:45,231 --> 00:22:46,343 at their own beds 708 00:22:46,367 --> 00:22:47,476 and get rested, 709 00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:49,348 - and maybe Devon would wake up - in a better place, 710 00:22:49,372 --> 00:22:51,031 And, you know, Mitch 711 00:22:51,055 --> 00:22:52,715 a little bit more rested. 712 00:22:52,739 --> 00:22:54,952 Narrator: They each take a pill 713 00:22:54,976 --> 00:22:57,186 and go to their homes... 714 00:22:57,210 --> 00:22:59,689 but only Devyn wakes up. 715 00:22:59,713 --> 00:23:01,509 Shaela Knighton is at work 716 00:23:01,533 --> 00:23:03,326 when she gets a frantic call 717 00:23:03,350 --> 00:23:05,328 and races home. 718 00:23:05,352 --> 00:23:08,464 Shaela: Pulled up to the house. 719 00:23:08,488 --> 00:23:10,367 I saw my then-husband 720 00:23:10,391 --> 00:23:12,268 throwing up 721 00:23:12,292 --> 00:23:14,437 on the side of the road. 722 00:23:14,461 --> 00:23:19,809 My then 21-year-old son... 723 00:23:19,833 --> 00:23:22,580 running down the driveway 724 00:23:22,604 --> 00:23:25,348 just in shock. 725 00:23:25,372 --> 00:23:27,750 Three cop cars. 726 00:23:27,774 --> 00:23:29,244 The officer wouldn't let me 727 00:23:29,268 --> 00:23:30,736 in the house. 728 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:31,954 [ Radio chatter ] 729 00:23:31,978 --> 00:23:33,640 Narrator: Shaela learns 730 00:23:33,664 --> 00:23:35,324 that her son Mitch has died 731 00:23:35,348 --> 00:23:37,727 from a fentanyl overdose. 732 00:23:37,751 --> 00:23:39,346 Shaela: When they were taking 733 00:23:39,370 --> 00:23:40,963 Mitchell's body, 734 00:23:40,987 --> 00:23:43,566 I asked to see him, 735 00:23:43,590 --> 00:23:45,386 and they wouldn't 736 00:23:45,410 --> 00:23:47,203 let me see him. 737 00:23:47,227 --> 00:23:49,306 I remember my son Devon 738 00:23:49,330 --> 00:23:51,431 holding me up... 739 00:23:52,932 --> 00:23:55,945 from falling to the ground. 740 00:23:55,969 --> 00:23:57,715 Narrator: Mitch's friend 741 00:23:57,739 --> 00:23:59,482 Devyn Young also took a pill. 742 00:23:59,506 --> 00:24:02,418 His mother finds him in bed. 743 00:24:02,442 --> 00:24:04,438 Kelli: He was still overdosing 744 00:24:04,462 --> 00:24:06,455 when I found him. 745 00:24:06,479 --> 00:24:08,191 You know, I did paramedics 746 00:24:08,215 --> 00:24:09,925 and all of that stuff. 747 00:24:09,949 --> 00:24:11,878 But, you know, after the fact, 748 00:24:11,902 --> 00:24:13,829 he had said that 749 00:24:13,853 --> 00:24:15,097 that's all we got. 750 00:24:15,121 --> 00:24:16,298 We got one oxy each. 751 00:24:16,322 --> 00:24:17,867 It never should have happened. 752 00:24:17,891 --> 00:24:19,570 It wasn't much later 753 00:24:19,594 --> 00:24:21,270 that he called me to tell me 754 00:24:21,294 --> 00:24:23,372 that Mitch had passed away. 755 00:24:23,396 --> 00:24:25,474 This was a one-pill.. 756 00:24:25,498 --> 00:24:28,944 This wasn't an addiction. 757 00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:30,379 They didn't deserve this. 758 00:24:30,403 --> 00:24:32,381 They didn't know 759 00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:34,150 what they were really buying. 760 00:24:34,174 --> 00:24:35,653 You don't know 761 00:24:35,677 --> 00:24:37,153 what you're getting. 762 00:24:37,177 --> 00:24:39,640 Narrator: Devyn never recovers 763 00:24:39,664 --> 00:24:42,124 from his best friend's death. 764 00:24:42,148 --> 00:24:44,960 He was an absolute mess. 765 00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:48,197 It was devastating to watch. 766 00:24:48,221 --> 00:24:49,432 The kid could hardly eat. 767 00:24:49,456 --> 00:24:52,234 He was pretty wrecked. 768 00:24:52,258 --> 00:24:54,437 6 months later, out of guilt 769 00:24:54,461 --> 00:24:56,407 and feeling as if he was 770 00:24:56,431 --> 00:24:58,374 the cause of Mitch's death, 771 00:24:58,398 --> 00:25:01,340 Devyn Young takes his own life. 772 00:25:02,168 --> 00:25:03,751 Yes, he had made some 773 00:25:03,775 --> 00:25:05,356 bad choices along the way, 774 00:25:05,380 --> 00:25:07,472 but the way I look at it is, 775 00:25:07,496 --> 00:25:09,585 they both died. 776 00:25:09,609 --> 00:25:11,355 - Two different manners - of death, 777 00:25:11,381 --> 00:25:13,924 - But it was all - for the exact same reasons. 778 00:25:13,947 --> 00:25:18,427 Definitely. 779 00:25:13,950 --> 00:25:16,176 It all came down 780 00:25:18,451 --> 00:25:20,364 - That they bought - that night. 781 00:25:20,390 --> 00:25:22,533 That is ultimately what ended 782 00:25:22,557 --> 00:25:24,724 both of our kids' lives. 