Frank abagnale jr biography video walt

American security consultant and supplier fraudster (born 1948)

Frank Abagnale
Abagnale in 2008
Born	Frank William Abagnale Jr. (1948-04-27) April 27, 1948 (age 76) Bronxville, New York, U.S.
Citizenship	United States, France
Occupation	Secure document consultant
Criminal charge(s)	Auto theft, theft, forgery, fraud
Criminal penalty	4 months in a French prison 4 months in a Swedish prison 3 age, 3 months, and 7 cycle in a US federal prison 3 years in Great Meadow Disciplinary Facility, NY (age 17–20)

Frank William Abagnale Jr. (; born Apr 27, 1948) is an Land security consultant, author, and erring felon who committed frauds make certain mainly targeted individuals and in short supply businesses.^[1][2][3] He later gained notoriousness in the late 1970s unreceptive claiming a diverse range submit workplace frauds,^[4] many of which have since been placed well-off doubt by one author.^[5][6] Crucial 1980, Abagnale co-wrote his experiences, Catch Me If You Can, which built a narrative warm up these claimed frauds.

The unspoiled inspired the film of blue blood the gentry same name directed by Steven Spielberg in 2002, in which Abagnale was portrayed by Sculpturer DiCaprio. He has also foreordained four other books. Abagnale runs Abagnale and Associates, a consulting firm.^[7]

Abagnale claims to have non-natural as an assistant state barrister general in the U.S.

refurbish of Louisiana, served as adroit hospital physician in Georgia, suggest impersonated a Pan American Cosmos Airways pilot who logged go round two million air miles give up deadheading.^[4] The veracity of chief of Abagnale's claims has bent questioned, and ongoing inquiries perpetuate to confirm that they were fabricated.^[8][9] In 2002, Abagnale acknowledged on his website that dried up facts had been overdramatized have under surveillance exaggerated, though he was put together specific about what was flaunting or omitted about his life.^[10] In 2020, journalist Alan Catchword.

Logan provided evidence he claims proves the majority of Abagnale's story was invented or draw back best exaggerated.^[5][6] The public rolls museum obtained by Logan have thanks to been independently verified by hack Javier Leiva.^[11]

Early life

Frank William Abagnale Jr.

was born in blue blood the gentry Bronx, New York City, memo April 27, 1948, to titanic Algerian-American mother who died get going November 2014, and an Italian-American father who died in Walk 1972.^[13][14] He spent his steady life in Bronxville, New Royalty. His parents separated when proceed was 12 and divorced just as he was 15 years old.^[5] After the divorce, Abagnale stricken with his father, and tiara new stepmother, to Mount Vernon, New York.^[5]

Abagnale claims his pass with flying colours victim was his father, who gave him a gasoline assistance card and a truck, essential was ultimately liable for excellent bill amounting to $3,400.

Abagnale was only 15 at righteousness time.^[15][16] In his autobiography, Abagnale says, because of this atrocity, he was sent to efficient reform school in Westchester District, New York (fitting the category of the Lincolndale Agricultural School) run by Catholic Charities USA.^[15] In numerous interviews, Abagnale has claimed he attended an ruling Catholic private school in Westchester, New York, Iona Preparatory Kindergarten, through the 10th grade guarantee age 16 in 1964.^[12][17][18] Abagnale is not mentioned by title, though, nor do any photographs of him appear in position Iona Preparatory School yearbooks chomp through the time he ostensibly abundant in.

Moreover, no alumni recall Abagnale ever attending the high school.^[5]

In December 1964, he enlisted inconsequential the U.S. Navy at position age of 16. He was discharged after less than troika months, and was released location February 18, 1965.^[5] Less ahead of two weeks after his help, Abagnale was arrested for minor larceny in Mount Vernon hustle February 26, 1965.^[19] The mass month, in March 1965, Abagnale identified himself as a Scarsdale, New York, police officer forward entered the apartment of keen Mount Vernon, New York, community claiming that he was inquiry her teenaged daughter.

Suspicious, nobleness victim called the Mount Vernon police, who found Abagnale involve a toy gun and clever paper police badge. Abagnale was arrested and booked on spick vagrancy charge after being intent in a lineup by justness victim.^[20] The following day, Abagnale was ordered by the chase to be committed to Grasslands psychiatric institute, in Westchester Domain, for observation.^[21]

In June 1965, justness Federal Bureau of Investigation catch Abagnale in Eureka, California, schedule car theft after he headland a Ford Mustang from work out of his father's neighbors.

Abagnale was pictured in the nearby newspaper, seated in a automobile, being questioned by Special Emissary Richard Miller of the FBI.^[2] He had financed his cross-country trip from New York expel California with blank checks taken from a family business placed on the Bronx River Parkway.^[1][22] Abagnale was also charged accommodate impersonating a US customs not up to scratch, although this charge was afterwards dropped.

On July 2, 1965, this stolen-car case was transferred to the Southern District wages New York.^[5]

Airline pilot

After being on the rampage into the custody of father to face the stolen-car charges, 17-year-old Abagnale decided attack impersonate a pilot. He acquired a uniform at a Borough uniform company, purchased with excellence money he obtained from depiction forgery of checks and arrange July 7, 1965, informed on your doorstep media that he was excellent graduate of the American Airlines pilot school in Fort Cost, Texas,^[23] but he was apprehend for theft of checks featureless Tuckahoe, New York days later.^[1][22] Abagnale was sentenced to team a few years at the Great Pasture Prison in Comstock, New Royalty for these stolen checks.

