Emerald City Ponzi Scheme - Unmasking Seattle’s Mini Madoff

0:00 It turns out he was really good at the collecting part. And then, not so great when it came to releasing the funds to the appropriate party. Which is just wild to me. I mean, what could possibly go wrong when you put her petually drunk assholes in charge of tens of thousands of dollars? Yeah, what could go wrong? I'm just not sure where things went wrong. Hi, Cassie.

0:40 Hi, Caitlyn. Hi, creepy people. Hello. Hello. Hello. If you're new to our creepy corner of the world, this is PNW Haunts and Homicides, where we chat about true crime, paranormal, and all things creepy in the Pacific Northwest. And then we do a tarot reading at the end of every episode for a little deeper insight into whatever we talked about for the day, whether it was true crime or spooky. Yes. So, if you want to stick around and hear that, you are more than welcome to join us. In fact, we insist. We kind of do.

1:21 But in a really nice way, not like in a, you know, culty way. Never. All right. We'll just see how this goes because this is, I think this is what I've heard now several shows the hosts refer to as After Dark. Oh, yeah. That's us tonight recording this. So good thing. I didn't pick something super duper dark. I think. That's good. That's good. It's not dark after dark. Yeah, exactly. I don't know. I just feel like that would be insult to injury. Yeah. It's been a long day, you guys.

2:01 Okay. It has been. I've been editing that video that you all have better have watched and enjoyed because it was hard, but fun for your viewing pleasure. Okay. That was the loan for cemetery episode. Yeah. That's a fun one. And I added all the pictures and stuff into the video. Oh, she can't see. I know. I mean, real fancy. Don't expect it every time. Yeah, I want to see. All right. Well, oh, I have a correction. Can I make a correction? Of course. So I realized while I was editing, I said the Multnomah County building was built in its client.

2:47 It's a Multnomah County building called the Morrison building. And for some reason, I think maybe I just like deleted that part on everything. You're like, listen, you don't need to know which building. Just know that Multnomah County is the boss of it. So it's called the Morrison building. Just so everyone knows. Okay. I feel a lot better now. Thank you. I do because I was like weighing heavy on me. I'm like, there's someone's going to tell me it's not called the Multnomah County building. That doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Also, please don't do. Yeah. I mean, if I make a mistake, you're more than welcome to tell me nicely. Yeah.

3:28 But definitely don't correct Cassie in that tone of voice. Yeah. Because I will not stand for it. Thank you. Yeah. Anywhere else? That was it. That was a so welcome. Sorry to take over your episode. Oh, yeah. I just honestly don't know how I could ever forgive you. You'll have to try. Yeah. She's like, too fucking bad. All right. So this episode, I'm kind of just going to jump into it. Okay. I feel like people say that and then it doesn't really seem like they're jumping into it. But you're not jumping. I'm. Yeah. Well, listen, that really wreaks havoc on the pop filter in the microphone.

4:12 Yeah. You know, not, not, you're not compatible with jumping jets. And me there is usually our alter set up. Oh, yeah. And it turns out actually I'm not either. So. All right. Fredrick, Darren, Muskov had few friends as a kid growing up in Grands Pass, Oregon. He was born in Ashland, Oregon and was the youngest in his family. Perhaps that's why at just eight years old, he created an alter ego. Oh, I love me an alter ego.

4:52 Oh, that's interesting. I do not for like criminal purposes, but I just really like being in cogn, incognito. Incognito. Incognito. Yeah. And. And I do the same thing. In, in, in, in, in. Anyways, enough of that. And in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in. Do you want to know what it was? His alter ego. Literally, I'm dying to know what it is. Please tell me. Rod Taylor. Rod Taylor. Yeah. Yeah, man. Mm hmm. Darren was an outgoing and obedient child, but he also aspired to greatness.

5:41 He wanted to be more like his alter ego, Rod Taylor, etch service, which always reminds me of this scene in scrubs where he says, Dr. Turk, etch your service. Oh, it was in labor. Oh, that's funny. Yeah. All right. Well, I've never seen it. All right. Podcasts is over. No. This is not scrubs rewatch podcast. No, because the people that actually start in the show are doing that. Don't you love that, though? I fucking love those rewatch podcasts. Yeah.

6:21 With the cast. The cast. The podcast, cast, rewatch podcast. Yeah. I just learned there was an OC one, and I'm about to get down on that. Oh, boy. Yeah. I know. It's too rich for my blood. Rod was smart, but also invincible. Unfailing in any pursuit and was, of course, admired by all. Hmm. Which is really easy to do when you don't exist. I was going to say, I feel like if you're trying to be like someone who is invincible, it might not work out. Yeah. Yeah. Not a human trait.

7:03 No, wait, that's exactly right. Wow. Couldn't have said it better myself. Literally could not. You're welcome. It's not hard to see the appeal for someone like Darren who always fell short, at least in his father's eyes, who frankly sounds like a bully. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty typical dynamic here, unfortunately. It's unclear whether he actually verbalized this thought or if Darren just sort of felt it, but he believed that his father considered him a sissy. Oh, that's so sad.

7:43 Yeah, I don't love it. Yeah. And to be honest, I don't know if there were early signs of what would develop into, you know, well, I shouldn't say develop into it because it's not a, it's not a, it's a curse. It's not a progression per se and it's not a choice. But I wonder if Darren's father could see early signs that he was gay. Oh, okay. I feel like that can make for some challenging relationship dynamics when you are an actual trash hamster.

8:24 Yeah. So. Wow. While we're on the topic of toxic masculinity and also Darren's dad, topics that may be somewhat intertwined in hindsight. So let's talk more about the family patriarch, shall we? Okay. Yeah. Well, you don't really get a choice. So Darren's father supported the family in a variety of roles. He worked as a butcher, a car salesman and even a river guide, which a river guide. He was a car salesman, a butcher and then a river guide. Yes.