783 00:25:28,495 --> 00:25:30,157 Mitch and Devyn are buried 784 00:25:30,181 --> 00:25:31,841 on the same hillside, 785 00:25:31,865 --> 00:25:33,027 in a peaceful place 786 00:25:33,051 --> 00:25:34,210 near the mountains 787 00:25:34,234 --> 00:25:35,346 where their mothers 788 00:25:35,370 --> 00:25:36,479 can contemplate 789 00:25:36,503 --> 00:25:38,686 what might have been. 790 00:25:38,710 --> 00:25:40,707 Just thinking of, 791 00:25:40,731 --> 00:25:42,726 what would he be doing today? 792 00:25:42,750 --> 00:25:43,186 You know, where would he be? 793 00:25:43,210 --> 00:25:46,122 Would he be in a happier place? 794 00:25:46,146 --> 00:25:47,241 You know, 795 00:25:47,265 --> 00:25:48,357 what would he be doing? 796 00:25:48,381 --> 00:25:50,459 What would his kids look like? 797 00:25:50,483 --> 00:25:51,945 Would he have married 798 00:25:51,969 --> 00:25:53,429 the girlfriend? 799 00:25:53,453 --> 00:25:56,499 It's just... It's not fair. 800 00:25:56,523 --> 00:25:58,419 Narrator: Today, overdose 801 00:25:58,443 --> 00:26:00,336 is the leading cause of death 802 00:26:00,360 --> 00:26:04,206 of Americans under 50. 803 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:06,375 Next on "American Greed," 804 00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:07,744 Aaron Shamo's attempts 805 00:26:07,768 --> 00:26:09,111 to hide his operation 806 00:26:09,135 --> 00:26:11,180 are about to fall short 807 00:26:11,204 --> 00:26:12,933 when a customs officer 808 00:26:12,957 --> 00:26:14,684 IDs one of the country's first 809 00:26:14,708 --> 00:26:15,903 bulk shipments 810 00:26:15,927 --> 00:26:17,119 of Chinese fentanyl 811 00:26:17,143 --> 00:26:18,621 into the United States. 812 00:26:18,645 --> 00:26:20,205 Besser: To be quite honest, 813 00:26:20,229 --> 00:26:21,786 it was shocking. 814 00:26:21,810 --> 00:26:23,467 - And the first thing - on our minds was, 815 00:26:23,491 --> 00:26:24,227 We have to find it. 816 00:26:24,251 --> 00:26:25,594 We have to stop it, 817 00:26:25,618 --> 00:26:27,197 because, literally, 818 00:26:27,221 --> 00:26:28,798 lives are at stake. 819 00:26:28,822 --> 00:26:33,727 ♪♪ 820 00:26:46,973 --> 00:26:48,452 ♪♪ 821 00:26:46,973 --> 00:26:49,952 and Border Protection 822 00:26:49,976 --> 00:26:51,705 mail inspection facility 823 00:26:51,729 --> 00:26:53,456 near LAX, 824 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:54,924 where 40 million packages 825 00:26:54,948 --> 00:26:57,645 coming in from 180 countries 826 00:26:57,669 --> 00:27:00,363 pass through every year. 827 00:27:00,387 --> 00:27:02,099 - Ross: The international - mail facility 828 00:27:02,125 --> 00:27:03,284 Seizes illicit drugs 829 00:27:03,308 --> 00:27:04,467 on a daily basis. 830 00:27:04,491 --> 00:27:06,353 This is essentially 831 00:27:06,377 --> 00:27:08,261 one large seizure factory. 832 00:27:09,162 --> 00:27:11,708 - Narrator: On the day - "American Greed" goes inside, 833 00:27:11,734 --> 00:27:13,243 A K9 officer is searching 834 00:27:13,267 --> 00:27:14,777 for suspicious packages 835 00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:16,180 containing any number 836 00:27:16,204 --> 00:27:17,580 of illegal drugs, 837 00:27:17,604 --> 00:27:19,116 including 838 00:27:19,140 --> 00:27:20,650 highly deadly fentanyl. 839 00:27:20,674 --> 00:27:22,019 Here, the dog alerts 840 00:27:22,043 --> 00:27:23,386 his K9 officer 841 00:27:23,410 --> 00:27:25,272 by sitting down in front 842 00:27:25,296 --> 00:27:27,156 of a suspicious package. 843 00:27:27,180 --> 00:27:29,466 Ooh, that's a good boy. 844 00:27:29,490 --> 00:27:30,860 That's a good dog. 845 00:27:30,884 --> 00:27:32,546 The box is removed 846 00:27:32,570 --> 00:27:34,230 and tested on-site 847 00:27:34,254 --> 00:27:35,566 using an instrument 848 00:27:35,590 --> 00:27:36,899 which allows the officers 849 00:27:36,923 --> 00:27:38,567 to identify substances 850 00:27:38,591 --> 00:27:40,137 without having to fully open 851 00:27:40,161 --> 00:27:41,704 the packages. 852 00:27:41,728 --> 00:27:43,742 - Officer: This is telling me - right away that it knows 853 00:27:43,766 --> 00:27:45,841 That this is fentanyl. 854 00:27:45,865 --> 00:27:47,311 And here's the scientific 855 00:27:47,335 --> 00:27:48,802 name for it. 856 00:27:50,770 --> 00:27:53,237 Narrator: In July of 2016, 857 00:27:53,261 --> 00:27:55,726 a package much like this one 858 00:27:55,750 --> 00:27:58,288 - comes in from Guangdong, China, - heading to a suburb 859 00:27:58,314 --> 00:28:01,190 Of Salt Lake City, Utah. 860 00:28:01,214 --> 00:28:03,125 It is flagged for inspection. 861 00:28:03,149 --> 00:28:05,679 Inside, the officer IDs 862 00:28:05,703 --> 00:28:08,230 the synthetic opioid fentanyl... 