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Retired agent Richard Velasquez served in the FBI for nearly 26 years. Assigned to the Dallas Field Office his entire career, Rick spent his first 4 years in Dallas and the last 21 years in the Plano/Frisco Resident Agency, where he specialized in and managed an extensive caseload of complex financial crime investigations.
In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Rick reviews his Disney theme park fraud case against Thomas Lucas Jr., who concocted a story that the Disney Company would build a theme park called Frontier Disney DFW in North Texas. Lucas Jr. used this false information to solicit doctors, lawyers, professional athletes and others into investing in the land surrounding the alleged Disney site, assuring them that when Disney announced plans for the theme park, the new landowners would become instant millionaires. Investors lost over $60 million in the scheme. Rick is the author of Texcot: Dreams, Lies and Fraud, his account of the FBI investigation that finally brought Lucas Jr. to justice.
In addition to his fraud cases, Rick also worked violent crimes and was a member of the SWAT team for ten years and on the Crisis Management Team for two years, assisting in the coordination of command posts for high-profile cases and major sporting events. He also served as a New Agent Assessor for over 10 years and enjoyed the opportunity to make decisions on the future of the FBI. He received numerous awards and recognition from the FBI and civic groups, but his most cherished recognition was from all the kids who I spoke to at career days for over 25 years.
After retiring from the FBI, Rick formed Baird-Velasquez and Associates, Inc., a consulting and private investigation company specializing in complex financial investigative matters.
Special Agent
Richard Velasquez
11/1990 – 2/2016
“The land that Disney was supposedly buying? How hard would it be to identify it and find out who the owner was? But instead they relied on the presentations.”—Retired Agent Rick Velasquez
The following are links to FBI website and news articles about the Disney theme park fraud case:
FBI.gov – Financial Fraud – 1/19/2016: The Disney Resort That Never Was
Dallas Morning News – 2/6/2015: Tale of Disney theme park for North Texas duped investors out of millions, prosecutors allege
Courthouse News – 9/2/2015: Texan Gets 17 Years|for Disney Park Scam
Click here to listen to more FBI Retired Case File Review episodes featuring frauds and scams.
Jerri,
I’m a retired 68 year “old” man from Broadview Heights OH. I discovered your podcast by accident and have enjoyed three episodes so far and looking forward to all the others that are waiting for me. I usually don’t bother to take the time to leave comments or reviews but came across this form while looking at the pics you posted online and felt compelled to give you a quick shout out…..
THANK YOU!! I couldn’t be more pleased to bring you along while I get through my daily routines and chores via headphones. I have taken you with me to places where you would probably object to, if you had a choice. Places like laying under the car that I’m restoring, or riding around on a lawn tractor cutting grass for an hour twice a week. Unfortunately for you, there are many more mundane tasks that you will have to suffer through in the future!
All kidding aside, I appreciate you and can only hope that you continue to give us all a peek into your fascinating world!
Thanks for listening and taking me along with you on your adventures!