9:04 Okay. Okay. I thought I said river guide. No, I just didn't, in my brain, it didn't fit with the other things. I mean, they are some very disparate job types, I would say. Like what's a river guide? Like, is it fishing? I don't know if there was fishing involved, but somebody who takes tourists or people that want to go out into the great beyond the wilderness. Yeah. Interesting. And it takes them out on tours and whatnot. Because he, I don't know. I don't know this person, but to me, so far, it doesn't seem like the type to be like, look at this tree. It's a blue, blue, blue.

9:44 Oh. But I mean, he does strike me as the kind of guy who would be taking people out, you know, for like whitewater rafting or something. Oh, okay. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Because I'm a man. That's why I was like, maybe it's fishing. I don't know. I was like a manly thing to do, kill little innocent fish with hooks. Oh, yeah. The family was certainly living in the right area for the latter career path. So like, Grants Pass, you know, kind of Ashland, the Rogue Riverish area, I think I semi-know-our-ash, Ashland, Ashland is super kill. We just talked about it recently.

10:25 Yeah, we did. But Darren's diadi was said to be a mean drunk. Though it seems that his older brothers took the brunt of their father's abuse, the pair were left with enough rage to enact similar abuse on their youngest brother, on their father's behalf, or just on their own behalf because they were pissed that they were always getting beat up. No. So, you know, super healthy. From an early age, it seems that Darren's emotional bonds were closest with his mother and sisters. Which I mean, I think for maybe the youngest of three boys that doesn't seem that surprising.

11:07 Yeah. I don't know. I'm not a boy. I don't know things about boy stuff. By the time his parents split up in 1975, Darren was a teenager. Eventually, his mother remarried, which is actually where Darren takes on a different surname, Berg. Talk about daddy issues. Oh, all joking aside, if you were given your father's last name at birth and you decide to change it of your own accord, when you're still a kid, I'm going to assume that daddy done did your wrong. Yeah, probably. Fair assessment.

11:48 It's not totally clear to me that this was 100% Darren's choice or his doing, but I do think it says a lot. And let's face it, he didn't ever change his name back. Either. Okay. I just found that really interesting. In any case, Darren would eventually leave Grant's pass and enroll at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Oh, okay, ducks. Yeah. Whack, whack, whack, whack. This is where I have to say that while I really love how we have like a shop local mentality to our show, I also really hate that everything is ruined forever.

12:31 What's being ruined now? Well, I mean, he's like a U of O alum and I'm like, David. But, oh, you know, is that ruining that? I guess not. Let me be dramatic. Okay, it is a full moon. I was like, if I'm going to pick a duck or a beaver, it's going to be a beaver for sure. And what are we ruining here? Come to me when you ruin beavers, okay? Okay. So, this is kind of off the rails a little bit, it's a little bit of a tangent, but you, I know. But I die Grant.

13:11 I know. I was shocked. Anyway. I've actually been recently binging a true crime heavy on the comedy podcast called Let's Go to Court. And in terms of juvenile dick and/or butt related jokes, I give us a decent run for money. Like, I feel like we would be friends in real life. Okay. Do you remember I texted our chat the other night and was asking, what is that movie where the guy is talking about? I feel like he would want to be friends with me and he was referring to Vince Vaughn.

13:54 Oh. That is how I feel about them. Man, like, they're, why don't you bring up Vince Vaughn? I don't think so. I feel like, come on. Interesting. Come on. But they actually covered this case as well and it was pretty fucking hilarious. And I'm not going to steal their jokes about how Darian is a weird busfucker. What? A busfucker? Uh-huh. As in so obsessed with buses that he wants to fuck one American pie style. Oh. Is he going to be on my strange addiction?

14:34 Do you remember the guy who like fucked his car? It's not like that allegedly. We talked about tree fucking last time too. What is it with you? It is all over the place. But anyways, I would never do that to the self-proclaimed Grace Kelly of podcasting would never steal her hilarious dick and/or butt jokes. So. Okay. However, I did want to take this opportunity to humbly issue a call to action for our listeners. Please make Kristen and Brandy aware of our existence.

15:18 Make our dreams come true. Busfucking accusations aside. There is absolutely zero concrete evidence that Darian ever engaged in sexual intercourse with a bus or any other type of motor vehicle. I'm saying that for legal reasons because I feel he could prove to be a litigious man. You know, I think I'm just going to go with the fact that he didn't. It just I'm more comfortable with that. Yeah. There's something. There's something that is comforting about that. Yeah. However, at 20 years old, he did in fact own a charter bus company.

15:59 The Darian Berg Tour Corporation. Oh, he didn't name it after his alter ego? No. Darian. I know. It feels like it could be a missed opportunity. Right. Yeah. But maybe it was like the ultimate fuck you to his dad. Yeah, maybe. I'm just saying. That's true. Because he had a new last name and yeah, yeah, yeah. His grandfather was reportedly a Greyhound bus driver. So maybe it was just a genetic compulsion. It's just that's a bus family. It's a bus fucking family. No. Also, I'd like to point out that I say reportedly, like Darian telling that story over and over about his grandpa being a bus driver is actual reporting.

16:50 Oh, so we don't know if that's true. I mean, I have no reason to believe it's not true. I'm assuming it's true, but I wasn't looking to fact check that particular aspect of the story. It's kind of a weird lie. It would be a weird lie, but it's only weird lie. Unless you're going like, oh, no, what I'm doing. Because my grandpa did this. So it runs in my blood. He didn't drive the buses. What is he? He's telling me. It's only coming. Yeah. Oh, he's a world class delegator. Oh. Okay. Okay. He is a manson. A what? A manson. Oh, he's a world class delegator.