863 00:28:08,254 --> 00:28:09,299 Now well known, 864 00:28:09,323 --> 00:28:10,366 but at the time, 865 00:28:10,390 --> 00:28:12,069 just starting to hit the US 866 00:28:12,093 --> 00:28:13,769 from China. 867 00:28:13,793 --> 00:28:16,266 CBP is concerned. 868 00:28:16,290 --> 00:28:17,855 They refer the case 869 00:28:17,879 --> 00:28:19,442 to federal agents in Utah. 870 00:28:19,466 --> 00:28:20,885 Gadd: Two of my agents came 871 00:28:20,909 --> 00:28:22,326 in my office and said, 872 00:28:22,350 --> 00:28:24,272 "Hey, there's a package of 873 00:28:24,296 --> 00:28:26,215 fentanyl that was intercepted, 874 00:28:26,239 --> 00:28:27,401 and it was addressed 875 00:28:27,425 --> 00:28:28,584 to someone in Utah. 876 00:28:28,608 --> 00:28:30,153 - We want to write - a search warrant 877 00:28:30,179 --> 00:28:31,471 And go see what 878 00:28:31,495 --> 00:28:32,788 that person's doing." 879 00:28:32,812 --> 00:28:34,791 Narrator: 880 00:28:32,812 --> 00:28:36,792 Salt Lake City resident... 881 00:28:36,816 --> 00:28:40,836 26-year-old Sean Gygi. 882 00:28:40,860 --> 00:28:42,501 - Besser: When we started doing a - background on Mr. Gygi... 883 00:28:42,525 --> 00:28:43,933 Again very unassuming. 884 00:28:43,957 --> 00:28:45,519 Didn't fit the typical profile 885 00:28:45,543 --> 00:28:47,103 that people view 886 00:28:47,127 --> 00:28:48,305 as a "drug trafficker" 887 00:28:48,329 --> 00:28:49,505 or a drug dealer. 888 00:28:49,529 --> 00:28:51,608 We did surveillance on Mr. Gygi, 889 00:28:51,632 --> 00:28:53,709 and we ended up approaching him. 890 00:28:53,733 --> 00:28:55,045 Narrator: Gygi initially 891 00:28:55,069 --> 00:28:56,379 tells investigators 892 00:28:56,403 --> 00:28:58,115 that he accepts packages 893 00:28:58,139 --> 00:28:59,849 for his friend Aaron Shamo, 894 00:28:59,873 --> 00:29:01,869 and he thinks that they are 895 00:29:01,893 --> 00:29:03,886 filled with ecstasy pills. 896 00:29:03,910 --> 00:29:06,255 Gadd: My agents said to him, 897 00:29:06,279 --> 00:29:07,508 "Those packages 898 00:29:07,532 --> 00:29:08,758 that you were getting 899 00:29:08,782 --> 00:29:10,359 had fentanyl in them." 900 00:29:10,383 --> 00:29:12,944 And they watched as Mr. Gygi's 901 00:29:12,968 --> 00:29:15,526 countenance changed. 902 00:29:15,550 --> 00:29:17,467 - Narrator: After thinking - over his options, 903 00:29:17,493 --> 00:29:20,236 Gygi agrees to cooperate. 904 00:29:20,260 --> 00:29:22,006 He tells investigators 905 00:29:22,030 --> 00:29:23,773 that he works full-time 906 00:29:23,797 --> 00:29:25,675 for Aaron Shamo. 907 00:29:25,699 --> 00:29:28,445 - Gadd: He said, "Look, not only - was I accepting packages 908 00:29:28,471 --> 00:29:30,097 For Mr. Shamo in the mail, 909 00:29:30,121 --> 00:29:31,747 but for the last several months, 910 00:29:31,771 --> 00:29:33,283 he hired me 911 00:29:33,307 --> 00:29:34,817 to be a daily employee. 912 00:29:34,841 --> 00:29:36,285 And most nights of the week, 913 00:29:36,309 --> 00:29:38,105 I pick up packages 914 00:29:38,129 --> 00:29:39,922 off a doorstep, 915 00:29:39,946 --> 00:29:41,324 and I take those packages 916 00:29:41,348 --> 00:29:42,901 to blue Post Office 917 00:29:42,925 --> 00:29:44,476 collection boxes 918 00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:45,395 throughout the community. 919 00:29:45,419 --> 00:29:47,331 And he pays me 920 00:29:47,355 --> 00:29:49,265 a biweekly wage to do it." 921 00:29:49,289 --> 00:29:51,335 - And so, the agents asked him - to do two things. 922 00:29:51,361 --> 00:29:53,569 The first was, put on a wire 923 00:29:53,593 --> 00:29:54,721 and have a conversation 924 00:29:54,745 --> 00:29:55,871 with Mr. Shamo. 925 00:29:55,895 --> 00:29:56,939 And he did. 926 00:29:56,963 --> 00:29:58,965 They met face-to-face. 927 00:30:00,660 --> 00:30:02,281 - Narrator: Gygi is recording - when he arrives 928 00:30:02,305 --> 00:30:04,671 At Aaron Shamo's house. 929 00:30:20,387 --> 00:30:22,199 - Gadd: It turned out - it was payday that night, 930 00:30:22,223 --> 00:30:23,599 So it worked out real well. 931 00:30:23,623 --> 00:30:25,754 Mr. Shamo paid Mr. Gygi, and 932 00:30:25,778 --> 00:30:27,906 then Mr. Shamo and Mr. Gygi 933 00:30:27,930 --> 00:30:29,538 talked about their future plans. 934 00:30:29,562 --> 00:30:31,525 Besser: And Shamo related 935 00:30:31,549 --> 00:30:33,509 that he wanted to expand 936 00:30:33,533 --> 00:30:35,295 his operation, 937 00:30:35,319 --> 00:30:37,079 and he wanted Gygi 938 00:30:37,103 --> 00:30:39,185 to move to Colorado 939 00:30:39,209 --> 00:30:41,253 and start building a 940 00:30:41,277 --> 00:30:43,343 foundational enterprise there. 