Steve Bannon’s alleged caper – stealing money donated to build a border wall – illustrates something journalists say among themselves: “With real yarns like today’s, why would we ever make up stories?”
Humans are wondrously creative and serially stupid, a combination that guarantees wickedness and greedy connivance. Bannon’s arrest Thursday is but one example. Here are more from my life in journalism.
The deputy county treasurer in Ohio who, over seven years, stole nearly $3 million – in cash. He simply carried it out of the office, then fudged bank statements to deceive auditors.
The Missouri man who sold 17,000 or so cattle repeatedly, and simultaneously, to multiple buyers on investment contracts. His buyers collectively owned 344,000 cattle. Or thought they did.
The operator of a Nebraska credit union who spent customer deposits on furs, limousines and parties.
And David deBerardinis in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Stan Kowalewski in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. deBerardinis faces trial in the theft of $96 million from investors and banks. Kowalewski is serving 18 years in the theft of some $16 million from investors.
Strange tales. True tales.