17:33 I've ever seen that. That's true. Anyways, aside from running a company completely removed from any type of vehicular sex work, I don't know if I don't know if motor vehicles can be involved in sex work. If you can't consent, that's what I'm saying. Unless you're one of those talking cars from those shows or whatever, like Christine. Yeah. Or yeah. I bet Christine or consent. She was kind of obsessed with it. She was a naughty girl from what I recall.

18:13 Darren was a good looking white man of mediocre talent and possibly slightly above average intelligence. So, you know, other than fucking buses, that was kind of his thing. I just feel like it's giving bun D vibes. Yeah. Thankfully, minus the murder. Oh, God. Thank gosh. That we know of. I'm always leaving that door open. Hmm. I don't want to leave murder doors open. I know. Well, we did. Literally left the murder door open. Maybe that's why you left it open because it related to your story.

18:54 No, I could not have operated with that level of forethought. That's ridiculous. Ma'am. You think I remember what I wrote? Yeah. You said ridiculous. The person who sat down and said, all right, what are we talking about today? I did say that. Anyway, for a young man of college age, there was only one thing to do. Cassie. One thing. One thing. A bus. I don't know. That's right. Join a frat. Oh. Good old Greek societies.

19:35 That's right. She's like, I could not care less. Alpha beta pi. Hey, listen. I will let you know what house. But just joining would be such a sheeple move. Not Darren. He had big dreams for his time as a pie capa alpha. And because he was an attractive yet altogether mediocre white man at the stage of his life, he was handed an opportunity to really make an impression as a hashtag Greek life student. When he was elected, both president and treasurer for the fraternity.

20:20 That seems like a conflict of interest. Well, it seems like probably kind of a time suck also. Yeah. Does he not take any classes? I don't know. Yeah. I'm just saying it seems like poor planning. Interesting. Hmm. Because I guess we just hand over that kind of responsibility to whoever has their hands free while everyone else is butt chugging something. Good old butt chugging. Butt chugging. Hey, I said I wouldn't steal her jokes. I didn't say I wouldn't make my own about the bus. Mike Stone was the frat's alumni advisor.

21:00 And he would be the one to stumble upon the fraud initiated by Darren. You see, Darren was responsible for collecting the household rent from its members and making the payment to their landlord. Weirdly, after being elected by his brothers, the fraternity would encounter some financial issues. Weird. When you make the president also the treasurer. Weird. Weird. In September, the frat's bank statement did not show a deposit. So it's really hard to make the payment for your rent when you don't deposit the funds that you collected to pay them.

21:43 Yeah. Yeah. You get it. I don't know where it went. What made the treasurer? Yeah. Yes, Darren. Yes. Yes, you are. Fuck. It turns out he was really good at the collecting part. And then, not so great when it came to releasing the funds to the appropriate party. Hmm. Which is just wild to me. I mean, what could possibly go wrong when you put perpetually drunk assholes in charge of tens of thousands of dollars? Yeah. What could go wrong? I'm just not sure where things went wrong. Yeah.

22:24 Well, it would come to light later that Darren had taken all the money from the frat that should have been going towards their rent. The question is, what would an entrepreneur, that young, dumb, and presumably full of come, do with all that money? I was not expecting you to say that. I know. Because I was like, I see it. I see it. And I was like, don't even look at it. You know the word. Just say it. Don't give it away. You wouldn't even say that for my episode when I made you read the Urban Dictionary Definition of, I can't remember like the scuba diver. I don't know.

23:04 I remember what it was. It wasn't that. But you were like, come to completion. You wouldn't even say come. Now you're pulling, come out of your butt. Obviously, I said, come, come to completion. Come on. You should have said full of completion. Oh boy. Oh boy. That's a new one. Listen, he poured it into his bus company. The money, not the comp. Allegedly. Wow. Just come in full circle. You see what I did. I do see what she did there. Unfortunately, I'm getting a very thavid mental image right now.

23:49 So now he's got money to burn and potentially bus is to fuck. Again, allegedly. How many more times? Couldn't tell you. Probably a few more. You guys, he's really obsessed with the buses. Okay. And it's such a weird and specific part of this case that like 100 different. Like TV shows, news programs, podcasts, could cover it and they would all be thinking to themselves.

24:30 When does he start fucking the bus? Oh god. I don't want to know. Honestly, I'm just so glad I'm not a newscaster. It would really suck to have to talk about this case and like straight face. Yeah. No jokes. No jokes about his bus, fucking. You would just have to and then get fired and you'd end up on YouTube as a blooper. Yeah. Any whosel. Following this kerfuffle with the frat finances, Darren moved to Portland and started an ad agency with a former frat brother. They called it Berg, Chavre and Associates.

25:11 Did they know what was him that stole the money? Oh yeah. It's like it's kind of obvious. So like, who is this other frat brother that's going with him? Yeah. I don't know. Maybe that guy graduated the year before and had no idea. Interesting. That was my question as well. What are you doing, bro? I just saw he was like really good at money. Yeah, you're like, he's really good at money. People like elected him from money stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Let's be his partner. Yeah. John. Oh god. Chad. Chavre. Oh, that's so douchey. I have no idea what his name was. Oh, I was like, is that his name?

25:52 Yeah. That would be hilarious though, right? Which in another context almost conjures up images of an up and coming law firm. Doesn't Berg, Chavre and Associates. It sounds like a law firm. It kind of does, yeah. It wasn't. Clearly. I'd be a little worried if it was. Yeah. Well, here's the thing is he did tell people that he went to law school. So oh, it's not even that far fetched. It wasn't him. It was Rod who went to law school. Listen, Rod doesn't like to waste his time with books and classrooms, lectures.

26:34 No, he's out there doing. I assume the big do. He's doing the big do. I don't know. Yeah, do the do. Yeah, do the do. Yeah, do the do. Yeah. No, I remember those ads. God damn. Well, things seem to be on the up and up for a minute anyway. Then in 1987, Darren isn't dieted on bank fraud charges for checkkiting. Checkkiting. Yeah. What is that? Oh, don't you worry. Okay. So basically, he wrote a check from one account deposited to another and withdrew the funds before anyone realized that the first account had insufficient funds.