941 00:31:05,331 --> 00:31:06,983 Narrator: Next, Gygi allows 942 00:31:07,007 --> 00:31:08,656 agents to follow 943 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:10,453 as he picks up 79 packages 944 00:31:10,477 --> 00:31:12,248 from the shipper's doorstep 945 00:31:12,272 --> 00:31:13,701 to mail to Pharma-Master 946 00:31:13,725 --> 00:31:15,151 customers. 947 00:31:15,175 --> 00:31:16,485 This time, however, 948 00:31:16,509 --> 00:31:18,372 he doesn't drop them 949 00:31:18,396 --> 00:31:20,256 in the post boxes. 950 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:21,624 Gadd: He scooped them up 951 00:31:21,648 --> 00:31:23,460 - and then drove - with the agents immediately 952 00:31:23,486 --> 00:31:25,462 - To a local police station, - where they could 953 00:31:25,488 --> 00:31:27,160 Set them out on tables 954 00:31:27,184 --> 00:31:28,856 and start to go through it. 955 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,366 And as they opened these boxes, 956 00:31:30,390 --> 00:31:32,369 they found 10,000 957 00:31:32,393 --> 00:31:34,370 fentanyl pills in a box. 958 00:31:34,394 --> 00:31:36,539 20,000 pills in a box. 959 00:31:36,563 --> 00:31:38,240 Besser: Aaron Shamo's operation 960 00:31:38,264 --> 00:31:39,259 was nothing like 961 00:31:39,283 --> 00:31:40,276 I had ever seen. 962 00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:41,679 Mr. Shamo's enterprise 963 00:31:41,703 --> 00:31:43,079 was one of the first 964 00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:46,816 large-scale dark web storefronts 965 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:48,617 that we had dealt with. 966 00:31:48,641 --> 00:31:51,088 - At one point, - I know we were able to identify 967 00:31:51,114 --> 00:31:53,255 Over 8,000 package recipients 968 00:31:53,279 --> 00:31:55,726 - all across the continental - United States. 969 00:31:57,150 --> 00:31:58,728 We had to act quickly. 970 00:31:58,752 --> 00:32:00,697 - Our number one goal - was to locate, 971 00:32:00,723 --> 00:32:02,516 Where are the tablets 972 00:32:02,540 --> 00:32:04,357 being manufactured? 973 00:32:06,192 --> 00:32:08,305 - Narrator: - Next on "American Greed," 974 00:32:08,331 --> 00:32:09,961 Utah agents find 975 00:32:09,985 --> 00:32:11,616 what they're looking for 976 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:12,875 in their own backyard 977 00:32:12,899 --> 00:32:14,394 and move in on 978 00:32:14,418 --> 00:32:15,911 the Pharma-Master. 979 00:32:15,935 --> 00:32:17,414 Mui: Aaron Shamo was at home 980 00:32:17,438 --> 00:32:18,914 apparently in his basement 981 00:32:18,938 --> 00:32:21,234 when authorities literally came 982 00:32:21,258 --> 00:32:23,576 bashing down his front door. 983 00:32:24,244 --> 00:32:26,956 Narrator: Want more greed? 984 00:32:26,980 --> 00:32:28,290 Follow us on Instagram, 985 00:32:28,314 --> 00:32:29,659 connect on Facebook, 986 00:32:29,683 --> 00:32:31,662 - and listen to - the "American Greed" podcast 987 00:32:31,688 --> 00:32:34,797 Wherever you get your podcasts. 988 00:32:34,821 --> 00:32:36,256 We'll be right back. 989 00:32:37,757 --> 00:32:45,757 ♪♪ 990 00:32:51,504 --> 00:32:52,583 Narrator: Two days 991 00:32:52,607 --> 00:32:53,683 before thanksgiving, 992 00:32:53,707 --> 00:32:56,285 dozens of agents from the DEA, 993 00:32:56,309 --> 00:32:57,337 Homeland Security 994 00:32:57,361 --> 00:32:58,387 Investigations, 995 00:32:58,411 --> 00:33:00,357 and the National Guard 996 00:33:00,381 --> 00:33:02,325 suit up for a surprise drug bust 997 00:33:02,349 --> 00:33:03,994 on an unlikely 998 00:33:04,018 --> 00:33:05,661 residential block. 999 00:33:05,685 --> 00:33:07,090 Besser: Cottonwood Heights 1000 00:33:07,114 --> 00:33:08,516 is kind of a sleepy little 1001 00:33:08,540 --> 00:33:10,343 upper middle-class suburban area 1002 00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:12,168 south of Salt Lake... 1003 00:33:12,192 --> 00:33:13,404 The last neighborhood 1004 00:33:13,428 --> 00:33:14,637 that I honestly thought 1005 00:33:14,661 --> 00:33:15,739 I would be doing 1006 00:33:15,763 --> 00:33:16,839 a search warrant in 1007 00:33:16,863 --> 00:33:18,325 for a counterfeit 1008 00:33:18,349 --> 00:33:19,809 tableting enterprise. 1009 00:33:19,833 --> 00:33:21,462 Narrator: Those seizing evidence 1010 00:33:21,486 --> 00:33:23,112 at Aaron Shamo's home 1011 00:33:23,136 --> 00:33:25,099 don hazmat suits to avoid 1012 00:33:25,123 --> 00:33:27,083 direct contact with fentanyl, 1013 00:33:27,107 --> 00:33:28,852 which is so powerful, 1014 00:33:28,876 --> 00:33:30,619 a few flakes touching the skin 1015 00:33:30,643 --> 00:33:32,122 have caused officers 1016 00:33:32,146 --> 00:33:33,622 to overdose. 