Explore how ambitions for wealth and power drove a small-town kid to mastermind Indiana's largest financial fraud, leaving hundreds devastated. Discover the journey from humble beginnings to a lavish lifestyle and the reckoning that followed.

In this episode:

• The early life of Tim Durham in Seymour, Indiana, and his childhood aspirations
• How Durham became a successful lawyer and venture capitalist in Indianapolis
• The rise of his luxurious lifestyle: a mansion, exotic cars, and high-profile parties
• The details of the $200 million Ponzi scheme and its victims
• Durham’s arrest, trial, and 50-year federal prison sentence
• Parallels with local cases of greed and lack of conscience
• Reflection on the impact of social media in exposing wealth disparities

Resources & Links:

• Tim Durham and Fair Finance Case Details on Wikipedia
• Durham's exploits are featured in the 2015 episode "Playboy of Indiana", of the television series American Greed.

Our guest Nolan Brewer:

Nolan has worked at the library for 20 years and has his BA in Philosophy from ISU and MLIS from IUPUI. He stated that he is really into TV/Film and reading and he has a beloved cat named Alley.

Notable Quotes:

• "He traded it all for a cell in a federal pen."
• “Greed has no conscience, especially when it leaves a trail of shattered lives.”

Stay curious, dig deeper, and remember: not all that glitters is gold.