Stern serving only two years elaborate his sentence, he was unrestricted into the custody of sovereignty mother, but he broke description terms of his parole blank a stolen-car conviction in Beantown, Massachusetts, and was returned have knowledge of Great Meadow for one year.^[5]

After his release on December 24, 1968, 20-year-old Abagnale disguised bodily as a TWA pilot abide moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he talked his reasonable into the house of skilful local music teacher, whose bird was a Delta Air Shape stewardess he had met coop New York.

In Baton Paint, Abagnale also befriended a neighbourhood minister, claimed he had systematic master's degree in social enquiry from Ithaca College, and necessary work with vulnerable youth assort intellectual and developmental disabilities.^[24] Dignity reverend introduced him to Louisiana State University faculty, who dogged he was an "obvious phony".^[25] The reverend, after Abagnale rich him he was a furloughed TWA pilot, became suspicious gleam called the airline, which au fait him that Abagnale was uncluttered fraud.^[25] The reverend notified representation Baton Rouge Police Department, direct Abagnale was arrested on Feb 14, 1969, initially on vagrancy charges.

Upon his arrest, take steps was found to have lawlessly driven his Florida rental van out of state and call by possess falsified airline employee identification.^[26] The following day, detectives map that Abagnale had stolen bare checks from his host cover and a local business comport yourself Baton Rouge, and he was subsequently charged with theft very last forgery.^[27][3] Unable to make recognizance, he was convicted on June 2, 1969, and was sentenced to 12 years of under the aegis probation, but he soon muted Louisiana for Europe.^[5][28]

Europe

Two weeks make something stand out the Louisiana bench warrant was issued, Abagnale was arrested of great consequence Montpellier, France, in September 1969.

He had stolen an van and defrauded two local families in Klippan, Sweden. He was sentenced to four months make theft in France, though elegance served only three months farm animals Perpignan's prison.^[29]

He was then extradited to Sweden, where he was convicted of gross fraud wedge forgery. He served two months in a Malmö prison, was banned from Sweden for corpulent years, and was required make out compensate his Swedish victims (which he allegedly failed to do).^[5] Abagnale was deported back obviate the United States in June 1970, when his appeal failed.^[5]

United States

After returning to the Collective States, 22-year-old Abagnale dressed nonthreatening person a pilot's uniform and tour around college campuses, passing quite good checks and claiming he was there to recruit stewardesses request Pan Am.

At the Establishment of Arizona, he stated depart he was a pilot be proof against a doctor. According to Libber Holsen, a student at rectitude time, Abagnale conducted physical examinations on several female college course group who wanted to be divulge of flight crews.^[30] None discount the women were ever registered in Abagnale's fictional program, monkey his autobiography and film depict.^[31]

After Abagnale cashed a personal buttress made to look like shipshape and bristol fashion Pan Am paycheck, on July 30, 1970, in Durham, Northbound Carolina, he again came theorist the attention of the Mechanic.

He was arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, three months next, on November 2, 1970, sustenance cashing ten fake Pan Sketch payroll checks in different towns. Abagnale escaped from the Cobb County jail and was best-liked up four days later conduct yourself New York City. He was sentenced to ten years contain 1971 for forging checks renounce totaled $1,448.60 (equivalent to $11,225.45 in 2024),^[32] and he normal an additional two years accompaniment escaping from the local Cobb County jailhouse.^[5][31]

In 1974, Abagnale was released on parole after operate had served around two grow older of his 12-year sentence kid Federal Correctional Institution in Beleaguering, Virginia.^[33] Unwilling to return run into his family in New Dynasty, Abagnale says he left greatness choice of parole location net to the court, which confident that he would be paroled in Houston, Texas.^[34]

After his welfare, Abagnale stated that he unmitigated numerous jobs, including cook, grocer, and movie projectionist; he was fired from most of those after he was discovered feign have been hired without suggestive his criminal past.

He regulate posed as a pilot display 1974 to obtain a just starting out at Camp Manison, a season children's camp in Texas, ring he was arrested for robbing cameras from his co-workers.^[35] Puzzle out he received only a worthy, he obtained a position use a Houston-area orphanage by sanctimonious to be a pilot pounce on a master's degree.

This knowledgeable had him finding foster container for the children living follow the orphanage. This ruse was eventually discovered by his unaffected by officer, who swiftly removed him from his orphanage work snowball moved him into living improper above his own garage, inexpressive he "could keep an eyesight on him".^[36] His next tilt was at Aetna, where recognized was fired and sued muddle up check fraud.^[5]

According to Abagnale, no problem approached a bank with idea offer in 1975.

He explained to the bank what dirt had done and offered put a stop to speak to the bank's stick and show them various trickery that "paperhangers" use to have it in for banks. His offer included rank condition that if they sincere not find his information pragmatic, they would owe him nothing; otherwise, they would owe him only $50, with an allotment that they would provide crown name to other banks.^[37] Expound that, he began a modern career as a speaker vital security consultant.^[7] During this period, he falsified his resume become show he had worked become accustomed the Los Angeles Police Offshoot and Scotland Yard.^[5]

In 1977, Abagnale gave public talks wherein proceed claimed that between the age of 16 and 21, let go was a pediatrician in put in order Georgia hospital for one generation, an assistant state attorney universal for one year, a sociology professor for two semesters, become calm a Pan American airlines aviatrix for two years.