27:25 And just in case you were wondering because you thought it sounded like such a good idea, this is illegal. This is why check suck. Yeah. This is why nobody takes a goddamn check. Which is why I will never understand how they went and gave it such a fun, whimsical sounding name. Yeah, checkkiting. Checkkiting. Yeah. I feel like I'm about to have a day at the beach. Just kite in your cheques around. Yeah. Oh, look, my $10,000. You mimin. An interpretation of checkkiting. I just was it everything you ever wanted?

28:07 It really was. You're welcome. I mean, except the $10,000. But I know. Oh, boy. Okay. He did this in a series of transactions between the business ventures in which he had a stake to the tune of roughly $19,000. Ooh. In 1987. Kind of a lot. That's like, that's a lot of money now, but that was like decent amount. Chad had never seen that much money. Though eight charges had been filed against him, he pled guilty to just a singular charge.

28:52 The judge sentenced him to a suspended sentence, which is just the most dickish thing. As part of the agreement for his sentencing, he had to repay the money he'd kited and attend counseling. Oh. Okay. So basically like, hey, you stole that money. You have to give it back. And then we're going to, we want to send you to this guy. And he's going to tell you about how you can be better at not doing that. I mean, I guess it's like, was the crime that I mean? Bad, bad. I mean, I don't know.

29:32 You got an extra 19 grand later. I mean, if you can't pay it back, I assume there are rep rep rep rep, rep rep or cushions, rep or cushions. I mean, dealer's choice. I'll say it with a country accent. Rep or cushions. Rep or cushions. What in tarnation? Oh boy. Allowing this latest brush with legal system, he moved to Seattle. And he started a new company. Hmm. I wonder if this one just did everything legally, nothing went wrong. Listen, Darren has proven himself to be nothing if not honest.

30:19 New state, new Darren. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. That's right. When people wait for a new year, he just waited for a new address. They waited until he got caught and then moved. Yeah. Yeah. Meridian mortgage funds. This company honed in on the private mortgage market. Remember, it's the 80s. Oh. The late 80s. Arguably the best part of the 80s. Just write about, write about now. I think you can get away with crime. Not really. Also when I was born. But I see I see it.

31:01 Yeah. What I said didn't make any sense because he didn't even get away with it. No. Was this on American greed? It was. Yeah. I wonder if I've heard it before. I wouldn't know. Maybe. Yeah. Well, because you're like sleep watching. Yeah. And you're like sleep listening. So many of them. Yeah. What he started out doing was totally legal, essentially selling real estate without the involvement of a bank, which sounds far less insidious on the surface than how, you know, by the end of it, how all this shook out. Is that like those signs I see on the road that said we buy houses cash?

31:45 I don't think this really exists anymore. Oh. Yeah. So does anybody know it's a scam? I can tell you that. Like a hand with sign on the side of the road on in cardboard. You know what? Listen, that guy could afford both the Sharpie and the card stock. Yeah. So I mean, he probably knows what he's doing. Yeah. Well, I assume like if you're wanting to buy houses with cash, you might have the cash to purchase a nicer sign. Well, but you know what? They always say rich people don't waste their money. So on signage. That's a quote.

32:27 Yeah. Typically, this type of transaction would occur if the buyer didn't have the credit worthiness to qualify for a more traditional bank loan. So nothing to see here. Surface level, everything's fine. Everything's fine. My next line, which seemed fine. Scirt protocol and safety nets, baby. This is all prior to the collapse of the housing and mortgage markets still playing a prominent role in the collective trauma of I wrote nation, but I'm going to say generation when it comes to housing.

33:16 Yeah. Because let's face it, there's some people that are maybe slightly more significantly impacted. In 2003, Darren invested in his bus company to the tune of about four million dollars of Meridian's roughly 13 million dollars in capital. Damn. He stole the bus company. Yeah. Okay. And I got to say, I was like, I'm sorry, how many millions? I, a couple of you. He's, he's real good at collecting.

33:57 Yeah. So while we're talking about money that Darren, at one point or another, outright stole from people or, you know, just casually embezzled those types of funds, that four million dollars would eventually grow to 40, not 40 dollars, because that wouldn't be growth. I don't think you people understand growth. 40 million dollars. Wow. And not because he invested it in something like real foolproof, he just kept stealing more. Oh, okay.

34:37 So just to be clear, he's not like so good with money that, you know, he's just like making more of it. Just, he just stealing more of it. So it's not returned on investment. No, it's not just see. I knew I would find a way to work it in. Damn. Oh, this is where I go hard on trying to convince you that he has a very unhealthy attachment or parasocial relationship with the buses back to the buses. Back to the buses. You know, I'm saying like back and back again. Back again. Back again. Back again. Back again.

35:17 He interviewed each bus driver that his company hired. Out of course, he purchased their uniforms from Nordstrom. Okay. Pretty shwanker. Fancy for a bus driver. I think so, a little bit. Because obviously I can't think of anything more necessary. I mean, you're going to get all those Nordy's points, you know, do they have points? Oh, well, they call them notes. You want to get those Nordy's notes. Oh. Oh. I mean, I bought my wedding dress second hand, but the thing is, I don't even plan to drive a bus a single time while I'm wearing it.

36:03 So who even cares? You know? Like, I'm not going to be operating any sort of heavy equipment. So what is it better? I sure as fuck hope not. She's like, I actually have follow up questions now, especially on your wedding because you're not going to be sober. No, not for a single minute of it. Are you going to talk about what he interviewed the bus drivers about? Oh, he just interviewed everyone that they hired. Oh, just to hire them. Do you think he tried to slip in like, hey, how much do you like buses?

