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00:00:01,688 --> 00:00:02,991
Look at me, look at me.
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00:00:02,991 --> 00:00:04,455
I want you to be man to man
3
00:00:04,455 --> 00:00:05,628
with me right now.
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00:00:05,628 --> 00:00:07,864
Goldberg: This is
no ordinary traffic stop.
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00:00:07,864 --> 00:00:09,466
Price: It's almost like
I think the Lord
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wanted the story to be told.
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Goldberg: You think?
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00:00:13,670 --> 00:00:16,306
Central Georgia,
a landscape dotted
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00:00:16,306 --> 00:00:19,042
with small towns
and country roads,
10
00:00:19,042 --> 00:00:21,911
is just about as far away
from Wall Street
11
00:00:21,911 --> 00:00:23,980
as a person can possibly get --
12
00:00:23,980 --> 00:00:28,318
that is, until the entrance
of Aubrey Lee Price,
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00:00:28,318 --> 00:00:32,756
a small-town pastor who seemed
to be a miracle worker
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00:00:32,756 --> 00:00:34,090
at investing money.
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00:00:34,090 --> 00:00:35,892
Smith:
This is really growing fast.
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Goldberg: But was it God's will
or Brother Lee's?
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00:00:40,730 --> 00:00:45,101
He was a preacher and a genuine,
honest, open person.
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00:00:45,101 --> 00:00:47,270
What's not to trust
about Lee Price?
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00:00:47,270 --> 00:00:49,672
Mosley: Essentially,
Aubrey Lee Price was a chef.
20
00:00:49,672 --> 00:00:53,610
He was cooking the books.
He was stirring the numbers.
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00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:56,112
Yocum: Just not everybody
has their pastor
22
00:00:56,112 --> 00:00:58,048
on the FBI's Most Wanted list.
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00:00:58,048 --> 00:01:00,350
Cross:
Within a couple of months,
24
00:01:00,350 --> 00:01:02,552
found out that I lost
everything.
25
00:01:02,552 --> 00:01:07,957
I literally fell to my knees,
just screaming "No, no, no!"
26
00:01:07,957 --> 00:01:10,727
$40 million was stolen.
27
00:01:10,727 --> 00:01:12,195
Smith: Goes back to what
my mother says --
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00:01:12,195 --> 00:01:13,930
"Don't cry over spilled milk."
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00:01:13,930 --> 00:01:16,533
But what Mama didn't know --
that was a lot of milk.
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00:01:16,533 --> 00:01:19,803
He just up and vanishes.
31
00:01:19,803 --> 00:01:22,539
Juliano:
And he goes, "I'm one of the
most wanted men in America --
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00:01:22,539 --> 00:01:23,640
Aubrey Lee Price."
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00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,109
Only God knows the real story.
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00:01:26,109 --> 00:01:28,778
Goldberg: And now,
you're about to.
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00:01:28,778 --> 00:01:32,382
Was he out to save a town
or con a town?
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00:01:32,382 --> 00:01:33,883
And where is he today?
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00:01:33,883 --> 00:01:35,385
Well, you'll find out,
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00:01:35,385 --> 00:01:37,987
after a lot of fake IDs,
fake suicide,
39
00:01:37,987 --> 00:01:41,091
and a bunch of other fake stuff.
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00:01:41,091 --> 00:01:44,661
I'm Whoopi Goldberg,
and this is "The Con."
41
00:01:44,661 --> 00:01:47,764
-- Captions by VITAC --
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♪♪
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[ Church choir singing ]
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00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:57,240
♪♪
45
00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,442
We need someone with a divine
understanding
46
00:01:59,442 --> 00:02:01,511
of how con artists operate.
47
00:02:01,511 --> 00:02:04,314
That's where my girl
Laci Mosley comes in.
48
00:02:04,314 --> 00:02:09,819
She's not just a scam expert,
she is a scam goddess.
49
00:02:09,819 --> 00:02:12,522
Aubrey Lee Price is
this clean-cut, shiny,
50
00:02:12,522 --> 00:02:16,493
trustworthy pastor
of a small town.
51
00:02:16,493 --> 00:02:18,194
We're not talking about
a televangelist
52
00:02:18,194 --> 00:02:20,196
or somebody that you call in.
53
00:02:20,196 --> 00:02:23,099
He's established as a trusted
member of the community.
54
00:02:23,099 --> 00:02:26,436
Everyone knows him.
55
00:02:26,436 --> 00:02:29,339
Which is why this story
is so unbelievable.
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00:02:29,339 --> 00:02:32,675
♪♪
57
00:02:32,675 --> 00:02:34,677
Yocum:
I live in Griffin, Georgia,
58
00:02:34,677 --> 00:02:37,280
and Georgia
is in the Bible Belt.
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00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,682
You can not go anywhere
without people saying,
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00:02:39,682 --> 00:02:44,120
"Have a blessed day,"
or "Bless this, bless that."
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00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,689
It's just the way it rolls
down here in the South.
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00:02:46,689 --> 00:02:49,559
Goldberg: For a new pastor
in search of a congregation,
63
00:02:49,559 --> 00:02:52,962
you couldn't do much better than
god-fearing Griffin, Georgia,
64
00:02:52,962 --> 00:02:56,666
so in 1998, Aubrey Lee Price
was blessed
65
00:02:56,666 --> 00:02:59,135
to make this town his home.
66
00:02:59,135 --> 00:03:00,904
Yocum: Well, of course,
when we first met Lee,
67
00:03:00,904 --> 00:03:02,672
he was new to the church.
68
00:03:02,672 --> 00:03:05,975
Lee was brought in
as our pastor.
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00:03:05,975 --> 00:03:08,411
He was very compassionate.
70
00:03:08,411 --> 00:03:11,147
He was youthful.
He was energetic.
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00:03:11,147 --> 00:03:13,082
He had a great
connection with God,
72
00:03:13,082 --> 00:03:17,187
which you have to have that,
and he was such a family man.
73
00:03:17,187 --> 00:03:19,422
He had a young family,
three children.
74
00:03:19,422 --> 00:03:21,157
And, of course,
I was the Sunday school teacher
75
00:03:21,157 --> 00:03:22,759
to his children.
76
00:03:22,759 --> 00:03:24,761
You know, I got to know him
pretty good through that.
77
00:03:24,761 --> 00:03:27,330
We'd get together for barbecues
and things like that,
78
00:03:27,330 --> 00:03:28,731
so we became friends.
79
00:03:28,731 --> 00:03:30,900
He had such a good heart.
80
00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:33,002
Mosley: At this point,
Aubrey Lee Price
81
00:03:33,002 --> 00:03:35,538
is deeply steeped
in the community.
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00:03:35,538 --> 00:03:37,574
People trust him
for praise and worship,
83
00:03:37,574 --> 00:03:40,443
but he's also someone
that people believe is smart --
84
00:03:40,443 --> 00:03:43,346
smart enough to deal
with their finances
85
00:03:43,346 --> 00:03:44,847
or give them advice
86
00:03:44,847 --> 00:03:49,285
or help them in more ways
than just being a pastor.
87
00:03:49,285 --> 00:03:51,421
Goldberg:
He's a dual service advisor,
88
00:03:51,421 --> 00:03:53,790
spiritual and financial,
89
00:03:53,790 --> 00:03:56,859
soul-saving and life savings.
90
00:03:56,859 --> 00:04:00,563
He had a way with taking
small amounts of money
91
00:04:00,563 --> 00:04:03,099
and building 'em up into
big amounts of money
92
00:04:03,099 --> 00:04:05,034
through his investments.
93
00:04:05,034 --> 00:04:07,870
Several of the people at church
had invested money in him,
94
00:04:07,870 --> 00:04:10,106
and they said, oh,
Lee was getting them
95
00:04:10,106 --> 00:04:12,775
way, way better
interest rates on stuff
96
00:04:12,775 --> 00:04:14,110
than what was going on
97
00:04:14,110 --> 00:04:16,946
in the regular
commercial banking world.
98
00:04:16,946 --> 00:04:18,615
And so I talked to Lee about it.
99
00:04:18,615 --> 00:04:23,219
I called him,
I notified him, and I said,
100
00:04:23,219 --> 00:04:26,089
"Lee, I've got some money,
and I need to invest it,
101
00:04:26,089 --> 00:04:29,592
and I'm afraid to invest it
with people I don't know."
102
00:04:29,592 --> 00:04:32,562
He said that he would do it.
103
00:04:32,562 --> 00:04:36,799
I wholeheartedly trusted him
because I'd known him so long,
104
00:04:36,799 --> 00:04:38,401
and he took my money
105
00:04:38,401 --> 00:04:42,171
and set up an account
that I could track online,
106
00:04:42,171 --> 00:04:44,107
and that's what happened.
107
00:04:44,107 --> 00:04:45,808
And I wasn't the only one.
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00:04:45,808 --> 00:04:48,411
There was his family members,
many friends,
109
00:04:48,411 --> 00:04:50,913
and many members
from the church.
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00:04:50,913 --> 00:04:55,418
And other people who just knew
Lee, they invested as well.