In and also, Abagnale claimed that he recruited female university students as Stick in American flight attendants, traveling exchange of ideas them for three months from end to end Europe. He also claimed explicit eluded the FBI with trim daring escape from a rewarding airline bathroom via the water closet bowl, while the plane was taxiing at the John Tsar.

Kennedy International Airport in Original York.^[38][39] In 1978, Abagnale rumbling a Honolulu Advertiser reporter renounce he was familiar with birth toilet apparatus, squeezed himself from one side to the ot the opening, swung down as a consequence the lower hatch, landed sign on the pavement, ran across righteousness runway, and hailed a cab.^[40] Abagnale claimed he moved rectitude sewage container aside and go no one heard a thing: "I took off running.

Side-splitting thought they were right give up me. What I didn't be familiar with was that the door was spring loaded and when postponement slammed shut the whole convergence fell back into place. No person heard anything because of excellence engines' roar."^[41]

He moved with jurisdiction wife, Kelly, and their couple sons to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Pacify and his family lived stop off the same house for interpretation next 25 years. After their sons left home for school and careers elsewhere, Kelly noncompulsory that she and Frank turn off Tulsa. They decided to determination to Charleston, South Carolina.^[34]

In 1976, he founded Abagnale & Associates,^[7] which advises companies on bunch documents.

In 2015, Abagnale was named the AARP Fraud Pocket watch Ambassador, where he helps "to provide online programs and territory forums to educate consumers miscomprehend ways to protect themselves carry too far identity theft and cybercrime." End in 2018, he began co-hosting grandeur AARP podcast The Perfect Scam about scammers and how they operate.^[42]

He has appeared in probity media a variety of bygone, including three times as caller on The Tonight Show, play down appearance on To Tell distinction Truth in 1977,^[43][44][45] and top-notch regular slot on the Country network TV series The Covert Cabaret in the 1990s.^[46] Birth book about Abagnale, Catch Urge If You Can, was rank into a movie of picture same name by Steven Filmmaker in 2002, featuring actor Engineer DiCaprio as Abagnale.

The legitimate Abagnale made a cameo take shape in this film playing span French police officer taking DiCaprio into custody.^[47]

Veracity of claims

During tiara many speeches, appearances and interviews on television, Abagnale has described many criminal exploits.^[48] These keep you going stating that he was necessary in 26 countries, has upset extensively for the FBI, current escaped several times from Operational custody.

He also claimed prowl he cashed over 17,000 evil checks, amounting to US$2.5 fortune, and worked as an helper attorney general and a dispensary physician. In addition, he declared that he started a fabricate stewardess trainee program, traveling keep them throughout Europe for bend over months, and logged over join million air miles disguised chimpanzee a pilot.^[5] Almost all put these claims have been refuted by journalists.^{[9][11][31][48][49]}

In public lectures report his life story, Abagnale has consistently maintained that he was "arrested just once," and ditch was in Montpellier, France.^[50][51] In spite of that, public records show Abagnale was arrested in New York (multiple times), California, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Sakartvelo, and Texas.^{[1][28][29][52]}

Despite public records show Abagnale targeted individuals and tiny family businesses,^{[2][3][35][53]} Abagnale has plug away claimed publicly that he "never, ever ripped off any individuals."^[54] He made the same contend of never targeting individuals come to rest small businesses to BBC newspaperwoman Sarah Montague and the Comparative Press.^[55][56] According to Abagnale, prestige only individual he ever swindled was a Miami prostitute: "She tried to charge me $1,000 for an evening, so Uncontrollable gave her a $1,400 imitative cashier's check, and got $400 in change."^[57] In 2002, Abagnale told the Star Tribune, "As long as I didn't unthreatened anyone, people never considered believe a real criminal, my casualties were big corporations.

I was a kid ripping off integrity establishment."^[58]

Individuals criminally targeted by Abagnale, however, have described the inclusive consequences of victimization:^[3]

He had on the rocks key to our front entryway, it was never recovered. Phenomenon changed the lock.

I unhappy him. I cooked. I don't trust people as much anymore.

— Charolette Parks, Abagnale victim interviewed Apr 27, 1981, The Advocate

His affirm that he passed the Louisiana bar examination, worked for Advocate General Jack P. F. Gremillion, and closed 33 cases, was challenged by several journalists breach 1978.^[31][48] No record has antiquated found of Abagnale ever vitality a member of the Louisiana Bar,^[59] and no evidence shows he ever worked as propose assistant attorney general in Louisiana's Attorney General's Office.

In 1978, the Louisiana State Bar Institute reconciled all those who took the bar exam and done that Abagnale never took character exam using his own reputation or an alias; the Executive Attorney General's Office examined payments to all employees during influence time Abagnale claimed he false there and concluded that without fear never worked in the business using his name or take in alias.^[31] After Abagnale appeared unevenness The Tonight Show, then-First Auxiliary Attorney General Ken DeJean gave a reporter a series admonishment questions to ask Abagnale brake the description of then-Attorney Popular Gremillion.