1017 00:33:33,646 --> 00:33:35,461 - Gadd: They called him out - and pulled him out, 1018 00:33:35,485 --> 00:33:38,816 And then placed under arrest. 1019 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:39,796 - Inside, there was - a pill press running. 1020 00:33:39,822 --> 00:33:41,331 A rotary pill press 1021 00:33:41,355 --> 00:33:42,865 just pounding away. 1022 00:33:42,889 --> 00:33:44,401 They saw powder 1023 00:33:44,425 --> 00:33:45,935 all over the walls. 1024 00:33:45,959 --> 00:33:47,271 The room was full 1025 00:33:47,295 --> 00:33:48,604 of mason jars. 1026 00:33:48,628 --> 00:33:50,476 - That's how they were - mixing their ingredients 1027 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:51,607 To go into the pills. 1028 00:33:51,631 --> 00:33:52,908 They put it in a mason jar, 1029 00:33:52,932 --> 00:33:56,579 screw the lid on, and shake it. 1030 00:33:56,603 --> 00:33:58,732 Agents seize $1.2 million 1031 00:33:58,756 --> 00:34:00,883 in cash from a sock drawer 1032 00:34:00,907 --> 00:34:03,704 and another $429,000 stored 1033 00:34:03,728 --> 00:34:06,522 at Shamo's parents' house. 1034 00:34:06,546 --> 00:34:08,458 - But it took them - a lot longer, actually, 1035 00:34:08,484 --> 00:34:10,627 - To find one of his biggest - sources of cash, 1036 00:34:10,653 --> 00:34:12,826 And that was Bitcoin. 1037 00:34:12,850 --> 00:34:14,180 They eventually found 1038 00:34:14,204 --> 00:34:15,531 500 Bitcoin 1039 00:34:15,555 --> 00:34:17,466 that were linked to his account. 1040 00:34:17,490 --> 00:34:19,527 At the time, it was worth a 1041 00:34:19,551 --> 00:34:21,586 couple hundred thousand dollars. 1042 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:23,048 Narrator: 1043 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:24,507 sells Shamo's Bitcoin 1044 00:34:24,531 --> 00:34:28,656 for more than $5 million. 1045 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:30,172 Across town, agents execute 1046 00:34:30,196 --> 00:34:31,686 a search warrant 1047 00:34:31,710 --> 00:34:33,483 - at the apartment - of Alexandrya Tonge 1048 00:34:33,509 --> 00:34:35,135 And Katherine Bustin... 1049 00:34:35,159 --> 00:34:36,786 Shamo's shippers. 1050 00:34:36,810 --> 00:34:38,372 Whitehurst: He brought them in 1051 00:34:38,396 --> 00:34:39,955 to help do the packaging. 1052 00:34:39,979 --> 00:34:42,094 - They would put them in envelopes - and then send them 1053 00:34:42,118 --> 00:34:43,777 To whoever around the country 1054 00:34:43,801 --> 00:34:45,461 had ordered them. 1055 00:34:45,485 --> 00:34:47,463 They were working so fast, 1056 00:34:47,487 --> 00:34:49,299 - when pills would drop - on the ground, 1057 00:34:49,323 --> 00:34:50,566 They would just vacuum them up. 1058 00:34:50,590 --> 00:34:51,702 They weren't even worth 1059 00:34:51,726 --> 00:34:52,835 picking up. 1060 00:34:52,859 --> 00:34:54,638 Narrator: When Shamo's friend 1061 00:34:54,662 --> 00:34:56,439 and former partner Drew Crandall 1062 00:34:56,463 --> 00:34:57,491 learns of the arrest 1063 00:34:57,515 --> 00:34:58,541 from overseas, 1064 00:34:58,565 --> 00:34:59,809 he quickly shuts down 1065 00:34:59,833 --> 00:35:01,045 the Pharma-Master store 1066 00:35:01,069 --> 00:35:02,278 on AlphaBay. 1067 00:35:02,302 --> 00:35:03,914 But investigators have already 1068 00:35:03,938 --> 00:35:05,548 got what they need 1069 00:35:05,572 --> 00:35:07,451 - from another one - of Shamo's friends 1070 00:35:07,477 --> 00:35:08,502 And customer service 1071 00:35:08,526 --> 00:35:09,552 employees... 1072 00:35:09,576 --> 00:35:12,756 24 year-old Mario Noble. 1073 00:35:12,780 --> 00:35:15,457 - Gadd: Mr. Noble, because he did - customer service, had access 1074 00:35:15,483 --> 00:35:17,861 - To some of Pharma-Master's - pages on AlphaBay. 1075 00:35:17,887 --> 00:35:19,563 - And so, the agents - went in with him 1076 00:35:19,589 --> 00:35:21,210 And took screenshots 1077 00:35:21,234 --> 00:35:22,856 trying to preserve 1078 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:24,213 the evidence that was online 1079 00:35:24,237 --> 00:35:25,592 so we wouldn't lose it. 1080 00:35:26,659 --> 00:35:28,171 Narrator: Six months later, 1081 00:35:28,195 --> 00:35:29,705 Drew Crandall is arrested 1082 00:35:29,729 --> 00:35:32,177 upon arriving in Hawaii, 1083 00:35:32,201 --> 00:35:34,646 where he planned to get married. 1084 00:35:34,670 --> 00:35:36,615 In all, eight of Shamo's other 1085 00:35:36,639 --> 00:35:38,581 co-conspirators are arrested, 1086 00:35:38,605 --> 00:35:40,150 and all agree to cooperate 1087 00:35:40,174 --> 00:35:41,741 with the government. 