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00:04:55,418 --> 00:04:58,621
Goldberg: As testaments
of Lee's good fortune spread,
112
00:04:58,621 --> 00:05:02,025
it was not long before Lee
had hundreds of clients
113
00:05:02,025 --> 00:05:04,861
and a portfolio worth
millions of dollars,
114
00:05:04,861 --> 00:05:08,931
and he was highly favored
by some big fish.
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00:05:08,931 --> 00:05:12,535
Smith: In 2002, three years
before my retirement goal
116
00:05:12,535 --> 00:05:13,936
was gonna be reached,
117
00:05:13,936 --> 00:05:15,338
I met Lee Price.
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00:05:15,338 --> 00:05:16,839
I went into his office,
119
00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,542
and I found him to be
a very nice gentleman.
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00:05:19,542 --> 00:05:22,445
He was soft-spoken,
very clean-cut.
121
00:05:22,445 --> 00:05:22,712
He wasn't selling me anything.
122
00:05:22,712 --> 00:05:26,349
I told him what my goals were,
and we had a great conversation.
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00:05:26,349 --> 00:05:30,286
We talked about his involvement
with church, as a pastor.
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00:05:30,286 --> 00:05:32,622
We talked about
his wife's mission trips.
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00:05:32,622 --> 00:05:34,390
He just seemed like
he was a genuine,
126
00:05:34,390 --> 00:05:39,062
honest, open person
that was just a good guy.
127
00:05:39,062 --> 00:05:41,464
I was satisfied
with his openness,
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00:05:41,464 --> 00:05:43,800
and, uh,
over the next several years,
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00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,502
my wife and I had invested
a half a million dollars.
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00:05:46,502 --> 00:05:48,004
Goldberg:
As the money grew,
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00:05:48,004 --> 00:05:50,873
so did the complexity
of Lee's investments.
132
00:05:50,873 --> 00:05:53,643
He was soon brokering
multimillion-dollar deals
133
00:05:53,643 --> 00:05:57,046
on behalf of clients
all over the state of Georgia.
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00:05:59,015 --> 00:06:01,918
Cross: In the early 2000s,
135
00:06:01,918 --> 00:06:04,320
I was in real estate
for 15 years
136
00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:05,588
in and around Atlanta.
137
00:06:05,588 --> 00:06:07,023
Things were going so well
financially,
138
00:06:07,023 --> 00:06:08,658
I started a food truck.
139
00:06:08,658 --> 00:06:11,027
It was very successful.
140
00:06:11,027 --> 00:06:13,396
My wife and I would joke
that it was like,
141
00:06:13,396 --> 00:06:15,665
"Man, we are, like, printing
money here on this truck.
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00:06:15,665 --> 00:06:17,200
This is awesome."
143
00:06:18,334 --> 00:06:22,338
I actually met Lee
from my financial advisor.
144
00:06:22,338 --> 00:06:24,173
Lee got excited about stuff,
you know,
145
00:06:24,173 --> 00:06:26,008
and then I would be like,
"Okay, it sounds great.
146
00:06:26,008 --> 00:06:27,677
You know, wow,
this is exciting."
147
00:06:27,677 --> 00:06:32,415
Lee talked me into starting
with the IRA first
148
00:06:32,415 --> 00:06:35,852
and then moving the rest
of the money later.
149
00:06:35,852 --> 00:06:39,422
Initially, the money
that I invested did fine,
150
00:06:39,422 --> 00:06:42,358
and it all seemed very normal.
151
00:06:42,358 --> 00:06:45,928
Goldberg: True to form, Lee's
fancy financial moves pay off,
152
00:06:45,928 --> 00:06:48,564
and his investors' faith
is rewarded
153
00:06:48,564 --> 00:06:50,800
with some modest returns.
154
00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,636
We would have monthly
meetings online.
155
00:06:53,636 --> 00:06:56,639
You would literally see the
numbers bouncing up and down.
156
00:06:56,639 --> 00:06:59,909
I mean, it was like a meeting
with your financial advisor,
157
00:06:59,909 --> 00:07:01,077
with all the data.
158
00:07:01,077 --> 00:07:02,478
Yocum:
I didn't know anything
159
00:07:02,478 --> 00:07:04,280
about the investment world
or the money.
160
00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:07,150
I just trusted him
to be taking care of my money
161
00:07:07,150 --> 00:07:09,085
like he was doing
for everybody else.
162
00:07:09,085 --> 00:07:12,121
I mean, he was even handling his
own mother and father's money,
163
00:07:12,121 --> 00:07:16,893
so I had no reason to think
that anything would go wrong.
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00:07:16,893 --> 00:07:18,561
Goldberg:
For Lee and his investors,
165
00:07:18,561 --> 00:07:21,998
everything seemed to be going
according to God's plan.
166
00:07:21,998 --> 00:07:23,800
But in 2008...
We've got a problem now.
167
00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:25,835
...the gates of Hell opened,
168
00:07:25,835 --> 00:07:28,471
and the markets crashed
overnight.
169
00:07:28,471 --> 00:07:30,506
[ Thud echoes ]
170
00:07:30,506 --> 00:07:33,743
Reporter:
Lehman Brothers got caught
in this financial phenomenon.
171
00:07:33,743 --> 00:07:39,248
[ Reporters' voices
overlapping ]
172
00:07:39,248 --> 00:07:44,253
2008 was really turbulent,
you know, with finances,
173
00:07:44,253 --> 00:07:48,825
but somehow, the way that Lee
invested our money seemed sound.
174
00:07:48,825 --> 00:07:51,594
It seemed to be doing well,
175
00:07:51,594 --> 00:07:53,596
even in the light
of what was going on.
176
00:07:53,596 --> 00:07:56,299
It seemed that Lee knew
what he was doing.
177
00:07:56,299 --> 00:07:58,267
Smith: I watched the quarterly
statements grow every quarter,
178
00:07:58,267 --> 00:08:00,770
and I'm thinking,
"Well, this is pretty good."
179
00:08:00,770 --> 00:08:03,272
It's a little bit better than
what the Dow Jones is doing,
180
00:08:03,272 --> 00:08:05,107
which you would expect.
181
00:08:05,107 --> 00:08:07,677
And then it got a lot better.
182
00:08:07,677 --> 00:08:09,212
And then I'm looking
at these numbers --
183
00:08:09,212 --> 00:08:11,948
they don't look that real
anymore, you know?
184
00:08:11,948 --> 00:08:14,383
This is really growing fast.
185
00:08:14,383 --> 00:08:16,619
Yocum: Well, I have a friend
who was very big --
186
00:08:16,619 --> 00:08:19,188
She was a CPA, and she was
very big into investments,
187
00:08:19,188 --> 00:08:20,957
and she said,
188
00:08:20,957 --> 00:08:24,494
"I don't know how Lee is getting
you this kind of interest."
189
00:08:24,494 --> 00:08:27,530
So she said, "Can you put me
in contact with him?"
190
00:08:27,530 --> 00:08:28,998
And next thing I know,
191
00:08:28,998 --> 00:08:32,068
she was investing
some of her money with Lee.
192
00:08:32,068 --> 00:08:34,837
Goldberg: So far,
Lee has been a steady hand
193
00:08:34,837 --> 00:08:37,006
through some
rough financial waters,
194
00:08:37,006 --> 00:08:40,510
and his latest deal was about
to make waves of its own.
195
00:08:40,510 --> 00:08:43,212
Cross: I remember
a specific phone call
196
00:08:43,212 --> 00:08:45,982
that he was talking
about purchasing a bank.
197
00:08:45,982 --> 00:08:49,852
You know, I remember thinking
that was kind of a --
198
00:08:49,852 --> 00:08:52,388
kind of a weird thing
to invest in.
199
00:08:52,388 --> 00:08:56,025
As an average American,
I am stumped at --
200
00:08:56,025 --> 00:08:57,593
at the thought
of even buying a bank.
201
00:08:57,593 --> 00:08:59,662
How do you buy a bank?
202
00:08:59,662 --> 00:09:00,930
That just doesn't feel
like something
203
00:09:00,930 --> 00:09:02,265
that you can pick up,
like a shirt
204
00:09:02,265 --> 00:09:04,166
or a pair of sneakers
at the store.
205
00:09:04,166 --> 00:09:07,670
Like, "Hey, it's Tuesday. Let's
buy a financial institution."
206
00:09:07,670 --> 00:09:11,440
Every morning, I wake up and
watch the TV show on business.
207
00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,209
There's banks failing
right and left.
208
00:09:13,209 --> 00:09:15,011
A hundred failed last week,
209
00:09:15,011 --> 00:09:16,679
and a couple hundred
before that.
210
00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:17,680
I said, "Lee, you're crazy."
211
00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:20,016
Goldberg:
Come on. Buying a bank at
the height of a banking crisis?
212
00:09:20,016 --> 00:09:21,784
Even for a man of God,
that's quite a leap of faith.
213
00:09:21,784 --> 00:09:22,873
♪♪
214
00:09:36,185 --> 00:09:38,655
Goldberg:
In late December of 2010,
215
00:09:38,655 --> 00:09:41,993
pastor-turned-investor
Aubrey Lee Price
216
00:09:41,993 --> 00:09:45,130
doubled down
on his "Aw, shucks" persona
217
00:09:45,130 --> 00:09:48,166
and decided he was gonna
save a small town
218
00:09:48,166 --> 00:09:51,836
by rescuing their local bank.
