Chas Allen was one of four 19-year-old college students who carried out one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history.
Their target: The Transylvania University Private Collections Museum — home to a collection of some of the most valuable rare books and paintings in the world, including Charles Darwin’s On The Origin of Species. If successful, the theft would make each of the students a fortune.
As part of the plan (inspired by heist movies) each of the four students took on separate responsibilities: One created aliases and backstories to contact the library and auction houses. Another created false documents and disguises to make the group look like old men.
With Allen as a get-away driver, the students managed to get away with a number of items.. But a series of stupid mistakes would lead to their downfall.
In a series of candid interviews, Fakes, Frauds & Scammers relives some of the most audacious scams and fraudulent stunts of our time from the mouths of the perpetrators themselves. Whether it’s money, fame or simply an addiction to lying, we find out what motivated these tricksters and whether the highs, lows and ramifications were worth it in the end.
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