1088 00:35:44,770 --> 00:35:46,255 Next on "American Greed," 1089 00:35:46,279 --> 00:35:47,958 - while prosecutors - build their case, 1090 00:35:47,984 --> 00:35:49,093 They begin to compile 1091 00:35:49,117 --> 00:35:50,226 a list of customers 1092 00:35:50,250 --> 00:35:51,595 who purchased pills 1093 00:35:51,619 --> 00:35:52,962 through Pharma-Master 1094 00:35:52,986 --> 00:35:55,420 and uncover a pattern unlike any 1095 00:35:55,444 --> 00:35:57,876 they had ever before seen. 1096 00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:00,203 - Gadd: To date, we've identified - 90 of his customers 1097 00:36:00,229 --> 00:36:02,596 Who died from drug overdoses. 1098 00:36:02,620 --> 00:36:10,620 ♪♪ 1099 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,075 Narrator: Two years 1100 00:36:22,099 --> 00:36:23,292 after his arrest, 1101 00:36:23,316 --> 00:36:24,895 Aaron Shamo is set 1102 00:36:24,919 --> 00:36:26,496 to stand trial, 1103 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:27,331 accused of 12 drug counts 1104 00:36:27,355 --> 00:36:29,216 including leading a continuing 1105 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:31,100 criminal enterprise... 1106 00:36:31,124 --> 00:36:32,903 Sometimes referred to 1107 00:36:32,927 --> 00:36:34,704 as the "kingpin charge"... 1108 00:36:34,728 --> 00:36:36,173 Which carries a mandatory 1109 00:36:36,197 --> 00:36:37,640 life sentence, 1110 00:36:37,664 --> 00:36:38,742 and one count 1111 00:36:38,766 --> 00:36:39,842 for the overdose death 1112 00:36:39,866 --> 00:36:42,463 of 21-year-old Ruslan Klyuev 1113 00:36:42,487 --> 00:36:45,081 of California. 1114 00:36:45,105 --> 00:36:47,468 Our focus at trial was the two 1115 00:36:47,492 --> 00:36:49,852 most serious offences 1116 00:36:49,876 --> 00:36:51,021 that the grand jury 1117 00:36:51,045 --> 00:36:52,188 charged Mr. Shamo with. 1118 00:36:52,212 --> 00:36:54,008 The first was engaging in a 1119 00:36:54,032 --> 00:36:55,825 continuing criminal enterprise, 1120 00:36:55,849 --> 00:36:57,511 and then the second was 1121 00:36:57,535 --> 00:36:59,195 the distribution of fentanyl 1122 00:36:59,219 --> 00:37:01,497 that resulted in a man's death. 1123 00:37:01,521 --> 00:37:03,433 - Narrator: Evidence from - Shamo's computers 1124 00:37:03,459 --> 00:37:05,819 Has led investigators to at 1125 00:37:05,843 --> 00:37:08,204 least 90 Pharma-Master customers 1126 00:37:08,228 --> 00:37:11,407 that died of fentanyl overdose. 1127 00:37:11,431 --> 00:37:14,316 We could track Shamo's orders, 1128 00:37:14,340 --> 00:37:15,482 and just through 1129 00:37:15,506 --> 00:37:16,646 searching obituaries 1130 00:37:16,670 --> 00:37:19,449 - and talking to law enforcement - in different areas, 1131 00:37:19,475 --> 00:37:22,102 Confirm OD deaths 1132 00:37:22,126 --> 00:37:24,754 from Mr. Shamo's pills. 1133 00:37:24,778 --> 00:37:26,173 Narrator: Of the 90 cases 1134 00:37:26,197 --> 00:37:27,590 prosecutors believe are tied 1135 00:37:27,614 --> 00:37:29,093 to Shamo's pills, 1136 00:37:29,117 --> 00:37:30,593 they decide to charge him 1137 00:37:30,617 --> 00:37:32,046 with the Klyuev case 1138 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:33,496 because of the evidence... 1139 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:34,598 Including a photo 1140 00:37:34,622 --> 00:37:35,698 from the death scene 1141 00:37:35,722 --> 00:37:37,767 showing the victim's body 1142 00:37:37,791 --> 00:37:40,120 and a Pharma-Master pill package 1143 00:37:40,144 --> 00:37:42,471 in the trash bin next to him. 1144 00:37:42,495 --> 00:37:44,708 - Gadd: What the toxicologist - was able to show 1145 00:37:44,734 --> 00:37:46,110 Was that he had alcohol 1146 00:37:46,134 --> 00:37:47,510 in his system 1147 00:37:47,534 --> 00:37:49,612 and that he also had fentanyl. 1148 00:37:49,636 --> 00:37:51,815 - And so, at trial, - we called a medical doctor 1149 00:37:51,841 --> 00:37:53,300 To interpret those findings 1150 00:37:53,324 --> 00:37:54,784 and give her opinion 1151 00:37:54,808 --> 00:37:55,986 that the alcohol 1152 00:37:56,010 --> 00:37:57,186 didn't kill him. 1153 00:37:57,210 --> 00:37:58,888 Nothing else killed him. 1154 00:37:58,912 --> 00:38:00,857 - But for the fact - that he ingested 1155 00:38:00,883 --> 00:38:02,776 The fentanyl that night, 1156 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,694 he never would have died. 1157 00:38:04,718 --> 00:38:06,198 - Narrator: - Shamo's defense attorney 1158 00:38:06,222 --> 00:38:07,965 Greg Skordas acknowledges 1159 00:38:07,989 --> 00:38:09,732 his client committed crimes 1160 00:38:09,756 --> 00:38:12,226 in selling drugs on the dark net 1161 00:38:12,250 --> 00:38:13,907 but says he did not 1162 00:38:13,931 --> 00:38:15,586 cause anyone's death 1163 00:38:15,610 --> 00:38:16,672 and was not a kingpin. 