219
00:09:51,836 --> 00:09:54,305
Cross: You know, I remember
thinking that was kind of a --
220
00:09:54,305 --> 00:09:58,042
kind of a weird thing
to invest in.
221
00:09:58,042 --> 00:09:59,344
It seemed like you should
invest in stocks and bonds
222
00:09:59,344 --> 00:10:01,346
or, you know, stuff like that.
223
00:10:01,346 --> 00:10:03,715
Goldberg: How small town
was the small-town bank?
224
00:10:03,715 --> 00:10:06,284
Take a look for yourself.
225
00:10:06,284 --> 00:10:08,153
The Montgomery Bank and Trust
226
00:10:08,153 --> 00:10:10,955
is on the corner
of Lee and Gum Street
227
00:10:10,955 --> 00:10:12,457
in Ailey, Georgia --
228
00:10:12,457 --> 00:10:17,162
population 423,
and that's during rush hour.
229
00:10:17,162 --> 00:10:20,398
Cross: I was concerned,
so I called Lee, and Lee said,
230
00:10:20,398 --> 00:10:23,201
this bank was about to close
231
00:10:23,201 --> 00:10:25,870
and meant everything
to this town,
232
00:10:25,870 --> 00:10:29,874
so by saving this bank,
we are gonna save jobs,
233
00:10:29,874 --> 00:10:33,178
and it's gonna be great
for the people of that town.
234
00:10:33,178 --> 00:10:34,546
It's gonna be great for us,
235
00:10:34,546 --> 00:10:37,715
and it was impossible
for this to fail.
236
00:10:39,551 --> 00:10:42,487
Lee's judgment and his advice
237
00:10:42,487 --> 00:10:44,989
always created
a lot of wealth for the fund,
238
00:10:44,989 --> 00:10:46,491
but nobody thought the next step
239
00:10:46,491 --> 00:10:50,762
would be a failing bank
in Central Georgia.
240
00:10:50,762 --> 00:10:52,197
But he was bound and determined,
241
00:10:52,197 --> 00:10:54,332
out of probably arrogance
and pride,
242
00:10:54,332 --> 00:10:56,100
that he was gonna
make this work.
243
00:10:58,069 --> 00:11:00,772
Hofland: Lee really enjoyed
doing this kind of work.
244
00:11:00,772 --> 00:11:06,611
He was really excited about
finding ways to make money.
245
00:11:06,611 --> 00:11:10,748
And he really thought
that he could fix this bank.
246
00:11:10,748 --> 00:11:13,284
So he takes $11 million
of money
247
00:11:13,284 --> 00:11:17,255
that has come from investors
in the community and all around,
248
00:11:17,255 --> 00:11:20,124
and this man purchased a bank.
249
00:11:20,124 --> 00:11:21,626
Hofland: Lee was really excited
250
00:11:21,626 --> 00:11:24,128
about all the possibilities
with this bank,
251
00:11:24,128 --> 00:11:26,898
but once he signed
on the dotted line,
252
00:11:26,898 --> 00:11:29,601
he saw that there were so many
problems with this bank --
253
00:11:29,601 --> 00:11:31,703
that it was bleeding money.
254
00:11:31,703 --> 00:11:34,305
It would be like buying a boat
255
00:11:34,305 --> 00:11:36,608
knowing that there were
a few little holes in the boat,
256
00:11:36,608 --> 00:11:38,977
but once they pulled the boat
out of the water,
257
00:11:38,977 --> 00:11:42,714
realizing that it didn't just
have one or two holes in it,
258
00:11:42,714 --> 00:11:45,650
but it had hundreds of holes
in the bottom of the boat.
259
00:11:45,650 --> 00:11:48,253
Aubrey Lee Price put himself
in an overwhelming position.
260
00:11:48,253 --> 00:11:49,887
He had taken people's money,
261
00:11:49,887 --> 00:11:54,092
but this bank that he purchased
was losing money.
262
00:11:54,092 --> 00:11:56,928
So Aubrey Lee Price decided
to take the funds
263
00:11:56,928 --> 00:11:58,796
right from the bank
264
00:11:58,796 --> 00:12:02,433
and essentially gamble it on
the stock market by day trading,
265
00:12:02,433 --> 00:12:05,403
hoping that that would
bring in some more income.
266
00:12:05,403 --> 00:12:07,405
Goldberg: Hold up,
I'm having a premonition,
267
00:12:07,405 --> 00:12:09,641
'cause I can see
where this is going.
268
00:12:09,641 --> 00:12:13,645
Unfortunately, it did not.
269
00:12:13,645 --> 00:12:15,980
Hofland: He just was not
thinking clearly.
270
00:12:15,980 --> 00:12:18,483
Lee Price keeps
losing more money,
271
00:12:18,483 --> 00:12:20,852
so he throws good money
after bad money,
272
00:12:20,852 --> 00:12:23,087
and it just keeps happening.
273
00:12:23,087 --> 00:12:24,956
And then on the other side,
he's being told,
274
00:12:24,956 --> 00:12:27,191
"Hey, these other loans
that are out
275
00:12:27,191 --> 00:12:30,495
that the bank didn't pay
before,
276
00:12:30,495 --> 00:12:32,764
you gotta pay back
those loans."
277
00:12:32,764 --> 00:12:36,000
He just was spiraling
out of control
278
00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,503
and further and further
down into an abyss.
279
00:12:40,104 --> 00:12:41,539
Goldberg:
With the bank sinking
280
00:12:41,539 --> 00:12:44,375
and dragging his investors' fund
down with it,
281
00:12:44,375 --> 00:12:46,344
Lee began a frantic shell game
282
00:12:46,344 --> 00:12:48,379
to create the illusion
that all was well.
283
00:12:48,379 --> 00:12:51,215
He was moving money around
like it was going on tour
284
00:12:51,215 --> 00:12:54,519
with the band from the Titanic.
285
00:12:54,519 --> 00:12:57,121
Essentially,
Aubrey Lee Price was a chef.
286
00:12:57,121 --> 00:12:58,990
He was cooking the books.
287
00:12:58,990 --> 00:13:00,958
He was stirring the numbers.
288
00:13:00,958 --> 00:13:03,027
He was frying the figures.
289
00:13:03,027 --> 00:13:07,532
Nothing that he was sharing
with people was actually true.
290
00:13:07,532 --> 00:13:09,467
Cross: There was
this one statement that,
291
00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:12,070
you know,
had a pretty significant drop,
292
00:13:12,070 --> 00:13:15,640
and Lee said,
"Don't worry if I --
293
00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,709
you know, if I can't make
this up for you in the next --
294
00:13:17,709 --> 00:13:19,510
you know, by the next statement,
I will make you whole.
295
00:13:19,510 --> 00:13:22,647
I'll personally put that money
back in your account
296
00:13:22,647 --> 00:13:23,815
and make you whole."
297
00:13:25,316 --> 00:13:28,319
So that was, you know,
the first moment of,
298
00:13:28,319 --> 00:13:31,656
[Hisses] yeah, that --
that doesn't sound right.
299
00:13:31,656 --> 00:13:35,159
I was wanting to withdraw just
a short amount of money,
300
00:13:35,159 --> 00:13:37,929
and he was very tense-sounding.
301
00:13:37,929 --> 00:13:39,364
I could sense right away
302
00:13:39,364 --> 00:13:41,332
that there was something
not right with Lee
303
00:13:41,332 --> 00:13:42,667
because it just came through
the phone in his voice.
304
00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:46,270
I could tell he was really
having a hard time.
305
00:13:46,270 --> 00:13:49,073
Mosley: Lee has convinced all
these people to invest with him.
306
00:13:49,073 --> 00:13:51,743
People's finances are heavily
tied into this --
307
00:13:51,743 --> 00:13:56,514
their life savings,
kids' college funds --
308
00:13:56,514 --> 00:13:59,550
and he just up and vanishes.
309
00:14:01,686 --> 00:14:03,588
Smith: Monday morning
at a quarter to 8:00,
310
00:14:03,588 --> 00:14:05,523
my phone rings -- unusual.
311
00:14:05,523 --> 00:14:07,725
It's Lee's assistant.
He said, "Have you heard?"
312
00:14:07,725 --> 00:14:09,527
I said, "What are you
talking about?"
313
00:14:09,527 --> 00:14:11,028
"Have you heard about Lee?"
314
00:14:11,028 --> 00:14:12,597
I said, "No, what about Lee?"
315
00:14:12,597 --> 00:14:14,198
"He's missing."
316
00:14:14,198 --> 00:14:17,235
I said, "What do you mean,
he's missing?"
317
00:14:17,235 --> 00:14:20,705
Cross:
And it was like, "Wait, what?"
318
00:14:20,705 --> 00:14:22,907
We sent an e-mail, no response,
319
00:14:22,907 --> 00:14:24,609
then got on the website,
320
00:14:24,609 --> 00:14:26,043
and the website
was all different.
321
00:14:26,043 --> 00:14:28,913
Everybody's picture
had been taken down,
322
00:14:28,913 --> 00:14:31,783
and it just looked really odd.