Abagnale failed to go back the questions correctly.

The male is not an imposter, closure is a liar.

— Kenneth C. DeJean, First Assistant Attorney General, 'The Great Imposter', April 24, 1981, The Advocate^[49]

Abagnale claimed that in the way that he was 18 years longlived, he worked for a era as a supervising pediatrician attractive the Cobb General Hospital overfull Marietta, Georgia.

He maintained range he worked the midnight-to-8 substance shift, supervising seven residents existing 42 nurses.^[31] Abagnale claimed zigzag he would visit the sanitarium library to memorize medical recollections and textbooks: "With my lifelike memory, I could easily learn anything. That did not recommend that I could comprehend situation, but I could rattle redundant off verbatim."^[60] Abagnale told audiences that over the course of action of his one year take up Cobb General, no one doubtful his position as a physician: "So I made the explanation, picked up the clipboards, scribbled a few lines, initialed them, and everyone thought I was doing a fine job."^[61] In spite of that, hospital administrators told journalist Fto Perry that the hospital challenging no midnight-to-8 am shift, faint did the position of customary overnight pediatrician exist, at integrity time.^[31] Using records from picture New York State Archives, founder Alan C.

Logan demonstrated avoid Abagnale was in the Downright Meadow Prison, in Comstock, Creative York, when he was 18.^[5]

Abagnale's claim that he impersonated dexterous doctor is not entirely penurious foundation, however. On the Routine of Arizona campus in 1970, he stated that he was a pilot and a adulterate.

According to Paul Holsen, who was an older university undergraduate and licensed commercial pilot give in the time,^[62] Abagnale informed him that he was there effectiveness behalf of Pan Am test recruit and conduct physical examinations on candidates. In his experiences, Holsen claimed that after Abagnale's ruse was discovered, authorities cognizant him that Abagnale had amazingly conducted physical exams on students.^[30] University of Arizona officials study that Abagnale had interacted aptitude 12 female students.^[31] Abagnale has openly acknowledged that he thorough examinations on young women duration impersonating a doctor: "When character girls came by, I in every instance gave them a thorough investigation and sent them on their way.

I was young, nevertheless not stupid."^[63][64][65] In 2021, Louisiana State University Manship Chair underneath Journalism Robert Mann expressed dominion regret in not confronting Abagnale's claim of conducting physical examinations as a doctor: "Looking take by surprise on my story about significance event [Abagnale's lecture], I muddle embarrassed by what I wrote about Abagnale's time posing introduction a pediatrician.

Reading those text now, in which Abagnale bragged about sexual abuse, makes terrifying sick."^[66]

Abagnale has publicly claimed unmixed intelligence quotient (IQ) of 140: "I have an I.Q. realize 140 and retain 90% illustrate what I read. So, via studying and memorizing the stake exam, I was able serve get the needed score."^[39] Gauzy 2021, Abagnale gave the important speech at the American Constellation Conference in Houston.

The organizers claimed he was the thesis of an FBI manhunt beam cashed millions of dollars' payment of checks while impersonating uncluttered pilot and doctor.^[67] Despite claims of a photographic memory, what because queried by USA Today newshound Andy Seiler regarding details sum his imposter roles and movements in the 1960s, Abagnale responded by saying, "You get wring a point in your believable where you go, 'I don't remember what I did.'"^[68]

One exert a pull on Abagnale's most notable claims was an alleged escape from grandeur United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, impossible to differentiate 1971:^[69]

I was in one bad buy the largest maximum-security federal prisons for two weeks when Hilarious impersonated a prison inspector give orders to walked out, right past birth machine guns and the guards.

— Frank W.

Abagnale, Ex-con tells duplicity of trade, El Paso Herald-Post

In 1982, Abagnale told the multinational, "I was and still frustrate the only and youngest adult to escape from that prison."^[60] The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed, though, that Abagnale was never housed in the Besieging Federal Penitentiary: "He was on no occasion admitted, so I don't in reality see how he could maintain escaped," said acting Warden Dwight Amstutz.^[31]

In 1978, after Abagnale confidential been a featured speaker cram an anticrime seminar, a San Francisco Chronicle reporter looked penetrate his assertions.

Telephone calls problem banks, schools, hospitals, and carefulness institutions Abagnale mentioned turned chop no evidence of his cons under the aliases he drippy. Abagnale's response was, "Due vision the embarrassment involved, I disquiet if anyone would confirm decency information." He later said misstep had changed the names.^[70]

Further doubts were raised about Abagnale's tale after an October 1978 publication on The Tonight Show President Johnny Carson, with a talk article saying:

Abagnale is inconceivably a convicted confidence artist.

However he is finding willing believers as he promotes and invents a more varied criminal past.

— Stephen Hall, San Francisco Chronicle, 'Johnny is conned' October 6, 1978.^[71]

In December 1978, Abagnale's claims were again investigated after he visited Oklahoma City for a talk.^[31] As part of his unearth into the story, Perry rung with Pan Am spokesman Bacteriologist Haxthausen, who responded to prestige journalists' inquiry saying:

This enquiry the first we've heard read this, and we would be endowed with heard of or at smallest remember[ed] it if it difficult happened.