36:46 Are you brilliant the buses? Or just like, yeah, I'm a bus driver. Try to feel them out and see it. Maybe he wouldn't hire them because it would be like competition. Oh, yeah. No, you don't want some other guy fucking your bus. The Seahawks. Back to sports saying, oh, we're among his elite client list. Oh, that's right. But it wasn't all about whining and dining the buses that Darren undoubtedly wanted to fuck. He also bought himself two private jets and two yachts because who wants to be one of those fours that doesn't have a jet or a yacht to lend to a friend, you know, two?

37:38 Uh-huh. Cheers. I mean, really, if you think about it, it's the only way to do it. I mean, I'm, you know, I wouldn't be mad about it if I were his friend. Exactly. He also paid John Mayer and Ben Foltz to perform at a company party. John Mayer? Yeah. Like, why? I mean, he was kind of, he, I mean, arguably he still, listen, people like him. I know. You know, I don't get it. I mean, I get it to a point, but I don't know.

38:19 Just whatever. Don't fuck over Taylor, you know? Yeah. Yeah, just fuck a bus. Allegedly, allegedly, allegedly, for all the other things she said, yeah, you forgot to say it a couple of times. Yeah, yeah. Listen, Darren, come out of your Heidi Hall, file that lawsuit. Bye-bye. He paid John Mayer $465,000 for that show. That's all it takes to buy John Mayer. I mean, this was a while ago, but yeah, pretty much. It's unclear how much Ben Foltz was compensated, but hopefully it was enough to cover his, I assume, myosive, alimony payments.

39:04 Is that dude's been married quite a few times? I don't know who that is. That's why I didn't really acknowledge that one. Yeah, no, I mean, I feel like that's, that's about right. Okay. My next line though, it probably won't explain it for you, but it might for some people. I don't know. He's the guy who penned the massively popular song about how the bitch went nuts. The bitch went nuts. Yeah. Hmm. Why? She stabbed my basketball. Good. I don't, I don't, I don't deserve it. What is it with all of the fucking sports? Anyway, unlike the nearly innumerable ex-wives of Ben Foltz, lovely gentleman that he has, Darren's employees loved him.

39:56 Particularly once they learned about how his grandpa had worked for Greyhound, inspiring Darren to do the same while he put himself through imaginary law school. Aww, so sweet. Yeah. So awesome. Why would you go to law school and then be a bus owner? She didn't go to the movies. I know, but like, that's what's weird about it. I get such a weird lie and people are like, believing it. But they're like, that totally tracks. Yeah, that makes complete sense, Darren. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess Nick Miller went to law school and he was just a bartender and then a writer. So anything is possible.

40:36 That's the rest, the not fictional character at all. Right. And that's a quote. Oh, I cut myself off before I said, a story that was roughly half-truth. At best. Because, you know, the whole law school part of it was fake. So what? Like it's hard. During this same period, he also had multiple residential properties. And here's the thing. Opens up a conversation about capitalism that I'm not prepared to have today. But what I will do is tell you about some other things that this absolute douche canoe did.

41:20 Because you know, eat the rich and suffering of the poor, fatched with lies. He posted a picture of himself to social media. Oh, wow. Do you want to read what it says? Would you be a deer? It says, I'm hot and rich. What's he standing in front of, Cassie? The adult's best coffee. That one's for sure going into our, oh, man, I am hot and rich. Wait. Oh, but behind him, it also says premium chicken.

42:02 So by March of 2007, he bought his mansion on Mercer Island. The lakefront property cost him roughly $5.5 million, boasting a beautiful view of the Bellevue skyline. Oh, love you. I think he would have had to pay me $5.5 million to live there with him, though. He's really awful. People are like, oh, OK, sure. We believe you. Is this the house?

42:43 Yeah. Whoa, damn. I mean, the price has gone up considerably. Ooh, $11 million. Wow. I know. Is that a hot tub pool combo like an infinity? Sure. Probably. Oh, yeah. Jet skis. Yep. So other than just our own amusement, there was a reason that I showed you that. To look at that property, I can easily believe that he just sunk a ton of money into it.

43:24 And those that talk to some of the contractors that worked on the property for him said that sometimes they would redo projects or entire rooms multiple times. Honestly, you can barely buy a postage stamp within a 100 mile radius of Portland or less than $11 million. So it's true. You know, dreams. Join our Patreon. Yeah. Fund our ridiculous dreams. Listen, I'm not looking to buy a mansion, but if I could move into a tube bedroom, that would be sick.

44:04 Yeah. Right. But I won't ever leave Portland and all likelihood because I do tend to prefer to live in a place where I'm viewed as a person. Yes, I am still mad about Roe v Wade for those of you that are keeping track. And hypocritical right wing conservative nut jobs inserting their insidious tentacles into our government healthcare and daily lives. But I digress. Okay, let's find you guys. It's totally fine. Everything that's happening in Alabama is happening there. So, Bamer, Bamer.

44:46 At any rate, Darren's swanky new place was located at, and you've already seen it so you know she's swanky. But for those of you that maybe want to give her a gander, Zilla that shit, Zaloo. In 1640, 72nd Avenue, Southeast, Mercer Island, Washington. Oh, they knew ya. I mean it's on actual island because that would have been like, that's annoying. Yeah. But it does, it did have water, water source. I know, but I feel like you have to have like probably hundreds of millions to be able to have your own island. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

45:27 In all likelihood. And then, you know, the first thing you need to do is to get your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. And then, you know, you have to have your own island. No, let me rephrase that. You got to spend someone else's money to make money, right? That is correct. There you go. It's unfortunately factually more accurate.