323
00:14:31,783 --> 00:14:35,386
And I called the number,
and this guy answered the phone,
324
00:14:35,386 --> 00:14:38,222
and I asked to speak
to Lee Price,
325
00:14:38,222 --> 00:14:41,225
and he said,
"Lee Price doesn't work here.
326
00:14:41,225 --> 00:14:43,060
He sold this business.
327
00:14:43,060 --> 00:14:45,263
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
328
00:14:45,263 --> 00:14:48,433
Lee is missing?"
329
00:14:48,433 --> 00:14:50,067
"Yes, we don't know
where he is."
330
00:14:50,067 --> 00:14:51,269
I mean, I knew
in my heart of hearts
331
00:14:51,269 --> 00:14:53,337
that this was --
that it was gone.
332
00:14:53,337 --> 00:14:56,140
The money was gone.
333
00:14:56,140 --> 00:14:58,776
♪♪
334
00:15:08,366 --> 00:15:11,669
Goldberg: Baptist pastor
turned banker Lee Price
335
00:15:11,669 --> 00:15:16,874
exploited his infallible image
to buy a small, failing bank.
336
00:15:16,874 --> 00:15:20,511
Now, faithful investors
are praying for a miracle
337
00:15:20,511 --> 00:15:25,349
because Price and their money
have disappeared.
338
00:15:25,349 --> 00:15:28,386
"We have heard that
there has been an incident
339
00:15:28,386 --> 00:15:31,022
with Lee Price."
340
00:15:31,022 --> 00:15:32,590
Well, there was
an incident, all right --
341
00:15:32,590 --> 00:15:36,194
I all of a sudden
had no money.
342
00:15:36,194 --> 00:15:38,029
Cross:
We were talking with the SEC,
343
00:15:38,029 --> 00:15:40,131
we were talking to the feds,
344
00:15:40,131 --> 00:15:42,867
trying to get
into the accounts.
345
00:15:42,867 --> 00:15:46,204
So, after making some calls,
346
00:15:46,204 --> 00:15:48,539
they said it appears
as if it's all gone.
347
00:15:48,539 --> 00:15:51,275
And I found out
that I lost everything,
348
00:15:51,275 --> 00:15:56,247
and...I literally
fell to my knees,
349
00:15:56,247 --> 00:15:58,916
just screaming, "No, no, no!"
350
00:15:58,916 --> 00:16:02,820
Everything's -- boom --
gone overnight.
351
00:16:02,820 --> 00:16:06,457
You just don't have any --
any way to survive.
352
00:16:06,457 --> 00:16:08,292
That was a very difficult time.
353
00:16:08,292 --> 00:16:10,495
It was a hard time.
354
00:16:10,495 --> 00:16:12,463
A very hard time.
355
00:16:12,463 --> 00:16:16,334
Um...yeah.
356
00:16:16,334 --> 00:16:19,771
I was sat there in my den,
and my wife kept asking me,
357
00:16:19,771 --> 00:16:21,506
"Well, what's wrong?"
358
00:16:21,506 --> 00:16:23,241
I couldn't talk.
359
00:16:23,241 --> 00:16:24,909
Goes back to what
my mother says --
360
00:16:24,909 --> 00:16:27,578
"Don't cry over spilled milk."
361
00:16:27,578 --> 00:16:30,414
But what Mama didn't know --
that was a lot of milk.
362
00:16:32,150 --> 00:16:36,754
Goldberg:
What do you do when you lose
$500,000 to your pastor?
363
00:16:36,754 --> 00:16:38,990
[ Scoffs ] Hire a lawyer.
364
00:16:38,990 --> 00:16:40,958
My name is John Chapman.
365
00:16:40,958 --> 00:16:43,828
My colleagues and I had
the honor of representing
366
00:16:43,828 --> 00:16:47,932
a number of Aubrey Lee Price's
victims.
367
00:16:47,932 --> 00:16:52,804
I heard stories of Mr. Price
visiting people
368
00:16:52,804 --> 00:16:56,440
and, before asking them
to sign any papers,
369
00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,710
he would say,
"Let's pray on this."
370
00:16:59,710 --> 00:17:02,146
He thoroughly understood
371
00:17:02,146 --> 00:17:05,483
the value
of the Christian affinity
372
00:17:05,483 --> 00:17:08,853
that he had
with so many investors,
373
00:17:08,853 --> 00:17:11,689
and that's how
they became victims
374
00:17:11,689 --> 00:17:14,859
of his Price Financial Group
Ponzi scheme.
375
00:17:14,859 --> 00:17:17,028
Goldberg: Ponzi scheme?
What's that?
376
00:17:17,028 --> 00:17:20,298
Charles Ponzi
is one of the pillars
377
00:17:20,298 --> 00:17:21,699
of the scam community.
378
00:17:21,699 --> 00:17:24,468
If we had a Mount Rushmore
for cons,
379
00:17:24,468 --> 00:17:26,671
his face would be on it.
380
00:17:26,671 --> 00:17:28,239
Basically,
what a Ponzi scheme is,
381
00:17:28,239 --> 00:17:31,209
is you get people
to invest money,
382
00:17:31,209 --> 00:17:35,746
and instead of investing that
money and creating real returns,
383
00:17:35,746 --> 00:17:38,983
you just continue
to collect more people.
384
00:17:38,983 --> 00:17:41,552
So in actuality,
there is no money being made.
385
00:17:41,552 --> 00:17:44,989
The pot only gets bigger
by getting more people involved,
386
00:17:44,989 --> 00:17:47,425
and if too many people
want their money at once
387
00:17:47,425 --> 00:17:52,063
and you don't have the money,
you can't pay them.
388
00:17:52,063 --> 00:17:54,031
At this point, all hope is lost.
389
00:17:54,031 --> 00:17:56,367
You take the money
and then you disappear.
390
00:17:56,367 --> 00:17:57,668
Now to the incredible story
391
00:17:57,668 --> 00:17:59,203
of a Georgia pastor
and banker...
392
00:17:59,203 --> 00:18:01,005
Leaving behind
a trail of victims
393
00:18:01,005 --> 00:18:03,107
from whom he stole millions.
394
00:18:03,107 --> 00:18:05,209
Investigators have been
searching the world for this man
395
00:18:05,209 --> 00:18:07,411
and thought
he might be sailing the seas.
396
00:18:07,411 --> 00:18:10,014
Goldberg: The only place
to see Lee Price these days
397
00:18:10,014 --> 00:18:11,382
is on the news.
398
00:18:11,382 --> 00:18:14,685
Even his family
has no idea where he is.
399
00:18:17,788 --> 00:18:19,557
Chapman:
The town was abuzz.
400
00:18:19,557 --> 00:18:22,293
It was the lead story
on every news station,
401
00:18:22,293 --> 00:18:26,097
that this banker
had gone fugitive.
402
00:18:26,097 --> 00:18:31,068
That obviously threw panic
into the investors,
403
00:18:31,068 --> 00:18:34,972
and no one had any idea
just what had happened
404
00:18:34,972 --> 00:18:37,742
and just where he had gone.
405
00:18:37,742 --> 00:18:39,110
Smith: Lee escapes.
406
00:18:39,110 --> 00:18:40,611
He's hiding out.
407
00:18:40,611 --> 00:18:42,446
In fact,
I'm writing letters to the FBI,
408
00:18:42,446 --> 00:18:44,582
saying,
"You need to check South America
409
00:18:44,582 --> 00:18:47,485
'cause he bragged
a lot about that."
410
00:18:47,485 --> 00:18:50,621
Cross: I remember him saying
he goes to Venezuela a lot
411
00:18:50,621 --> 00:18:54,091
and that I should come with him
sometime to Venezuela.
412
00:18:54,091 --> 00:18:57,228
♪♪
413
00:18:57,228 --> 00:18:58,663
He even knew
the mayor of Belize.
414
00:18:58,663 --> 00:19:00,498
I said, "Okay,
go to the mayor's house.
415
00:19:00,498 --> 00:19:02,600
I can tell you exactly
where it is -- I've been there."
416
00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:04,001
Nobody could find him.
417
00:19:04,001 --> 00:19:05,903
It's not everybody
has their pastor
418
00:19:05,903 --> 00:19:08,239
on the FBI's Most Wanted list.
419
00:19:08,239 --> 00:19:09,640
Mine was.
420
00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,676
At this point,
with no information,
421
00:19:11,676 --> 00:19:13,477
the rumor mill is brewing,
422
00:19:13,477 --> 00:19:15,279
and this is a small town,
423
00:19:15,279 --> 00:19:17,982
so the girls are on
their porches sipping tea,
424
00:19:17,982 --> 00:19:22,453
just pontificating at length
on where is Aubrey Lee Price?
425
00:19:22,453 --> 00:19:24,755
Goldberg: The shepherd
has abandoned his flock
426
00:19:24,755 --> 00:19:27,158
and is now on the lam.
427
00:19:27,158 --> 00:19:30,094
But for Price's parishioners
and investors,
428
00:19:30,094 --> 00:19:33,531
his actions have carried
a very heavy toll.
429
00:19:33,531 --> 00:19:35,032
I needed to make
my house payment.
430
00:19:35,032 --> 00:19:36,767
Well, I fell a month behind.
