TO CATCH A CONMAN

My labor of love, and 5 years of my life. This is my true story of exposing one of the most prolific serial criminals in all of the Midwest.Episodes 1-4 are published. Episodes 5-8 should be published by end of October. Episodes 9-12 should be published by middle of November, ideally before Thanksgiving 2023.

To Catch a Conman will take you on an adventure of exposing one of the most prolific and successful serial conmen to operate in the Midwest, specifically targeting victims in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. A career conman who was able to get away with scamming and stealing in and around the Suburbs of Chicago where I live, for more than 40 years. What's even more interesting is that he had never been arrested in Illinois for running his scams, some that date far back into the 1980's.

We will continue to take you on an adventure. We will go on the offensive, as a plan to expose Ricky Dugo nefarious ways comes together, shrouded in secrecy, and “Cloaked in Anonymity.”

Have you ever wanted to listen in on a secret conversation, one that you know you should never be allowed to listen to? Maybe it is time for Adam to flip the script and go completely out of his element in this next episode called “The Trick”

Adam attempts to open a case with the authorities. Has he done enough investigating for the police to take him seriously? He plans on writing a personal letter with the hopes of garnering attention, firing the first salvo of allegations and telling truths. (

A lone wolf emerges, and in the shadows a tiger has been lying in wait and is set to pounce. Adam goes thru the intricate story and timeline, providing investigators each and every detail of Ricky Dugo's very dirty deal.

Adam is brought back to the Lake County States Attorney's office and is asked to aid in their official investigation. Did he keep every piece of evidence and if he did would the team be able to find anything useful that may help in building the official case? How far was he willing to go to assist in taking Ricky Dugo down? There was always the chance of failure, and sometimes you have to fall down to find the strength to rise up and make another attempt.

We will take you on an adventure attempting to ensnare Ricky Dugo into a in person conversation. If successful, there is a chance that Ricky Dugo gives up just enough information to seal his future fate. Something wicked this ways comes, as Adam may have to take one for the team.

During the summer of 2018, while Dugo is scamming Adam, we find 2 more victims in another state. Let's go hunting, as we search for a whale.

A perfukt storm was brewing on the horizon, a massive cyclone of sorts that no one would be prepared for. There are so many huge events coming up that may give Ricky Dugo the upper hand.

Another broken promise, Adam once again has to go to on the offensive. Is there a finally break in the case? Adam searches far and wide for a partner in the media, and makes an everlasting friendship.

There is a backlog of court cases in the system, with the case against Ricky Dugo moving slowly thru the judicial process. Adam believes the entire case hinges on a very specific motion. Could Dugo be ready to cop a plea?

A stumble by the Lake County's technology team that could have huge implications at the trial. Adam has a premonition in a dream, one that could be a foreshadowing of what is to come next.

There is a delay from the time Adam testifies to the time the trial picks back up in February of 2023. The prosecutors and defense provide their closing arguments, and a verdict is rendered. A surprise decision by the Honorable Judge Christopher Lombardo leaves everyone speechless.

Thank you for listening in, on this episode we will finish up season one of To Catch A Conman with Adam's final thoughts, and some of his calls to action. Remember to look out for Season 2 coming out later in 2023.

Season 2 trailer and a 1st episode first look for my fans is coming next. This new season is in production, and you will hear from many of the Victims Adam has talked to since he started his investigation. These interviews will span back to the 1990's moving back up to near present day.

******SPECIAL EARLY RELEASE FOR MY FANS....THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT*************KEEP RECOMMENDED THIS PODCAST AND SHARINGOn this very special EARLY release of Season 2 of To Catch A Conman, you will hear the first of many Ricky Dugo victims spill the beans and retell her story off being swindled back in 1999. What happens in Vegas in this case should have stayed in Vegas.

On this episode you will hear from a Ricky Dugo victim that will take us back to the mid 2000's, where a young man searches for a mentor and a business partner. Could a car wash be in his future? This particular victim rocked me to my core, a story that still shakes me to this day.....here we go...lets meet a man whom for the purpose of this podcast we will call Ron.