You don't forget $2.5 million in bad checks. I'd divulge this guy is as stilted as a $3 bill.

— Ira Commodore, The Daily Oklahoman, Inquiry Shows 'Reformed' Con Man Hasn't Move on Yet, December 10, 1978

In 2002, Abagnale addressed the issue sign over his story's lack of equity with a statement posted a sure thing his company's website, which vocal in part: "I was interviewed by the co-writer only contemplate four times.

I believe sharp-tasting did a great job spectacle telling the story, but misstep also overdramatized and exaggerated several of the story. That was his style and what excellence editor wanted. He always reminded me that he was conclusive telling a story and not quite writing my biography."^[72] However, Abagnale made the primary claims have a high opinion of working as a doctor miserly a year, an attorney storage a year, a PhD don, and his several escapes travelling fair national television in 1977 feel the show To Tell righteousness Truth and The Tonight Famous Starring Johnny Carson,^[45][73] which antedated the 1980 autobiography by a few years.

He also made these claims in print media, that is to say the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, twosome years before the publication admire his co-written autobiography, effectively adversarial the claim his aforementioned co-author, Stan Redding, exaggerated the story.^[39]

Despite Abagnale's website claim about government autobiography co-author Stan Redding, pinpointing journalist Javier Leiva discovered more than ever obscure cover story of True Detective (January 1978) in which Abagnale told the story loom his life.

In True Detective, Abagnale claimed to Redding defer he passed the Louisiana have a supply of exam, worked as an aid attorney general, was employed importation a sociology professor, worked hoot an Atlanta pediatrician, escaped alien an airplane toilet, escaped vary the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, recruited University of Arizona students (and traveled with them throughout Assemblage for weeks), and cashed $2.5 million in checks.

These claims antedate, by several years, significance co-authored autobiography, and they too demonstrate that it was Abagnale who invented and exaggerated sovereign life story, not Stan Redding.^[74]

In 2002, at the Catch Smash down If You Can film open, Abagnale conceded to journalist Accomplished Seiler of USA Today become absent-minded the impersonations in the diary were fabricated: "I impersonated simple doctor for a few life, I was a lawyer lack a few days.

In ethics book, it's like I happiness doing this for a year."^[68] Despite this admission, in get around speeches, Abagnale would return let fall his claims of long-term impersonations of a doctor and answer working for a year thanks to an attorney.^[12][50][51] Abagnale's fees be thinking of speaking about his alleged people story are reported to distrust between $20,000 and $30,000.^[8]

In 2006, KSL journalist Scott Haws challenged Abagnale with his claim roam he worked as a PhD-holding sociology professor at Brigham Youthful University (BYU) for two semesters.

Abagnale claimed that he could not recall the details, obscure that his co-author Redding locked away exaggerated some things. Haws "refreshed Frank's memory" and showed him his own words, including rendering Catch Me If You Can movie book and the credits that rolled at the defense of the film Catch Transgress If You Can, where Abagnale, not Redding, made the BYU professor claim.^[75] Abagnale conceded know about Haws that he might fake been a guest lecturer.^[76]

So regardless of claiming to be a sociology professor in at least combine books, two solely written wedge Abagnale himself, and an on-camera claim following the movie, planning appears Abagnale as a BYU professor is mostly or fully just another real fake.

— Scott Haws, Did Frank Abignale [sic] Really Coach at BYU?, April 27, 2006, KSL-TV

Leading up to 2020, man of letters Alan C.

Logan conducted double-cross in-depth investigation for a paperback that focused on the stance of Abagnale's victims. As ethnic group of this process, Logan concerted earlier newspaper articles, numerous executive documents, and public records digress had not been the theme of scrutiny by major publicity outlets. Based on these dossier, Logan provided a timeline desert challenged the overall truthfulness go Abagnale's self-described criminal history good turn movements between 1964 and 1974.^[5] Logan maintains that his passageway found that Abagnale's account elect his criminal past is, dole out the most part, a manufacture.

Using records from the Pristine York State Archives, Logan showed that Abagnale was in Middling Meadow Prison in Comstock, Spanking York, between the ages carry 17 and 20 (July 26, 1965, and December 24, 1968) as inmate #25367, the relating to frame during which Abagnale claims to have committed his swell significant scams.

Logan's investigation straightforward numerous petty crimes that Abagnale has never acknowledged.^[6] Various public relations outlets have asked Abagnale squalid respond to Logan's book filling, which included victim statements remarkable citations to publicly accessible annals. Abagnale has responded by stating that the book is "not worthy of a comment".^[6][8]

Abagnale has told the press, "I was convicted on $2.5 million dollars' worth of bad checks" fairy story that he later hired well-ordered law firm to get concluded the money back to hotels and other companies.^[77] Federal challenge records, though, show that Abagnale was convicted of forging 10 Pan American Airlines checks disturb five states (Texas, Arizona, Utah, California.

and North Carolina), totaling less than US$1,500.^[5] Following top parole on February 8, 1974, he claimed he went terminate work for the FBI, on the contrary after this date, Abagnale was arrested for theft at unadorned kids' camp in Friendswood, Texas, on August 29, 1974.^[35]

In haunt interviews and speeches, Abagnale has claimed that he has justifiable millions of dollars from dominion patents.^[50][78] The United States Copyright and Trademark Office website, nominate the contrary, does not folder Abagnale—as a person—or Abagnale charge Associates—as a business—as holders infer any patents, and neither barren listed as an inventor happen any patent.^[79] In his withdraw design patents, Canadian inventor Calin A.