431
00:19:36,767 --> 00:19:38,469
Then month number two came.
432
00:19:38,469 --> 00:19:40,171
It was one thing after another,
and next thing I knew,
433
00:19:40,171 --> 00:19:43,274
I was having to just get
all my stuff out of the house
434
00:19:43,274 --> 00:19:45,643
and I was living in my car.
435
00:19:45,643 --> 00:19:49,380
I lost everything.
I mean, I lost every penny.
436
00:19:49,380 --> 00:19:51,482
Smith:
He turned his back on people
437
00:19:51,482 --> 00:19:54,719
that knew him
through the church,
438
00:19:54,719 --> 00:19:58,889
his family,
his parents, his friends --
439
00:19:58,889 --> 00:20:04,462
taken away everything that they
earned, crushing their dreams.
440
00:20:04,462 --> 00:20:08,966
His reaction, it seemed to be
cold as a cucumber.
441
00:20:08,966 --> 00:20:10,868
He's got to have a conscience.
442
00:20:10,868 --> 00:20:11,902
Goldberg: But wait.
443
00:20:11,902 --> 00:20:14,705
Lee Price suddenly reappears
444
00:20:14,705 --> 00:20:17,708
and is spotted on camera
in Key West, Florida.
445
00:20:17,708 --> 00:20:20,211
He's made his way past
all the puka shells
446
00:20:20,211 --> 00:20:23,581
and the Bermuda shorts
to board a ferry boat,
447
00:20:23,581 --> 00:20:26,550
carrying a duffel bag
and a heavy burden.
448
00:20:26,550 --> 00:20:30,721
Yocum: They said they had video
of him on this barge.
449
00:20:32,890 --> 00:20:34,392
Mosley: Then they make
another discovery --
450
00:20:34,392 --> 00:20:38,396
Aubrey Lee Price's
suicide letter,
451
00:20:38,396 --> 00:20:41,766
which I would call a book
because it is very long.
452
00:20:41,766 --> 00:20:44,835
And in it, he explains
everything that happens.
453
00:20:44,835 --> 00:20:48,072
He admits to running
a Ponzi scheme,
454
00:20:48,072 --> 00:20:51,042
to stealing people's money
and going on the lam,
455
00:20:51,042 --> 00:20:52,910
and all of a sudden,
people have these answers
456
00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:54,678
that they have been looking for.
457
00:20:54,678 --> 00:20:59,383
Goldberg: His 22-page rambling
missive is full of regret,
458
00:20:59,383 --> 00:21:03,087
where he admits blame
for losing the investors' money,
459
00:21:03,087 --> 00:21:06,791
as well as the failure of
the Montgomery Bank and Trust.
460
00:21:06,791 --> 00:21:08,926
Lee is becoming volatile.
461
00:21:08,926 --> 00:21:11,262
He's not had
contact with his family.
462
00:21:11,262 --> 00:21:14,398
People did not recognize
what Lee had turned into.
463
00:21:32,316 --> 00:21:34,618
Mosley: Aubrey Lee Price
got onto this ferry,
464
00:21:34,618 --> 00:21:38,589
and he wrote that he had taken
diving weights with him.
465
00:21:38,589 --> 00:21:40,958
He was planning
to commit suicide.
466
00:21:40,958 --> 00:21:44,128
♪♪
467
00:21:44,128 --> 00:21:46,730
Goldberg: It seems Lee was not
ready to face judgment
468
00:21:46,730 --> 00:21:48,132
here on Earth.
469
00:21:48,132 --> 00:21:51,135
Yocum: I thought of his children
and his wife
470
00:21:51,135 --> 00:21:53,804
and how terrible
that was for them.
471
00:21:53,804 --> 00:21:58,075
I just did not feel that ease
in my mind,
472
00:21:58,075 --> 00:22:01,011
like, "Okay,
this is the end of the story."
473
00:22:01,011 --> 00:22:12,890
♪♪
474
00:22:18,041 --> 00:22:20,944
Goldberg: As authorities look
for him across the globe,
475
00:22:20,944 --> 00:22:23,279
the pastor-turned-fugitive
Aubrey Lee Price
476
00:22:23,279 --> 00:22:25,281
has left a confession letter,
477
00:22:25,281 --> 00:22:29,352
admitting his sins
and his plan to end his life
478
00:22:29,352 --> 00:22:31,888
off the edge
of a Florida ferry boat.
479
00:22:31,888 --> 00:22:34,391
♪♪
480
00:22:34,391 --> 00:22:37,694
But now, the courts appoint
a steady hand
481
00:22:37,694 --> 00:22:43,166
to recoup the money
for the swindled investors.
482
00:22:43,166 --> 00:22:45,402
Damian: The Securities
and Exchange Commission
483
00:22:45,402 --> 00:22:47,070
asked the Judge to appoint me
484
00:22:47,070 --> 00:22:49,339
as receiver
in the Aubrey Price case.
485
00:22:49,339 --> 00:22:50,674
In this situation,
486
00:22:50,674 --> 00:22:52,809
because it was an obvious
Ponzi scheme,
487
00:22:52,809 --> 00:22:54,744
I was asked
to liquidate the assets
488
00:22:54,744 --> 00:22:57,647
and then find an equitable way
to distribute the assets
489
00:22:57,647 --> 00:22:59,249
to the defrauded investors.
490
00:22:59,249 --> 00:23:00,884
It was still very difficult
491
00:23:00,884 --> 00:23:03,386
for them to believe
that this had happened,
492
00:23:03,386 --> 00:23:04,821
that it was real.
493
00:23:04,821 --> 00:23:06,256
Goldberg:
Now, Melanie and her team
494
00:23:06,256 --> 00:23:08,091
call a meeting at the church
495
00:23:08,091 --> 00:23:10,593
to give details
to the scammed investors,
496
00:23:10,593 --> 00:23:13,763
and it is not the good news
they had hoped for.
497
00:23:13,763 --> 00:23:16,266
Damian: The room was full
and they had a lot of questions.
498
00:23:16,266 --> 00:23:17,901
From a big-picture perspective,
499
00:23:17,901 --> 00:23:20,570
most people thought
that they still had the funds
500
00:23:20,570 --> 00:23:22,172
that they had invested.
501
00:23:22,172 --> 00:23:23,606
And we explained, you know,
502
00:23:23,606 --> 00:23:25,608
sort of what we knew
at the moment.
503
00:23:25,608 --> 00:23:28,678
There wasn't much assets
left at the time.
504
00:23:28,678 --> 00:23:30,447
We were able to obtain
the records
505
00:23:30,447 --> 00:23:33,883
that $40 million had been
invested into this Ponzi scheme
506
00:23:33,883 --> 00:23:37,387
and the bank accounts
only had $350,000.
507
00:23:37,387 --> 00:23:40,223
Goldberg: Wait, wait. Hold up.
How much did this man lose?
508
00:23:40,223 --> 00:23:42,759
$40 million was stolen,
509
00:23:42,759 --> 00:23:47,797
and there's only
$350,000 left behind.
510
00:23:49,032 --> 00:23:50,734
That's not a lot.
511
00:23:50,734 --> 00:23:54,204
And one of the things
that was so upsetting to me,
512
00:23:54,204 --> 00:23:58,074
there was an older woman,
late 70s, early 80s,
513
00:23:58,074 --> 00:23:59,642
and she kept saying,
514
00:23:59,642 --> 00:24:04,214
"Well, what about
my monthly check that I get?"
515
00:24:04,214 --> 00:24:06,049
And she was like,
"Well, no, that's --
516
00:24:06,049 --> 00:24:07,250
You're not gonna be
getting that anymore."
517
00:24:07,250 --> 00:24:08,752
She was like, "Well, okay,
518
00:24:08,752 --> 00:24:11,888
but what about
the monthly check?"
519
00:24:11,888 --> 00:24:16,159
You know, certainly,
half of my life is over,
520
00:24:16,159 --> 00:24:17,927
but here's somebody --
like, how are they --
521
00:24:17,927 --> 00:24:19,929
I can go back to work.
522
00:24:19,929 --> 00:24:23,399
It's like, how are they gonna
get through this?
523
00:24:24,734 --> 00:24:26,936
Yocum: It's pretty hard
to get a job when you're my age.
524
00:24:26,936 --> 00:24:29,339
They don't -- they think,
"Oh, you're on your way out,"
525
00:24:29,339 --> 00:24:32,976
so they're not too confident
in hiring you.
526
00:24:32,976 --> 00:24:35,512
I ended up working
at a grocery store.
527
00:24:35,512 --> 00:24:38,581
I just am a shelf-straightener.
528
00:24:38,581 --> 00:24:42,185
No big thing, but at my age,
it's okay, it's fine.
529
00:24:42,185 --> 00:24:45,321
♪♪
530
00:24:45,321 --> 00:24:47,757
Damian: We, at that moment,
couldn't promise really much
531
00:24:47,757 --> 00:24:49,692
in terms of what we would be
able to return
532
00:24:49,692 --> 00:24:51,294
for the investors.
533
00:24:51,294 --> 00:24:54,664
All the cash we had was $350,000
when we started,
534
00:24:54,664 --> 00:24:57,934
and so we knew this was gonna be
a difficult case
535
00:24:57,934 --> 00:25:00,637
to be able to get money
back to investors.