46:10 One of his largest investors happens to also have been an investor with Bernie Madoff. Have you ever heard of him? It sounds familiar. Not Bernie Sanders. Different guy. Yeah, very, very different guy. Pretty much diametrically opposed Bernie's actually. Just Bernie's not that common of a name. Okay, who's Bernie? Well, Bernie Madoff. Listen, we're going to have to unpack that on our own time. I think our listeners probably know who he is. He perpetrated one of the largest Ponzi scams, I think, in probably be largest. I don't know. Not keeping tabs on Bernie.

46:53 Was he on American greed? I don't know. Maybe he was on the news a lot. He was like 37 seasons, so it's possible. Yeah, so he might have actually been a whole last season. It was once the much larger Ponzi scheme was revealed at the height of the housing crisis that this individual attempted to withdraw his investment, which, of course, Darren couldn't repay. Because that's how Ponzi schemes were you get caught when you try to take their money back.

47:35 Yeah. Other investors began to follow suit, which, of course, resulted in a different type of suit as in multiple allow suits. Well, I guess he saw the writing on the wall, must have read the Wall Street Journal and realized that Ponzi schemes are really hard to carry off. Like, certainly for as long as he'd been doing it, he was coming definitely to the end of his rope. He reached out to the feds to confess his crimes and in July of 2010, he met and struck a deal with them.

48:16 Good old deal. Mark Calvert was assigned as his bankruptcy trustee and he was not only unimpressed with Darren's scheme, but he did not come up for any of his bullshit. Good. Federal investigators learned that, "Actually, though." You see, actually, though. Darren had concealed approximately $400,000 from the trustees and later lied about the source of these funds when confronted by the trustee and his personal bankruptcy.

48:59 Hmm, which is not a good idea. Despite claiming cooperation with bankruptcy trustees and his personal and corporate bankruptcies, Berg was shown to be concealing the source of the funds and using the money for personal expenses, including luxury vehicles, apartment rent and legal fees. And they were like, "That is not cool, dude." I want to be in bankruptcy. It sounds great. This is awesome. I mean, the dude's got two jets, two yachts. Like, he makes bankruptcy look pretty good.

49:41 A row of jet skis. Yeah. I don't know if that's true. Yeah, no. Rented for the photo. You rentals. When the feds discovered that Darren was concealing said assets and an offshore account in Belize. Yeah. Yeah. Got to get you one of those offshore accounts. It's my fucking dream top one. For nothing, Beliegal reasons. Yeah. You're like, "I just want one." Sounds cool to say. Yeah. What am I up to?

50:21 Nobody knows. When the feds discovered that Darren was concealing assets and an offshore account in Belize, despite his purported cooperation, authorities, they were like, "We're not mad. Just disappointed." But I think this next part may have pushed them over the edge. The funds that were continuing to come in were allegedly for consulting work. Not exactly clear on what kind of consulting work Darren would have been doing at this point, but when the authorities investigated Darren's new client, he not only contradicted Darren's claims, but pointed to inconsistencies within the supposed contract.

51:18 Like, Darren may have spelled the name of his client incorrectly. Oh boy. That's what I heard. Anywho, Darren was arrested in Los Angeles in October 2010, indicted in November 2010, and then he pled guilty in August of 2011. Dang, when did he go to LA? Really good question. Yeah, it seems like they were super concerned about like really ironing out all the details with Darren. Prosecutors lobbied for Darren to be remanded into custody, and the judge agreed to the request.

52:03 And on October 21, 2010, that's when he was charged with concealing funds. Concealing funds from a bankruptcy trustee, which simultaneously, the lamest sounding charge, but also kind of the wildest at the same time. Yeah, like you're just like a wild silly little nerd, aren't you? August 2011, he pleads guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and bankruptcy fraud.

52:43 Apparently they take that shit. Rolls are as late. His sentencing hearing was held in February 2012. His sister spoke in his defense about childhood abuse during their formative years. She even claimed that he had developed an alter ego that she stated he'd never truly abandoned. Raw Taylor! At your service? I mean service. Is this a fight club situation? I mean, doesn't it kind of feel like it's spoiler alert? Well, that's okay.

53:25 Tyler Durden. This is Rod Stewart. Wait, what's his name? Rod Taylor. Rod Taylor. It's a different guy. And he is real. Rod Taylor is this guy's Tyler Durden. Yeah, you know what? I kind of get that. I like it. It's close. Yeah. But it's not helpful. But we figured out the prosecution rest. Durden's mother said some pretty damning things about the victims in a letter to the judge. That's not nice. No, it's not great. It's got a real garbagey vibe, if I'm being honest.

54:08 They too must be culpable for a small percentage of the guilt, as savvy investors for letting their greed overtake their reason. Investing is greedy now? Well, so here's the thing. The method at the back half here, he was specifically targeting investors that have to be like accredited and they have to have a certain amount of holdings to be able to qualify. Geez. Yeah, so you have to have like over a million dollars in specifically like these types of investment instruments or vehicles to be able to do what they were doing.

55:06 So I mean, most of these people probably weren't about to end up homeless, although it was at the height of the housing crisis. So pretty much everybody was seconds away from being homeless, not in like right now. Arguably, there's so many people. I just think probably don't victim blame, because I think that's pretty obvious. But that's what she's doing. Yeah, I guess I can see how if they're already like super rich people, maybe we don't feel that bad for them, but yeah. But we're not talking about mega rich people. We're not talking about billionaires.

55:47 You know, we're talking about people that, yeah, I mean, but if they have over a million dollars in investments, that might be literally everything that they've worked for in their entire lives. They're retirement plans. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Okay. I'm not saying I don't feel bad for them. Oh, no, for sure. I feel like maybe we're. Examen a little biter could have that logic. Oh, for sure. And I think in a situation like this, there's so much nuance, right? You know, if they were billionaires, it would still be wrong what he did. I probably care like a lot less. You'd be like, I'm Robin Hood. Yeah, exactly.

