Episode 052: Myron Fuller – The Original ABSCAM, Con Men and Mob Guys

Myron Fuller served in the FBI for 30 years.

In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Fuller reviews his undercover and case agent roles in the case code-named ABSCAM, which was actually a spin-off of Operation Fountain Pen (OPFOPEN).

It was the largest investigation by the FBI conducted into the activities of white-collar criminals (Retired Agent Jim Wedick is interviewed about OPFOPEN in Episode 6: Chasing Phil, Undercover Stings and Bogus Securities).

ABSCAM was originally initiated to investigate and penetrate white-collar crime and organized crime targets in the New York area.

Specifically, it started as an undercover operation to infiltrate a conspiracy involving members of organize crime attempting to purchase businesses, including a mortgage company, for fraudulent and criminal purposes. The sophisticated ABSCAM scenario featured a fictitious wealthy Lebanese businessman who wanted to funnel millions of dollars from the Middle-East into ventures in the United States.

Fuller and his undercover partner, agent John Hauss, represented that they worked for a consortium of foreign banks and had access to a $7 Million bank account.

The scenario, with the cooperation of con man Mel Weinberg, allowed for the successful investigation and conviction of organized crime figures, con men, and ultimately, corrupt politicians.

Fuller retired as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Honolulu Division.

Special Agent in Charge (Retired)

Myron Fuller

01/11/1971 – 06/17/2001


 

 

 

 

 

 

The following FBI case overview and newspaper articles provide additional background material on the ABSCAM undercover investigation:

ABSCAM- FBI Famous Cases

Jersey Hustle: The real-life story of Abscam

The real-life FBI sting behind ‘American Hustle’

Myron Fuller with members of the New York Major Case Squad who worked with him on the ABSCAM investigation (the agent wearing the head covering is not the undercover agent who portrayed the Arab businessman).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For his work on the ABSCAM case, Fuller received a cash award from the Assistant Director of the New York Division.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerri Williams

View posts by Jerri Williams
Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent, author and podcaster, jokes that she writes about the FBI to relive her glory days. After 26 years with the Bureau specializing in major economic fraud and corruption investigations, she calls on her professional encounters with scams and schemers to write police procedurals inspired by true crime FBI cases in her Philadelphia FBI Corruption Squad crime fiction series featuring flawed female FBI agent Kari Wheeler. Jerri’s FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series enables readers to discover who the FBI is and what the FBI does by debunking misconceptions about the FBI in books, TV, and movies. Her books are available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks wherever books are sold. She’s also the host of FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast with more than 300 episodes available on all popular podcast apps and YouTube.

1 Comment

  1. […] to Episode 052: Myron Fuller – The Original ABSCAM, Con Men and Mob Guys to learn more about Operation Fountain […]

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