536
00:25:00,637 --> 00:25:03,339
Goldberg: Using the 22-page
confession letter,
537
00:25:03,339 --> 00:25:06,009
Melanie begins
tracking down assets
538
00:25:06,009 --> 00:25:07,710
that belonged to Lee Price
539
00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:11,948
that could be liquidated
to repay the conned backers.
540
00:25:11,948 --> 00:25:13,483
Damian: Some of the assets
were easy to recover,
541
00:25:13,483 --> 00:25:15,652
but then everything else
was sort of illiquid --
542
00:25:15,652 --> 00:25:18,454
real estate,
two life insurance polices.
543
00:25:18,454 --> 00:25:20,023
There were farms in Venezuela
544
00:25:20,023 --> 00:25:23,159
where he had invested
a couple million dollars.
545
00:25:23,159 --> 00:25:25,161
We really wanted to recover
those funds
546
00:25:25,161 --> 00:25:28,331
on behalf of the investors,
so we reached out
547
00:25:28,331 --> 00:25:30,166
to an American missionary
548
00:25:30,166 --> 00:25:32,569
that was down there
managing one of the farms
549
00:25:32,569 --> 00:25:34,204
and made a plan.
550
00:25:34,204 --> 00:25:38,208
♪♪
551
00:25:38,208 --> 00:25:41,544
We went into the country
to go and see the farms,
552
00:25:41,544 --> 00:25:43,346
figure out
what the situation was,
553
00:25:43,346 --> 00:25:46,482
and see if there was gonna be
any way for us to liquidate,
554
00:25:46,482 --> 00:25:48,184
or if we should abandon
the asset,
555
00:25:48,184 --> 00:25:49,853
and we actually came up
556
00:25:49,853 --> 00:25:52,856
with some really creative ways
to sustain the farms.
557
00:25:52,856 --> 00:25:54,357
It took about two years,
558
00:25:54,357 --> 00:25:57,927
but we were able to sell
our interest in the farms
559
00:25:57,927 --> 00:26:01,898
to a Venezuelan conglomerate
that paid us in dollars.
560
00:26:01,898 --> 00:26:03,933
Eventually, we got, I think,
561
00:26:03,933 --> 00:26:06,669
about $1.7 million
out of Venezuela,
562
00:26:06,669 --> 00:26:10,907
which wasn't bad
for the situation.
563
00:26:10,907 --> 00:26:13,509
We got a small portion check --
564
00:26:13,509 --> 00:26:17,180
a very small portion check
of that.
565
00:26:17,180 --> 00:26:19,015
A lot of those people, with
the praise they put on money,
566
00:26:19,015 --> 00:26:21,885
it just angered them to think
that they'd lost it.
567
00:26:21,885 --> 00:26:25,221
Goldberg: These victims are left
without money and answers,
568
00:26:25,221 --> 00:26:27,357
but none of them
could have guessed
569
00:26:27,357 --> 00:26:31,694
that the intricate tapestry
of lies, manipulation, and fraud
570
00:26:31,694 --> 00:26:33,897
that shrouded this community
571
00:26:33,897 --> 00:26:40,870
would be unraveled
by a routine traffic stop.
572
00:26:44,974 --> 00:26:47,644
Goldberg: Nearly 18 months
after Aubrey Lee Price
573
00:26:47,644 --> 00:26:49,279
seemingly drowned
off the coast of Florida,
574
00:26:49,279 --> 00:26:53,116
proper justice continued
to elude Price's victims.
575
00:26:53,116 --> 00:26:56,653
But on December 31, 2013,
576
00:26:56,653 --> 00:27:00,790
it appeared that larger forces
were at work.
577
00:27:00,790 --> 00:27:02,892
Juliano:
My name is Justin Juliano,
and I'm a Major
578
00:27:02,892 --> 00:27:05,161
at the Glynn County
Sheriff's Office.
579
00:27:05,161 --> 00:27:07,797
At the Sheriff's Office,
we're a unique department.
580
00:27:07,797 --> 00:27:09,265
We do have a traffic team
581
00:27:09,265 --> 00:27:11,301
that goes out
and works on the interstate.
582
00:27:11,301 --> 00:27:13,002
A typical day
on the traffic team,
583
00:27:13,002 --> 00:27:15,305
I would go out 7:00
or 8:00 in the morning
584
00:27:15,305 --> 00:27:16,906
and start working on 95,
585
00:27:16,906 --> 00:27:20,743
enforcing speeding laws
and traffic violations.
586
00:27:23,446 --> 00:27:25,481
It was December 31, 2013.
587
00:27:25,481 --> 00:27:27,684
It was New Year's Eve,
about 10:00 a. m.,
588
00:27:27,684 --> 00:27:30,286
and we were traveling
northbound on Interstate 95
589
00:27:30,286 --> 00:27:32,188
at about the 40-mile marker,
590
00:27:32,188 --> 00:27:35,124
and we were looking
for criminal activity.
591
00:27:35,124 --> 00:27:36,859
I was in the fast lane.
592
00:27:36,859 --> 00:27:40,697
I observed
a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
593
00:27:40,697 --> 00:27:42,465
I noticed that he was
slowing down,
594
00:27:42,465 --> 00:27:45,001
close to
the 50 mile an hour range.
595
00:27:45,001 --> 00:27:48,371
On 95, no one drives
less than 70.
596
00:27:48,371 --> 00:27:51,674
His license plate was expired
and his windshield was cracked,
597
00:27:51,674 --> 00:27:53,977
so we decided to make
a traffic stop.
598
00:27:53,977 --> 00:28:01,451
♪♪
599
00:28:01,451 --> 00:28:03,686
So when I identified myself
and told him why I stopped him,
600
00:28:03,686 --> 00:28:05,621
the driver was very nervous.
601
00:28:12,862 --> 00:28:15,798
He told me that he was coming
from Ocala, Florida,
602
00:28:15,798 --> 00:28:17,967
where he had been visiting
some family.
603
00:28:22,305 --> 00:28:25,074
He had his license
in his right hand,
604
00:28:25,074 --> 00:28:28,978
and he started fumbling through
his wallet with his left hand.
605
00:28:28,978 --> 00:28:30,880
And I allowed him to do that
for a few seconds,
606
00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:32,548
and then I said,
"Your license,
607
00:28:32,548 --> 00:28:34,183
the one in your right hand,
that's the one I want."
608
00:28:37,987 --> 00:28:39,756
He was very fidgety
with his hands,
609
00:28:39,756 --> 00:28:41,424
kept putting them
in his pockets.
610
00:28:41,424 --> 00:28:43,192
I kept asking him to take
his hands out of his pockets.
611
00:28:43,192 --> 00:28:45,395
This probably happened
four to five times.
612
00:28:45,395 --> 00:28:48,264
You seem extremely nervous.
613
00:28:58,641 --> 00:29:01,244
I asked him if he had anything
illegal on his person
614
00:29:01,244 --> 00:29:02,645
or in his vehicle,
which he told me he didn't,
615
00:29:02,645 --> 00:29:04,414
and I asked him
if I could have consent
616
00:29:04,414 --> 00:29:06,416
to search him and his vehicle,
which he verbally gave me.
617
00:29:09,619 --> 00:29:12,989
As I went into his pockets,
he had some debit cards,
618
00:29:12,989 --> 00:29:15,458
and the debit cards
had a name on 'em
619
00:29:15,458 --> 00:29:18,795
that did not come back to the ID
he had originally given me.
620
00:29:18,795 --> 00:29:20,763
And while going through
those cards,
621
00:29:20,763 --> 00:29:26,002
I found another driver's license
that had a picture of the driver
622
00:29:26,002 --> 00:29:27,336
and a different name
623
00:29:27,336 --> 00:29:29,439
than the original ID
he had given me.
624
00:29:44,787 --> 00:29:46,389
He gave me consent
to search the vehicle,
625
00:29:46,389 --> 00:29:50,359
and I started searching
the interior of the truck.
626
00:29:50,359 --> 00:29:53,463
There was a laptop
in the backseat of the truck,
627
00:29:53,463 --> 00:29:55,698
and because I couldn't
identify him
628
00:29:55,698 --> 00:29:57,900
with his pieces
of identification,
629
00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:00,570
I asked him if he would allow me
to look into his laptop.
630
00:30:00,570 --> 00:30:02,371
He opened his laptop,
put the password in,
631
00:30:02,371 --> 00:30:04,540
and let me look into it.
632
00:30:04,540 --> 00:30:07,210
I noticed a file
on his desktop screen,
633
00:30:07,210 --> 00:30:08,845
and I clicked on it,
634
00:30:08,845 --> 00:30:11,214
and it happened to be
a marijuana grow operation.
635
00:30:16,252 --> 00:30:20,356
There were photographs of plants
that were being grown.
636
00:30:20,356 --> 00:30:22,758
There was a spreadsheet
on how much money
637
00:30:22,758 --> 00:30:25,995
he had spent on lights
and filtration systems.
638
00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:32,368
I looked at him
and I told him, like,
639
00:30:32,368 --> 00:30:33,903
"I know what marijuana
looks like.