56:34 Robin. Why didn't he just do that? I know. Well, because Cassie having two jets and two yachts and an 11 million dollar home turns off a sproak spence ass. Yeah, I guess, you know, at age 49, Frederick, Darren Berg of Washington was sentenced to 18 years in prison for wire fraud, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud. The amount of restitution, which was set to exceed over a hundred million dollars was supposed to be determined at an April 2012 court hearing.

57:18 I also didn't target that thread because listen, it's about to go off the rails again. Oh, I was like supposed to be. Yeah. I don't know if he actually made it to that hearing or not. The funds represented that $245 million in investor money was invested in real estate contracts and real estate. However, the funds were actually elaborate Ponzi schemes, which we know at this point. Apparently, he did not get the memo that using investor money for a luxurious lifestyle was super uncle.

57:59 At sentencing, US district judge Richard A. Jones told Berg he had reckless disregard for his victims and had no moral compass. Sounds about right? Darren got a good old spanking and he was sent off to his room with Alsober. I bet he was like, "Man, can they get a bus to spank me?" I know. Just to feed your rage, I've also got another special quote from the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle office.

58:39 To feed his unadult rated grade, Mr. Berg took advantage of hopeful investors. Many of them senior citizens who depended on their carefully built savings to afford assisted living, medical care, and higher educational opportunities for future generations. There it is. That sucks. Although this sentencing doesn't change the fact that many lives are brutally impacted by Mr. Berg's actions, the FBI is pleased that at least Mr. Berg will serve significant time for his crimes.

59:23 18 years, do you see that? Okay. The FBI thinks all our state and federal agency partners for their contribution to a case that has significance for so many victims. Berg's actions impacted literally and unthinkably large victim pool. I mean, we're talking about hundreds of people. Damn. How many of whom were senior citizens as FBI guys said, "I hate that." Oh, it reminds me of what's the same. Oh.

1:00:03 Yeah, it reminds me of Raul. He's targeting his victims from this vulnerable segment of society seems particularly cruel, knowing that many would be dependent on the savings that he had essentially squandered for assisted living as they continue to age, as well as other medical expenses. The case was investigated through combined efforts of the FBI, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, and the IRS criminal investigation then in turn was prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Norman Barbosa.

1:00:50 Barbosa. Barbosa. He didn't piss off everybody, all of the alphabet within our government. In light of all this, you'd think that one staring was convicted, sentenced, and behind bars. That would be the end of the story, but it's not. Because the 55-year-old inmate, who was responsible for one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Washington State history and arguably the nation, escaped from the US penitentiary at Water Satellite Prism Camp. What?

1:01:31 He a scoffede? He a scoffede. He a scoffede big time. So you weren't lying about the Bundy Bives earlier. For context, the workday for a typical prisoner at the Satellite Camp begins bright and early at 7.30 a.m. with a 30-minute break for lunch offering more respite than many unincarcerated Americans receive on the rigs. Ain't that the truth? It really is. I'm one of them today. What's a 30-minute lunch like? Yeah, I don't know. And then their workday, as it were, ends at roughly 3 p.m.

1:02:13 [laughs] A half hour later, corrections officers conduct what's called a stand-up count. And the men must wait in their cubicles as guards, stride by and add them to their tally. So I'm sure it will come as little surprise that at about 3.30 p.m. on December 6th of 2017, prison officials realized that one of their inmates was missing. None other than Darren Berg. Though he wasn't considered a particularly dangerous prisoner, it's pretty infuriating.

1:02:53 Yeah, especially considering the fact that Darren was the third inmate to escape in 2017. Dang, you've got some holes in the perimeter here. I mean, there really is no perimeter. It's a satellite camp. So it's not like a real jail where they're in close? It's near a real jail. It's just so loose. Everything is just very loosey goosey compared to like, I don't know. The guy owns two fucking jets and two yachts. And you don't think he's a flight risk?

1:03:34 That's interesting. I know, isn't it? Did they not compensate his jets? I believe that by the time he was carted off to prison, they were probably already in the process of being sold to compensate his victims. But I don't know that for a fact. But I do have some information about the other prisoners who escaped. Eric Pree, who was sentenced to eight years and five months for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, walked away from a minimum security camp at the prison on January 29th.

1:04:17 He has never been found that I could find another inmate 26 year old. I'm thinking Guy Marra Cabrera Hernandez. I'm going to go with that. Escaped on May 12th, but was apprehended the next day. So he was caught. Yeah. Berg was described by prison officials as a six foot tall white male, brown hair, and green eyes weighing about 170 pounds. Based on my research, all 72 inches of him remains at large to this day.

1:04:58 Where did he go? It's funny you say that. There's been a lot of speculation. There have been some social media posts that his boyfriend has been questioned about. Emails will sus. Interesting. I won't be surprised in the slightest if he pops back up on our radar one of these days after years of successfully evading authorities by living a quiet life as an expat of sorts in South America. Oh, I hear believes is lovely.

1:05:39 So they do some I know where he's at. They don't know, but they have suspicion. Suspicious. As indie podcasters, we love to show our support of other awesome shows. So stay tuned for the promo we've got to share with you this week. Let's show them some love you can find their info in our show notes. Magic Mirror on the wall. Who are the most rotten ones of all?

1:06:20 Hello my dollings and welcome to Rotten to the Core. Here we will scribe to the past and discover some rotten apples throughout our history. Have no fear my prettyes, for we shall learn a lesson. Not only about their horrendous deeds, but also about our own power. Let's step out of the shadow of the past and help pull it towards the light. I am your host, Josh Waters, and I'll be the queen guiding you on our journey. Now, come along, dears. We have lessons to learn. History is waiting.