In episode 3 we will hear part 2 of Ron's story from the mid 2000's. Ron starts to fully understand the situation is dire. With him and his mom being totally financially terrorized by Ricky Dugo, Ron has no outs and no leverage, and falls victim to addition, as his life spirals out of control. How far could you bend before you break?

Back in the early 2000's, a chance encounter bumping into Ricky Dugo at Bally's Total Fitness by a young 18 year old victim is coming up next. In this very emotional part 1 interview with David you will hear one of the most real and raw interviews yet.

In part 2 of David very raw and emotional story of being conned by the Devil In Disguise, aka Ricky Dugo. David seeks the assistance of the FBI, only to be told Dugo isn't a big enough fish. We will continue to hear of the emotional, mental, and physical toll, as the wake of destruction Dugo leaves behind is still present in David's life today.

On this next episode of To Catch a Conman, we will talk with one of the investigators, whom dedicated over 2 hears hunting Dugo down and trying to build the case. Detective Bill comes into the studio and gives us an inside look into how hard it was for Lake County to catch this conman.

Coming up next, we will meet with a victim that I consider a good friend. One that I have never met in person, yet someone that has always provided me with information and encouragement. Sadly he too is a Ricky Dugo financial crime victim.

On this episode of To Catch A Conman In The Victims Voices, we will meet a young woman who met Ricky Dugo at Xsport fitness in 2017. Over the span of a few months a friendship is formed. Rick is now working out in her group, and over time she admitted to him that she was struggling financially. I wonder that happens next. Lets meet Kat.

On this next episode of To Catch A Conman season 2 In The Victims Voices we will turn our attention to that Greggs Landing neighborhood, and explore the 2 part story of one of the first Ricky Dugo financial crimes victims that found the Connedbyrick@gmail.com email box. He is also one of the few victims that faced him and testified as a witness in the trial of the State of Illinois versus Ricky Dugo. Coming up next, part 1 of a fantastic interview with Scott.

The conman moves into Greggs Landing and within weeks starts to prey on his new neighbors by pitching his fictitious opportunities. Within a few months, he turns his neighbors into victims, and in part 2 coming up next, we will hear Scott continue on with his story of being strung along by this career criminal. In 2023, Scott is called to the witness stand and provides his detailed account in the case of The State of Illinois versus Ricky Dugo.

On this episode of To Catch a Conman, we will head to the Lake of the Ozarks, where Ricky Dugo loved to spend the summers, showing off his 46 foot cigarette boat and scamming victims down there for over $2 million dollars. You will meet a guy that was introduced to me as someone I should contact just before I went into Lake County and provided them with my detailed Dugo File. Lets hear part 1 of Britt's story.

We head out to Missouri, and hear about how the Ricky Dugo loved to spend his summer scamming and stealing from the good folks down in the Lake of Ozarks back in 2016. A random gym meeting turns into a pseudo friendship….that can only end up one way for Britt. Coming up next, we will hear part 2 of Britt'ss wild story, and hear more about the string of excuses and lies that keep him on the hook.

We venture back to the city of Chicago , and meet a man that was following the Ricky Dugo spoof page in Late May of 2018. In 2010 another phony business opportunity for the tried and true car wash partnership is pitched. We will hear part 1 of his interview next.

Coming up on this episode, we will hear part 2 of the Godfathers story, one where Ricky Dugo took him and his family and friends on a wild ride for about $400,000. In 2018, you will hear about the meeting with the Lake County team, whom brought in an FBI agent to listen in. The FBI visits his mother, and the godfather learns of a scam that his mother never told him about, in a shocking allegation of how devious and low the conman will go to steal from the elderly. We are set up and ready to finish part 2 of the Godfather.

Coming up, we will fast forward to 2019, and meet a man that met Ricky Dugo while working at a high end car dealership in Libertyville Illinois. A victim that was never suppose to happen, as the warnings and investigation were already in full swing. Part 1 of his story is next.

Coming up next, we will continue on with part 2 of Lou's story, and hear how becoming victimized by Dugo nearly tore his marriage apart. Sadly when the dust settles, and as Rick sits rotting in prison, Lou is still making payments to his creditors as his debts have not been forgiven.