640
00:30:33,903 --> 00:30:36,072
I've been doing this
quite a while."
641
00:30:37,373 --> 00:30:39,075
Whoo, whoo.
642
00:30:45,348 --> 00:30:48,451
We made the decision to place
the driver under arrest
643
00:30:48,451 --> 00:30:50,553
for giving a false name
and date of birth.
644
00:30:50,553 --> 00:30:53,456
After we made the arrest,
he did make a comment
645
00:30:53,456 --> 00:30:56,025
that he was happy
to be done running,
646
00:30:56,025 --> 00:30:58,528
and he asked me if I wanted
to really know who he was,
647
00:30:58,528 --> 00:31:00,696
and I said "Yes,
I want to know who you are."
648
00:31:00,696 --> 00:31:03,266
And he goes, "I'm one of the
most wanted men in America --
649
00:31:03,266 --> 00:31:04,634
Aubrey Lee Price."
650
00:31:04,634 --> 00:31:06,302
Goldberg: [ Laughs ]
Holy resurrection.
651
00:31:06,302 --> 00:31:09,639
The preacher is alive
and growing marijuana. What?!
652
00:31:09,639 --> 00:31:11,707
Juliano:
I wasn't that excited about it.
653
00:31:11,707 --> 00:31:13,643
I didn't know
who Aubrey Lee Price was.
654
00:31:13,643 --> 00:31:15,077
I think I even told him
655
00:31:15,077 --> 00:31:17,914
I'd have rather him been
10 kilos of cocaine
656
00:31:17,914 --> 00:31:20,249
and, uh, he didn't think
that was funny.
657
00:31:20,249 --> 00:31:22,051
When I went back into
the booking room
658
00:31:22,051 --> 00:31:25,621
to start putting his information
on an arrest and booking form,
659
00:31:25,621 --> 00:31:28,057
it came back that
he was wanted by the FBI.
660
00:31:29,258 --> 00:31:30,960
To be honest with you,
he didn't look a whole lot
661
00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,229
like the wanted photo
that the FBI had.
662
00:31:33,229 --> 00:31:36,432
The FBI photos
were of a gentleman
663
00:31:36,432 --> 00:31:40,136
who was clean-shaven,
had a business suit on,
664
00:31:40,136 --> 00:31:42,004
and the guy
I had in booking was --
665
00:31:42,004 --> 00:31:43,005
had long hair, facial hair,
his clothes were dirty and old.
666
00:31:43,005 --> 00:31:44,340
He went from looking like
667
00:31:44,340 --> 00:31:47,343
the most Christ-like,
trusted person
668
00:31:47,343 --> 00:31:49,946
to full-on criminal.
669
00:31:49,946 --> 00:31:51,447
Like, this is, like,
the outfit that I would wear
670
00:31:51,447 --> 00:31:53,683
to audition to be in crime.
671
00:31:53,683 --> 00:31:56,519
Juliano:
Once I ran his fingerprints,
672
00:31:56,519 --> 00:31:58,788
sure enough,
he was Aubrey Price.
673
00:31:58,788 --> 00:32:01,824
You could tell at that time,
he was kind of prideful
674
00:32:01,824 --> 00:32:05,261
in the fact that he was
as wanted as he was,
675
00:32:05,261 --> 00:32:07,296
and I think he was prideful
in the fact
676
00:32:07,296 --> 00:32:10,433
that he had gotten away with it
for as long as he had.
677
00:32:10,433 --> 00:32:11,701
Goldberg: Prideful?
678
00:32:11,701 --> 00:32:13,502
He's proud
that he evaded judgment
679
00:32:13,502 --> 00:32:15,137
for ruining people's lives?
680
00:32:15,137 --> 00:32:17,640
Huh. I guess this dude
never read the Bible.
681
00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,141
I mean, what happened?
Come on.
682
00:32:19,141 --> 00:32:21,110
How did a man
who was minding the flock
683
00:32:21,110 --> 00:32:23,012
end up running with the wolves?
684
00:32:33,689 --> 00:32:35,324
Chapman:
He explained, at some length,
685
00:32:35,324 --> 00:32:38,828
his misadventures
when he wasn't dead,
686
00:32:38,828 --> 00:32:42,498
but he was somehow tied in
with some drug traffickers
687
00:32:42,498 --> 00:32:46,802
and living a life of
high adventure and great danger
688
00:32:46,802 --> 00:32:48,371
somewhere in South America.
689
00:32:57,747 --> 00:33:02,251
The whole thing was a tissue
of lies and fiction.
690
00:33:02,251 --> 00:33:04,887
He wanted -- He wanted
the limelight again.
691
00:33:14,563 --> 00:33:17,500
Goldberg: The story of
Aubrey Lee Price is being told,
692
00:33:17,500 --> 00:33:20,069
but for a man
who came back from the dead,
693
00:33:20,069 --> 00:33:22,405
he might not like
the role he played,
694
00:33:22,405 --> 00:33:25,608
especially once the news
of his resurrection
695
00:33:25,608 --> 00:33:27,109
reaches his investors.
696
00:33:27,109 --> 00:33:29,912
I'm down visiting my very
elderly mother-in-law
697
00:33:29,912 --> 00:33:31,447
in Marco Island.
698
00:33:31,447 --> 00:33:33,783
My wife and I went out
to dinner.
699
00:33:33,783 --> 00:33:35,584
We come back on.
700
00:33:35,584 --> 00:33:38,187
She, like most people her age,
is watching the news.
701
00:33:38,187 --> 00:33:40,923
Reporter: After he was arrested,
police in Ocala, Florida,
702
00:33:40,923 --> 00:33:42,925
raided the apartment
he had been renting
703
00:33:42,925 --> 00:33:44,694
and removed 225,000...
704
00:33:44,694 --> 00:33:47,363
And they found this guy.
705
00:33:47,363 --> 00:33:49,265
I thought, "Oh, my."
I mean, I hardly recognized him.
706
00:33:49,265 --> 00:33:51,100
Reporter: And this
is what he looks like now.
707
00:33:51,100 --> 00:33:53,102
Arrested in Georgia
on New Year's Eve...
708
00:33:53,102 --> 00:33:55,104
And my mother-in-law
is asking me about
709
00:33:55,104 --> 00:33:57,907
how was dinner, and I just about
put my hand over her mouth.
710
00:33:57,907 --> 00:33:59,275
Reporter: Aubrey Lee Price,
711
00:33:59,275 --> 00:34:00,443
the preacher turned
financial advisor
712
00:34:00,443 --> 00:34:01,444
who faked his own death.
713
00:34:01,444 --> 00:34:02,897
You gotta be kidding me.
714
00:34:12,140 --> 00:34:15,443
Goldberg: Despite being declared
legally dead 18 months prior,
715
00:34:15,443 --> 00:34:18,146
a routine traffic stop reveals
716
00:34:18,146 --> 00:34:21,482
Aubrey Lee Price
to be amongst the living.
717
00:34:21,482 --> 00:34:25,620
And the news of his arrest
spreads like the gospel.
718
00:34:25,620 --> 00:34:27,555
Bam! He is risen.
719
00:34:27,555 --> 00:34:30,558
It's Easter Sunday.
Aubrey Lee Price is back.
720
00:34:30,558 --> 00:34:31,859
A major break this morning
in the case
721
00:34:31,859 --> 00:34:33,661
of an American banker
on the run.
722
00:34:33,661 --> 00:34:34,963
Reporter:
Leaving behind the customers
723
00:34:34,963 --> 00:34:36,965
whose millions of dollars
he'd stolen.
724
00:34:36,965 --> 00:34:39,367
Reporter #2: Authorities say
he faked his own death.
725
00:34:39,367 --> 00:34:41,202
Oh, my God, they found Lee.
726
00:34:41,202 --> 00:34:44,172
I said, "I want five minutes
alone in a room with Lee,
727
00:34:44,172 --> 00:34:46,040
just five minutes."
[ Laughs ]
728
00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,142
♪♪
729
00:34:48,142 --> 00:34:53,514
I never one time ever, ever
thought that he killed himself.
730
00:34:55,717 --> 00:34:58,353
He loves himself too much.
731
00:34:58,353 --> 00:35:00,922
I mean, he's an egomaniac.
732
00:35:00,922 --> 00:35:05,994
If you read that rambling,
rambling 22-page suicide note,
733
00:35:05,994 --> 00:35:07,562
it's just obvious
734
00:35:07,562 --> 00:35:09,764
that this guy wouldn't hurt
a hair on his head.
735
00:35:09,764 --> 00:35:13,167
Goldberg: With Price now
born again and under arrest,
736
00:35:13,167 --> 00:35:15,503
the prosecution
is building its case,
737
00:35:15,503 --> 00:35:19,073
and a trial is set
for June of 2014
738
00:35:19,073 --> 00:35:22,243
at a federal courthouse
in Statesboro, Georgia.
739
00:35:22,243 --> 00:35:24,545
Smith:
I got a call from the FBI,
740
00:35:24,545 --> 00:35:26,914
and they asked me
if I would testify,
741
00:35:26,914 --> 00:35:28,116
and I said yes.