1164 00:38:16,696 --> 00:38:18,310 - Oh, there's no question - the government wanted 1165 00:38:18,334 --> 00:38:19,845 - To make an example - out of this case, 1166 00:38:19,869 --> 00:38:21,562 And Aaron, unfortunately, 1167 00:38:21,586 --> 00:38:23,279 was right in their crosshairs. 1168 00:38:23,303 --> 00:38:24,948 Narrator: 1169 00:38:23,303 --> 00:38:26,615 to convince the jury 1170 00:38:26,639 --> 00:38:27,985 that his client got into 1171 00:38:28,009 --> 00:38:29,352 the drug business 1172 00:38:29,376 --> 00:38:31,354 to "help people." 1173 00:38:31,378 --> 00:38:33,190 - Skordas: It was wrong. - It was criminal. 1174 00:38:33,216 --> 00:38:35,559 - But they really felt that - they were filling a niche 1175 00:38:35,585 --> 00:38:36,683 With the public 1176 00:38:36,707 --> 00:38:37,806 to help people 1177 00:38:37,830 --> 00:38:40,230 - who really were suffering - from pain... chronic pain... 1178 00:38:40,256 --> 00:38:43,536 And couldn't get help for it. 1179 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:45,354 Narrator: The jury, however, 1180 00:38:45,378 --> 00:38:47,169 does not buy that argument. 1181 00:38:47,193 --> 00:38:49,394 After a four week trial, 1182 00:38:49,418 --> 00:38:51,616 they find Aaron Shamo guilty 1183 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:53,876 on 12 of 13 counts. 1184 00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:55,846 - The jury is unable - to reach a verdict 1185 00:38:55,872 --> 00:38:58,037 On the charge that he caused 1186 00:38:58,061 --> 00:39:00,226 the death of Ruslan Klyuev. 1187 00:39:00,250 --> 00:39:02,219 - Skordas: I think it would have - been very hard 1188 00:39:02,245 --> 00:39:04,086 For the jury to say, 1189 00:39:04,110 --> 00:39:05,932 "Okay, those particular 1190 00:39:05,956 --> 00:39:07,776 pills from Aaron 1191 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:08,458 were the cause of death." 1192 00:39:08,482 --> 00:39:10,661 - And, in fact, - they couldn't find that. 1193 00:39:10,687 --> 00:39:13,166 That one count of the 13 1194 00:39:13,190 --> 00:39:14,800 - that were brought - against Aaron Shamo, 1195 00:39:14,824 --> 00:39:16,183 The jury did not 1196 00:39:16,207 --> 00:39:17,566 make a decision on. 1197 00:39:17,590 --> 00:39:19,386 However, law enforcement 1198 00:39:19,410 --> 00:39:21,203 authorities do believe 1199 00:39:21,227 --> 00:39:23,557 that there was a connection 1200 00:39:23,581 --> 00:39:25,908 between what was being sold 1201 00:39:25,932 --> 00:39:28,378 on the dark web through AlphaBay 1202 00:39:28,402 --> 00:39:30,846 under Pharma-Master's name 1203 00:39:30,870 --> 00:39:33,117 and 90 people 1204 00:39:33,141 --> 00:39:35,410 taking those pills and dying. 1205 00:39:35,709 --> 00:39:37,587 - Narrator: - During the sentencing hearing, 1206 00:39:37,613 --> 00:39:39,189 More than 60 of those 1207 00:39:39,213 --> 00:39:40,790 overdose victims' families 1208 00:39:40,814 --> 00:39:42,326 are able to share their stories 1209 00:39:42,350 --> 00:39:43,859 with the court. 1210 00:39:43,883 --> 00:39:45,164 - Shaela: - They were loved people. 1211 00:39:45,188 --> 00:39:47,396 They were brothers, sons, 1212 00:39:47,420 --> 00:39:49,472 grandsons, 1213 00:39:49,496 --> 00:39:51,546 fathers, friends. 1214 00:39:51,570 --> 00:39:53,737 - They had lives. - They had people that loved them. 1215 00:39:53,763 --> 00:39:55,205 - They meant something - to people. 1216 00:39:55,231 --> 00:39:57,873 They're not just numbers. 1217 00:39:57,897 --> 00:39:59,393 Narrator: At the hearing, 1218 00:39:59,417 --> 00:40:00,934 Aaron Shamo states... 1219 00:40:12,245 --> 00:40:14,491 On October 15th, 2020, 1220 00:40:14,515 --> 00:40:16,759 the judge sentences 1221 00:40:16,783 --> 00:40:19,279 30-year old Aaron Shamo 1222 00:40:19,303 --> 00:40:21,797 to life in federal prison. 1223 00:40:21,821 --> 00:40:23,150 Besser: He ran 1224 00:40:23,174 --> 00:40:24,500 a criminal syndicate 1225 00:40:24,524 --> 00:40:25,803 that had numerous people 1226 00:40:25,827 --> 00:40:27,103 underneath him. 1227 00:40:27,127 --> 00:40:28,771 Millions of dollars. 1228 00:40:28,795 --> 00:40:30,023 Millions of pills 1229 00:40:30,047 --> 00:40:31,273 going all over 1230 00:40:31,297 --> 00:40:33,376 the continental United States. 1231 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,095 Do I think a life sentence 1232 00:40:35,119 --> 00:40:36,812 is too long for Aaron Shamo? 