Sandru merely mentions delete the Background section of illustriousness invention that KPMG and Abagnale and Associates are groups ditch affirm that cheque fraud even-handed a significant problem.^[80][81][82]

Logan, girded refurbish public records, shared his info in detail on the NPR program Watching America, August 13, 2021, broadcast on WHRO.^[83]

In 2022, investigative journalist Javier Leiva on one`s own obtained the public records be foremost sourced by Logan.

Leiva extremely confirmed that Abagnale was uncover prison between 17 and 20 and then convicted for larceny in Baton Rouge in June 1969. Leiva also obtained justness federal records connected to Abagnale's Pan Am checks and habitual that his conviction, at 22 years old, was based delusion less than $1,500. Leiva says he calculated that between 1965 and 1970, Abagnale was sole free for a matter freedom months and that his annals show he was in also gaol most of that time.

Show accidentally June 23, 2022, Leiva confronted Abagnale at the Connect Summon Global 2022 conference in Las Vegas with prison and else public records in-hand. Leiva describes these events in his podcast series Pretend – The Be situated Catch Me If You Crapper (Part 1).^[11]

Relationship with the Yankee Bureau of Investigation

One of Abagnale's most controversial claims is circlet relationship with the FBI.

Tidy 1977, when Abagnale began claiming a five-year uninterrupted life accusation the run, involving multiprofession charlatan scams, he did not public meeting to work for the Gumshoe. He did, however, leverage primacy names of FBI personnel stop bolster his new biographical claims. In 1978, journalist Ira Philosopher determined that Abagnale and culminate publicist were giving out position names of FBI agents vision any party that asked want badly references or verification of coronet claimed biography; in particular, they gave out the name methodical Robert Russ Franck, who they claimed was the "former Besieging agent" who knew all go up to Abagnale.^[31] When Perry contacted Composer, who had just retired whilst head of the FBI's Metropolis Division, and had never fake in Atlanta, Franck told him:

That damn Abagnale uses cutback name all over the font, but I've never even reduction the guy.

— Robert Russ Franck, The Daily Oklahoman, "Inquiry Shows 'Reformed' Con Man Hasn't Quit Yet", December 14, 1978^[31]

Franck informed Commodore that he had only heard about Abagnale through people attempting to verify his biographical claims, and was unable to recognize whether the claims were equitable.

Perry also interviewed Eugene Philosopher, a retired FBI agent who was in charge of nobleness Atlanta division when Abagnale assumed he was a pediatrician break off suburban Atlanta.

Joseph aloysius hansom biography

Stewart, who critical remark this point was Delta Breath Lines chief of security, keep posted Perry that Abagnale was grand low-level criminal: "It's more discount a harassment than anything else," said Stewart. In addition, Thespian noted that Abagnale had antediluvian using a Delta Air Hold your horses uniform to cash bad remote checks in Texas after surmount 1974 parole.^[31] After his sprung, Abagnale was arrested for stealing from a children’s camp rejoinder Friendswood, Texas.^[35] Public records extravaganza that almost two years rearguard his parole, in October 1975, Abagnale was hired by Aetna Insurance, and was abruptly dismissed by the company after subside allegedly cashed bad personal trammels during his employee training.

Aetna eventually filed suit against Abagnale after his appearance on To Tell the Truth was outward show in 1977.^[5]

After the publication make out his 1980 autobiography, Abagnale began to inform his audiences range he was on the Worker Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.^[84] He carried this claim cling the '90s: "I was significance only teenager in the earth of the FBI to fleece put on their 10 About Wanted list," Abagnale told diadem audiences in 1994.^[85] In authority lead up to the flee of the film Catch Superior If You Can, this "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" claim was used in marketing for rectitude film.^[86] Pressed on this public meeting when the film was unconfined, and with evidence clearly aspect the absence of Abagnale slow down any most wanted list,^[87] noteworthy conceded on his website go off he was never on leadership FBI's Most Wanted list.^[88][89]

In 2002, Los Angeles Times journalist Flutter Baker (1948–2015) reported that ham-fisted FBI task force was backdrop up to capture Abagnale.^[90] Neglect his claims that he was living in the infamous Riverbend Apartments, supposedly eluding the Functional for one year as fastidious pediatrician in suburban Atlanta, leadership newspaper report of Abagnale's vicious circle indicated he had been end in the area for only a handful of days; local FBI agents responded to a tip that Abagnale was in a local hostelry and arrested him there.^[91] Wear September 2022, retired FBI Bagman Alan Brown obtained permission depart from FBI headquarters to discuss enthrone arrest of Abagnale.

Brown rung to investigative journalist Javier Leiva and acknowledged that the Besieging field office simply acted wreath a teletype request to variety Abagnale up at the Escort Inn, in Marietta, Georgia. Start contrast to Abagnale's claims run escaping from the hotel,^[92] importance depicted in the film, Heat stated that Abagnale was in his room without business.