742
00:35:28,116 --> 00:35:29,584
And they gave me
a certain entrance
743
00:35:29,584 --> 00:35:31,686
that they wanted my wife
and I to go in,
744
00:35:31,686 --> 00:35:34,522
and, you know, goofy me,
I said, "Well, why's that?"
745
00:35:34,522 --> 00:35:36,257
He said,
"Because his family's here
746
00:35:36,257 --> 00:35:39,227
and we do not want you
to see the family.
747
00:35:39,227 --> 00:35:40,962
We don't want you to go soft."
748
00:35:40,962 --> 00:35:42,563
[ Laughs ]
749
00:35:42,563 --> 00:35:44,399
I said, "You have nothing
to worry about."
750
00:35:44,399 --> 00:35:47,902
A former bank director
accused of defrauding his bank
751
00:35:47,902 --> 00:35:51,639
and investors out of millions
appeared today in federal court
752
00:35:51,639 --> 00:35:53,541
in Brunswick, Georgia.
753
00:35:53,541 --> 00:35:55,777
[ Crowd shouting ]
754
00:35:58,913 --> 00:36:02,050
The judge threw the book at him,
and rightly so.
755
00:36:02,050 --> 00:36:03,818
Chapman:
I think that's appropriate.
756
00:36:03,818 --> 00:36:08,623
I think that it is a good thing
when folks of that kind
757
00:36:08,623 --> 00:36:11,959
are imprisoned and pay
a serious debt to society.
758
00:36:11,959 --> 00:36:14,295
I think justice requires
no less.
759
00:36:14,295 --> 00:36:17,965
Goldberg: Forgiveness is a core
tenet of Lee's Christian faith,
760
00:36:17,965 --> 00:36:20,601
and he has little to do
but ask for it
761
00:36:20,601 --> 00:36:22,403
as he writes to his victims
762
00:36:22,403 --> 00:36:26,674
and apologizes
for everything he's done.
763
00:36:26,674 --> 00:36:29,744
In the letter he wrote
everybody, he quoted scripture,
764
00:36:29,744 --> 00:36:32,113
every part of the Bible
you could choose.
765
00:36:32,113 --> 00:36:33,981
And I wrote him one back,
and it came out,
766
00:36:33,981 --> 00:36:36,417
"Exodus --
Thou shalt not steal,"
767
00:36:36,417 --> 00:36:38,319
because that's what he did.
768
00:36:38,319 --> 00:36:41,923
So, these are letters
that Lee Price sent to me
769
00:36:41,923 --> 00:36:43,124
from prison.
770
00:36:43,124 --> 00:36:45,960
February 6, 2014.
771
00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,429
"Dear Wendy,
I'm writing to you once again
772
00:36:48,429 --> 00:36:51,766
to express my deepest
and most sincere apologies
773
00:36:51,766 --> 00:36:55,169
for the financial,
emotional, and painful losses
774
00:36:55,169 --> 00:36:57,205
you've experienced as a result
775
00:36:57,205 --> 00:37:00,041
of my mismanagement
of your investments.
776
00:37:00,041 --> 00:37:03,811
I am truly sorry, and I do not
expect your forgiveness."
777
00:37:03,811 --> 00:37:06,114
Well, that's good, Lee,
'cause you're not getting it.
778
00:37:06,114 --> 00:37:08,483
"Nor do I expect
any second chances.
779
00:37:08,483 --> 00:37:10,151
Again, I'm truly sorry
780
00:37:10,151 --> 00:37:11,986
for the pain
I've caused you and your family.
781
00:37:11,986 --> 00:37:14,722
Sincerely, Aubrey Lee Price."
782
00:37:14,722 --> 00:37:17,458
What a bunch of bull[bleep].
783
00:37:17,458 --> 00:37:19,460
People can say
whatever they think and --
784
00:37:19,460 --> 00:37:22,063
and what their opinions
are about this whole thing
785
00:37:22,063 --> 00:37:24,298
that took place for all of us,
786
00:37:24,298 --> 00:37:28,636
but he's written a couple
really heart-wrenching letters,
787
00:37:28,636 --> 00:37:31,172
and I just don't think
he's a con man.
788
00:37:31,172 --> 00:37:34,142
I think money will do
terrible things to people
789
00:37:34,142 --> 00:37:36,144
and it can get you
in a lot of trouble,
790
00:37:36,144 --> 00:37:40,581
and I think Lee's
a prime example of that.
791
00:37:40,581 --> 00:37:43,651
So, only God knows
the real story.
792
00:38:08,075 --> 00:38:10,344
Damian: We actually met with him
several times in prison.
793
00:38:10,344 --> 00:38:13,781
He was very cooperative
in helping us find some assets
794
00:38:13,781 --> 00:38:15,183
that were
a little bit harder to find
795
00:38:15,183 --> 00:38:17,785
because there weren't
good records.
796
00:38:17,785 --> 00:38:20,888
I think our ultimate return
was about 18%,
797
00:38:20,888 --> 00:38:24,091
but 18% of your life savings
798
00:38:24,091 --> 00:38:27,595
isn't what you're hoping for
at that stage of your life.
799
00:38:28,863 --> 00:38:30,598
Smith: I took a picture of that
little old check that came
800
00:38:30,598 --> 00:38:32,800
and said, "This is it."
[ Chuckles ]
801
00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,970
Pennies on the dollar.
Pennies.
802
00:38:35,970 --> 00:38:41,209
Chapman:
Victims of Ponzi schemes
often blame themselves,
803
00:38:41,209 --> 00:38:44,111
and they wish they could turn
the clock back, but they can't,
804
00:38:44,111 --> 00:38:47,748
and they blame themselves
for not being careful enough.
805
00:38:47,748 --> 00:38:51,919
They blame themselves
for not asking more questions,
806
00:38:51,919 --> 00:38:53,888
and they're ashamed.
807
00:38:53,888 --> 00:38:57,458
They feel that they have
betrayed their family.
808
00:38:57,458 --> 00:39:03,130
There's also an awful cynicism
and lack of trust.
809
00:39:03,130 --> 00:39:06,801
I think when you go through
an experience like that,
810
00:39:06,801 --> 00:39:11,772
you never look at the world
in exactly the same way again.
811
00:39:12,907 --> 00:39:16,510
Smith: I had no reason to
distrust him, none whatsoever,
812
00:39:16,510 --> 00:39:20,081
and he bamboozled me
pretty good.
813
00:39:20,081 --> 00:39:22,116
I guess that hurts more
than losing the money,
814
00:39:22,116 --> 00:39:23,684
if you know what I'm saying.
815
00:39:23,684 --> 00:39:26,921
You know, I mean, the money,
well, that's bad enough,
816
00:39:26,921 --> 00:39:29,090
but it really hurts
how human beings
817
00:39:29,090 --> 00:39:31,792
can disappoint you so badly.
818
00:39:31,792 --> 00:39:34,829
It is a horrible thing
to have to survive.
819
00:39:34,829 --> 00:39:36,430
It stays with you.
820
00:39:36,430 --> 00:39:39,600
I mean, it's -- you know,
there's a trust issue now.
821
00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,837
I never, ever reinvested
after that, you know,
822
00:39:42,837 --> 00:39:45,106
and it changes you.
823
00:39:45,106 --> 00:39:47,775
It changes you
for the rest of your life.
824
00:39:47,775 --> 00:39:49,143
Smith: I struggle with that
a little bit
825
00:39:49,143 --> 00:39:52,113
because he hurt
a lot of people --
826
00:39:52,113 --> 00:39:53,547
a lot of people.
827
00:39:53,547 --> 00:39:56,951
These people lost everything.
828
00:39:56,951 --> 00:39:58,853
But I gotta forgive him.
829
00:39:58,853 --> 00:40:00,454
You know, I'm not his judge.
830
00:40:00,454 --> 00:40:02,356
Yocum: He kept writing me
letters and saying,
831
00:40:02,356 --> 00:40:04,792
"Oh, please forgive me.
Please forgive me."
832
00:40:04,792 --> 00:40:08,963
And I finally said,
"Stop asking me for forgiveness.
833
00:40:08,963 --> 00:40:12,166
I forgave you once and for all,
and it's done."
834
00:40:12,166 --> 00:40:14,201
It was just money.
835
00:40:14,201 --> 00:40:16,304
♪♪
836
00:40:16,304 --> 00:40:18,239
[ Crying ] It was just money.
837
00:40:22,543 --> 00:40:25,012
Goldberg: It's hard to know
how an entire community
838
00:40:25,012 --> 00:40:26,647
can begin to heal
839
00:40:26,647 --> 00:40:31,385
after Aubrey Lee Price left them
with such deep wounds.
840
00:40:31,385 --> 00:40:33,654
All they have
is their story to tell
841
00:40:33,654 --> 00:40:37,091
and the small measure of justice
that he's behind bars.
842
00:40:37,091 --> 00:40:38,859
[ Telephone ringing ]
Price is still preaching
843
00:40:38,859 --> 00:40:41,595
about divine justice...
844
00:40:41,595 --> 00:40:44,065
Operator: This call is from
a federal prison.
845
00:40:44,065 --> 00:40:46,534
...just this time,
from prison.
846
00:41:20,768 --> 00:41:30,978
[ Cell door slams ]