1233 00:40:36,836 --> 00:40:41,617 No, because somebody's kid, 1234 00:40:41,641 --> 00:40:43,086 somebody's wife 1235 00:40:43,110 --> 00:40:44,553 is never coming back 1236 00:40:44,577 --> 00:40:46,522 because of what Aaron Shamo did. 1237 00:40:46,546 --> 00:40:48,075 Their life is gone, 1238 00:40:48,099 --> 00:40:49,625 and I think Aaron Shamo 1239 00:40:49,649 --> 00:40:51,328 - has to pay the price - for what he did, 1240 00:40:51,354 --> 00:40:53,166 And that's exactly what he got. 1241 00:40:53,190 --> 00:40:54,834 And the jury obviously 1242 00:40:54,858 --> 00:40:56,499 felt the same. 1243 00:40:56,523 --> 00:40:58,501 Narrator: In July, 2021, 1244 00:40:58,525 --> 00:41:00,837 - the eight other - suburban Utah millennials 1245 00:41:00,863 --> 00:41:02,689 Who worked with Aaron Shamo 1246 00:41:02,713 --> 00:41:04,540 and testified against him 1247 00:41:04,564 --> 00:41:06,208 learn their fates. 1248 00:41:06,232 --> 00:41:08,545 The co-conspirators... 1249 00:41:08,569 --> 00:41:10,880 Including Sean Gygi, Luke Paz, 1250 00:41:10,904 --> 00:41:12,032 Alexandrya Tonge, 1251 00:41:12,056 --> 00:41:13,182 Katherine Bustin, 1252 00:41:13,206 --> 00:41:15,135 and Drew Crandall, 1253 00:41:15,159 --> 00:41:17,086 all receive reduced sentences 1254 00:41:17,110 --> 00:41:18,956 between probation 1255 00:41:18,980 --> 00:41:20,823 and 60 months in prison 1256 00:41:20,847 --> 00:41:22,825 for their part in the scheme. 1257 00:41:22,849 --> 00:41:24,294 Gadd: My sincere hope 1258 00:41:24,318 --> 00:41:25,761 is that Mr. Shamo's case 1259 00:41:25,785 --> 00:41:27,815 is a cautionary tale 1260 00:41:27,839 --> 00:41:29,866 for anyone who's interested 1261 00:41:29,890 --> 00:41:31,352 in making a quick buck 1262 00:41:31,376 --> 00:41:32,835 by selling poison... 1263 00:41:32,859 --> 00:41:34,471 By administering death 1264 00:41:34,495 --> 00:41:36,105 through the dark web. 1265 00:41:36,129 --> 00:41:38,092 I want those people to know 1266 00:41:38,116 --> 00:41:40,076 that there are people like me 1267 00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:41,612 and my investigators 1268 00:41:41,636 --> 00:41:43,145 who work tirelessly 1269 00:41:43,169 --> 00:41:45,315 day in and day out 1270 00:41:45,339 --> 00:41:47,483 to find them, to identify them, 1271 00:41:47,507 --> 00:41:49,385 and to bring them to justice. 1272 00:41:49,409 --> 00:41:55,391 ♪♪ 1273 00:41:55,415 --> 00:41:57,094 - Narrator: On a hot - summer evening, 1274 00:41:57,120 --> 00:41:59,096 - Friends and family - are gathered at the home 1275 00:41:59,122 --> 00:42:00,197 Of Tova Keblish 1276 00:42:00,221 --> 00:42:01,297 on Long Island... 1277 00:42:01,321 --> 00:42:02,933 Where Tova's son Gavin 1278 00:42:02,957 --> 00:42:04,567 should be celebrating 1279 00:42:04,591 --> 00:42:06,702 his 28th birthday. 1280 00:42:06,726 --> 00:42:08,121 Instead, his mother 1281 00:42:08,145 --> 00:42:09,538 is hosting a party 1282 00:42:09,562 --> 00:42:11,325 for what she calls 1283 00:42:11,349 --> 00:42:13,109 Gavin's "angel-versary," 1284 00:42:13,133 --> 00:42:15,279 or the day her son died 1285 00:42:15,303 --> 00:42:17,446 from a fentanyl overdose. 1286 00:42:17,470 --> 00:42:18,849 Mrs. Keblish invited 1287 00:42:18,873 --> 00:42:20,249 "American Greed" 1288 00:42:20,273 --> 00:42:22,385 to capture the remembrance. 1289 00:42:22,409 --> 00:42:25,188 - Thank you, and I just want you - to send your wishes to Gavin. 1290 00:42:25,214 --> 00:42:26,483 And we're all gonna put it 1291 00:42:26,507 --> 00:42:27,776 in a separate place 1292 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:28,759 - in Gavin's garden, - which you know 1293 00:42:28,785 --> 00:42:30,259 Is all wrapped around. 1294 00:42:30,283 --> 00:42:32,164 - And then, we will be doing - the lanterns, too, 1295 00:42:32,188 --> 00:42:33,213 So make sure you guys 1296 00:42:33,237 --> 00:42:34,263 do a lantern, too. 1297 00:42:34,287 --> 00:42:35,768 - All right? - Woman: We love you, Tov. 1298 00:42:35,792 --> 00:42:37,534 - All right, - I love you guys. 1299 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:39,803 - Now that the trial is done, - it's over with. 1300 00:42:39,829 --> 00:42:41,188 It's kind of like 1301 00:42:41,212 --> 00:42:42,571 severing the pain 1302 00:42:42,595 --> 00:42:44,558 and the hardship 1303 00:42:44,582 --> 00:42:46,542 that we have gone through. 1304 00:42:46,566 --> 00:42:47,828 And we're going to be 1305 00:42:47,852 --> 00:42:49,111 doing basically that... 1306 00:42:49,135 --> 00:42:50,913 The celebration of Gavin's life. 1307 00:42:50,937 --> 00:42:52,748 [ Cheering ] 1308 00:42:52,772 --> 00:42:54,350 Gavin! 1309 00:42:54,374 --> 00:42:55,402 Way to go, baby! 1310 00:42:55,426 --> 00:42:56,452 Woman: Awwww. 1311 00:42:56,476 --> 00:43:04,476 ♪♪