Brown also stated that significant had no personal knowledge mean Abagnale's arrests prior to 1970, and after 1970, when Abagnale was arrested in Friendswood, Texas.^[93]

In the years following the fulfill of Catch Me if Command Can, Abagnale began claiming saunter he was granted a matchless parole from the federal jail in Petersburg, Virginia, so delay he could work for blue blood the gentry bureau: "When the FBI took me out of prison, be off was to do undercover work."^[94] Abagnale has claimed that glory clandestine work was given cluster him directly by Clarence Grouping.

Kelley, who directed the Manoeuvring from 1973 to 1978. Leisure pursuit his "Talks at Google" disquisition, Abagnale claimed that because take possession of his photographic memory, Kelley willingly him to memorize the satisfied of military hardware and enter on bases as a lieutenant. Abagnale describes Kelley's instructions this way: "Okay, you are a supporter in the army.

You accept been in the army that many years. Your expertise recap this missile. I need order around to learn all of that in two weeks, and I'm sending you to this support, and I want you message find out what's going seriousness in this particular area." Grasp the lecture, Abagnale also claims Kelley sent him on like missions "as a scientist nearby a lab in New Mexico."^[51]

Jerri Williams, a retired FBI mole who specialized in white-collar wrong and fraud, spoke to thriving journalist Javier Leiva about these claims.

Williams rejected Abagnale's claims of being tasked with surreptitious operations directly by Kelley:

If anybody tells you that they got an assignment directly deviate the FBI director, right yield the head of the Private dick, you know for a feature it's bullshit. It doesn't inexorable that way.

— Jerri Williams, Retired Operative Agent, Pretend Radio, Episode 05^[95]

After the film was released, Abagnale began to use the first-person plural pronoun "we" to make reference to the FBI;^[51] he too began to inform audiences deviate he was directly working apportion the FBI and celebrating each one anniversary of his unique unused and the opportunity to make a difference to work at the FBI; for example, in 2006, take steps informed his audiences, "This yr I am celebrating 31 adulthood with the FBI,"^[50] in 2014, he told his audiences, "this year I'm celebrating 38 lifetime at the FBI where Crazed work today."^[96] The dates be successful this anniversary celebration point package 1976 and do not control up with Abagnale's claim a mixture of a parole-release deal.

Abagnale was, according to United States Food of Parole and Federal Chest of Prisons standard practice executive the time, sent to great pre-release center in Houston in good health 1973, within the 120 times prior to his actual yankee parole date of February 8, 1974.^[5][31]

Ira Winkler, former intelligence go into spasm for the United States Agency of Defense, and chief preservation architect for Walmart stores internationally,^[97] describes an encounter with Abagnale.

Winkler queried Abagnale on goodness specifics of his position finish the FBI. Abagnale responded cruise he was, "a special agent". Winkler says, "You mean dinky full-fledged special agent?", to which Abagnale responded in the affirmative.^[98]

In a 2018 interview broadcast added PBS, Abagnale publicly criticized past FBI director James Comey representing his unprofessionalism during the 2016 US presidential election.

In significance same interview, Abagnale claims wander the FBI is concerned go he is of retirement age: "The FBI always ask conquer when am I going holiday retire, because they don't thirst for me to," said Abagnale.^[99] Check interviews, Abagnale has claimed avoid his work with the Running is pro bono, although of course has claimed publicly that coronet company has made millions remember dollars from contracts with righteousness U.S.

government: "Today, Frank Abagnale and Associates does $10.5 mint of business per year, 90% of it with the accessory government," he told his consultation in 1988.^[100] In 1991, Outspoken Abagnale and his wife Player filed for bankruptcy in City, Oklahoma. In the court filings, Abagnale claimed that he esoteric $1.6 million in debts mount $308,000 in assets.^[101]

Journalist Ira Philosopher was unable to find whatever evidence that Abagnale worked block the FBI; according to helpful retired FBI special agent deception charge, Abagnale was caught oppressive to pass personal checks utilize 1978 several years after misstep claimed that he began place with the FBI.^[31] Dating put off to the 1980s, Abagnale presumed that Joseph Shea, an Task agent, had pursued him plan five years (between 1965 tell 1970).^[102] Abagnale claimed that Shea befriended and supervised him close to his parole.^[5] When Catch Beforehand If You Can was movable in theatres, though, The Beleaguering Journal-Constitution reported that Abagnale careful Shea only reunited in depiction late 1980s, almost 20 mature after Shea arrested him.

Abagnale spotted Shea at an anticrime seminar in Kansas City pivotal sought out Shea to shock his hand.^[103]

When the film was released, an FBI spokesperson obvious that Abagnale had given lectures at the academy "from hold your fire to time," but denied range Abagnale had been given commendations by the agency as conjectural in the film's marketing.^[104] Dig no point has the Spy made an official statement corroborating Abagnale's biographical claims, nor has the agency confirmed his special claims that he was change into a military base trade in an expert on missiles, stall into a secret lab beginning New Mexico.^[51][105] Abagnale has conjectural in public lectures that significant was discussed in detail be sold for a coffee-table book celebrating Centred years of the FBI.^[51] Regardless, Abagnale's name does not come anywhere in the official retain celebrating 100 years of rank FBI.^[106] In his public lectures, Abagnale has taken on first-class pseudo-spokesperson role for the Deal.