1:07:01 If you want nightmares, you are in the right place. I couldn't sleep last night after listening. This podcast is genuinely scary. That's what people are saying about frightful. And if you'd like a few nightmares of your own, then how about you step this way? Hi, I'm Peter Laws and I'm an author, journalist and the host of frightful. The podcast that is giving folks the serious creeps. From spine tingling tales of the paranormal and shocking true crime to disturbing cults, possessions and the forgotten horrors of history. Freightful is the podcast that pulls you into the darkness, with immersive music sound effects and storytelling that is designed with one thing in mind, to get under your skin.

1:07:45 With new episodes every other Sunday, you'll have plenty to keep that heart rate high. The good news is it's available free wherever you get your podcasts. The bad news is that after listening to this show, you might just have to spend a few more cents on electricity. After all, you're gonna be sleeping with the lights on. So search frightful in your podcast apps and I will see you there in the dark. You guys were back! And don't worry, we did get more wine. Well, of course. Do you like me money tray? It felt like probably the right vibe for Darren. What did that quote say on his photo?

1:08:26 Tell me about... I'm hot and in red. Hot and in red. Okay, well now she's just manifesting. Oh boy! Did we get a goodie? I don't know. In this context, I'm just... I don't know, king of cubs. Okay, it's a toidal. It's a toidal. You did live on the water. Excellent, excellent point. Okay, keywords are benevolence, culture, creativity, emotional warmth and protection.

1:09:08 In many decks, this king sits on a throne. Of wise. And where's Rich Garmin's and a crown. He usually appears as a benevolent authority, a father figure. Who rules kindly and fairly. I feel like that's not right. It's not. It's certainly not accurate if we're talking about Darren. Weird. Huh. In a reading, the king of cubs may signify an actual person. When he does, it's generally a mature man who's cultured and knowledgeable in the arts.

1:09:53 Is this rod? You know who I think? If we had to pick a person, I think this is his bankruptcy trustee. But, I'm just saying. When the king of cubs appears upright, he represents strong emotions and creative talent. Oh, here we go. If he represents a real person, it's someone who wants to be loved and admired. Okay. Yeah. Holy shit. We may go to great lengths to gain your attention and affection.

1:10:40 We still got it. Although he's easily hurt, he may not show it and can hold a grudge. Okay. Yeah. I could see that. All right. With his dad changing the name and the things. Yeah. Oh, damn. I didn't even think about that. I did. Oh. All the way. He can be rather indulgent and controlling, but his friends can count on his support and protection because he steals money to lend them yachts. Yeah. And fly his boyfriend to beliefs allegedly. In a reading about money, the king can mean receiving money through a creative venture.

1:11:25 It may suggest your emotions are influencing a financial matter. Sometimes it represents a financial backer. Oh, maybe hundreds of them. Yeah. My thoughts exactly. If the reading is about your job, the king can describe a creative occupation while. Oh, however, he may indicate you're longing for something better. Oh. Yeah. Perhaps you've grown complacent. Well, I wouldn't say that last bit.

1:12:07 In a question about love, this card represents a deeply emotional, committed, and romantic relationship. It can suggest jealousy and possessiveness. However, or a need for more trust and openness. Oh boy. Okay. So in the reverse, I'm just going to read this first part because yikes. The reverse king shows emotional turmoil, insecurity, and defensiveness. If he represents a real person, he can be manipulative.

1:12:48 Be controlling and vindictive. This card suggests dissatisfaction and frustration. I can see all that. Did you spot anything good in her? I can read this thing just for shits and giggles, just for shits and gigs. He swam steadily, progressing through the water at a pace that felt both painstaking and inevitable. He found that if he dove deep enough and stayed down long enough, that he could forget the laughing waves and glaring sunlight on the surface.

1:13:29 Oh boy. Interesting. He was centered and his perspective shifted. He did not move through the water. The water passed around him. He was not diving deeper. The surface was simply receding above him. He was not moving down into a level of higher pressure. The water was collecting above him with its reassuring weight. With his metabolism slowed, he spent what felt like a lifetime down there. Hmm. It kind of seems like someone like hiding out. Yeah. Just like getting buried under time.

1:14:11 Interesting. Yeah. Well, should we go ahead and light this honey on fire like we planned? Bitch get out my house. Pour one out for the homies, am I right? Listen, that ain't my homie. Does Belize have sea turtles? Okay. You know they've got to, right? It just seems like tropical turtles. I'm like, is that even on the water Belize? I don't know. I love when we look stuff up because sometimes we don't. And then after I'm like, ah. Okay. I'm going to look deeper into this just for my own amusement.

1:14:54 But this website, the headline is "Swimming with Wonder." The enchanting sea turtles of Belize. Oh. Wow. Yeah. That's totally fitting. Listen. The Fantastic Four. Belize is a paradise for not one, not two, but four species of sea turtles. From the majestic loggerhead to the elegant green sea turtle, the charming hawksbill, and the charismatic leatherback. That's what this is. What? A leatherback sea turtle. Stop it. It's P&W.

1:15:34 Well, I mean, I think there are like a lot of other marine animals that like they probably migrate for, you know, are native to multiple different areas. Interesting. Yep. That's what that is. Belize's warm waters offer a haven for these incredible beings. And also that shitsack, Darren, potentially. Okay. Should we do our thing? That really, we really went somewhere. A lot of places. Not please. P&W, Humps and Homicides after dark. But we're not humping buses.

1:16:16 But, girl, we serve that. Oh, my God. Have a creepy ass day. See you next Tuesday. Unless you're a busfucker, unless you're busy with the tailpipe. We don't want to see any of you creepy people on my strange addiction. Please. I wasn't speaking to them. I'm so stressed with their show. Maybe I don't know. Actually, I don't know that I'm doing that either. No. Never mind. J.K. Stop that. Shut it down. We just want you all to be healthy. Okay.

1:16:57 Be healthy like us. Yeah, that's weird. You're weird. Anybody ever tell you that? Every day of my day I'm alive. I look in the mirror and I say you're weird. (www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com)