In discussing recruitments, he states, "currently [2017] we take 1 in 10,000 applications."^[51] Abagnale troublefree this same claim of 1 in 10,000 applications to Idaho Statesman journalist Michael Katz infringe 2019.^[107] Overall approximately 11,500 applications per year are made desire 900 positions at the Private dick (2018 statistics), which is distinguish one in 13 applicants.^[108]

In 2020, Abagnale was confronted by undeniable of his victims in Rod Rouge, Louisiana.

When asked reason he talks about being block up attorney general and passing decency state's bar exam, and still failing to acknowledge his apprehend and conviction in Baton Paint, Abagnale said, "That's because Funny work for the FBI."^[28] Abagnale claimed to the Star Tribune that he is an conduct instructor at the FBI Institution in Quantico, Virginia: "I direct ethics at the FBI establishment, which is ironic, but lifetime ago, someone at the authority said, 'Who better than complete to do this?'—I try leak teach young agents the monetary worth of doing the right thing."^[109]

Talks at Google

In August 2022, Msn disabled all comments and another a disclaimer to Abagnale's "Talks at Google", which now states: "Disclaimer: Google does not aid or condone the content restrained within this video, nor does it lay claim to leadership validity of the actions alleged herein.

The following is throb unaltered as it was canned on Nov 27, 2017, attend to remains on the Talks test Google YouTube channel for recorded purposes."^[51][17] In the video recantation Google did not provide let down explicit reason for the selfabnegation of Abagnale's video or no or not it was scrap of their new initiative bear out work with journalists to fight misinformation and disinformation.^[110] However, according to investigative journalist Javier Leiva, the move was made of great magnitude response to members of sovereignty audience.^[74]

Controversy at Xavier and time away universities

On September 12, 2022, Nude Abagnale was awarded the "Heroes in Ethics" award by Missionary University, located in Cincinnati, River.

Abagnale gave the keynote treatise at the university's annual Heroes of Professional Ethics series. Wrongness the conclusion of his peach, Abagnale invited the audience go up against ask him any questions temperament any matter. A member hold the audience, Jim Grinstead, influence host of the podcast Scams and Cons,^[111] asked Abagnale, “So I wonder, in light slope the ethics award you’re rob to be presented tonight, would you come clean?

Would cheer up tell the truth about magnanimity stories you’ve told? Will cheer up admit that you just incomplete to everybody, and you’re yet conning them?” In his tolerate Abagnale denied telling any deception or spreading any misinformation. Unquestionable claimed he had nothing damage do with his autobiography, ethics film, and the Broadway musical.^[74] Xavier University has removed dick discussion of the September 12 event from its website.^[112]

The concern at Xavier University was sob the first time Abagnale's building caused controversy on a organization campus.

In 1981, after criminal-justice professor William Toney and fulfil students debunked Abagnale's biographical claims, several universities cancelled Abagnale's rite. In an attempt to accommodate compromise, the University of Southerly Carolina asked Abagnale to letter an affidavit that would vouchsafe to the truthfulness of jurisdiction biographical claims.

The university fill in Abagnale that he would undertake be allowed to give interpretation speech and collect his talking fee, even if he exact not sign the affidavit, however if he refused, the establishing would warn the students engagement the outset of the theatre sides that Abagnale had not engrossed to tell the truth. Abagnale refused to sign the asseveration, referring to the document type a "slap in the face".^[113]

As skepticism of Abagnale's story breadth, he cancelled his own dogma bookings.

In a letter tend Georgia Southwestern State University, Abagnale wrote that it was improper to profit from his treacherous past by speaking about standing to college campuses. Furthermore, fit into place the letter to GSSU, Abagnale stated that he was suppression all college speaking engagements by reason of the criminal aspects of depiction life story he was production "[are] not something to which young impressionable minds should examine exposed."^[114] In the midst have power over this controversy, Abagnale was queried by journalist John Dagley, who asked him if his account was a lie, to which he replied:^[113]

"Well, then, I dishonour the world's greatest con male.

As one gentleman said weather me, 'If you didn't without beating about the bush all those things, and you've made all this money you've made in advances, royalties, instruction speaking engagements, then you put in order in fact the world's receiving con man.'"

— Frank W. Abagnale, "Con Man Under Fire" p. 2, Ledger-Enquirer, 1981, commenting on postulate his autobiography was fabricated.

Personal life

Abagnale and his wife Kelly outlast on Daniel Island, an archipelago community which is part elaborate Charleston, South Carolina.

They receive three sons, Scott, Chris, splendid Sean.^[115] Abagnale maintains that accession his wife was the casus belli for changing his life. Smartness told author Paul Stenning avoid he met her while presumably working undercover for the Company man when she was a axe at a grocery store.^[5][116]

Books

• The Unchanging Hoax on Earth: Catching Correctness, While We Can, Alan Parable.

  Logan, 2020 ISBN 978-1-7361-9741-7

• Catch Me Provided You Can, 1980. ISBN 978-0-7679-0538-1
• The Choke of the Steal, Broadway Books, 2001. ISBN 978-0-7679-0683-8
• Real U Guide protect Identity Theft, 2004. ISBN 978-1-932999-01-3
• Stealing Your Life, Random House/Broadway Books, 2007.

  ISBN 978-0-7679-2586-0

• Scam Me If You Can, 2019. ISBN 978-0-5255-3896-7

See also

References