Steven Robert Comisar (born December 30, 1961) is an American criminal and book author. He has been convicted of fraud and extortion multiple times.[1] He used confidence tricks and other techniques to fool his victims. Comisar was in federal prison and was released April 27, 2018.[2]
Steve Comisar | |
|---|---|
 Comisar in 2020 | |
| Born | Steven Robert Comisar December 30, 1961 |
| Other names | Brett Champion |
| Occupation | Con man |
Career
Comisar grew up in Beverly Hills, California. As a young man he sold a "solar powered clothes dryer" in national magazines for $49.95. Buyers received a length of clothesline.[3] Comisar has been arrested and convicted of numerous crimes.[2][4][5] Comisar was convicted of a variety of frauds in 1983, 1990, 1994 and 1999. All these trials took place in Federal court in Los Angeles.[6] In 1999, Comisar was arrested for swindling investors in a fake television quiz show involving Joe Namath. He was sentenced to thirty-three months in jail.
Comisar used the working name Brett Champion during the period when he said he had retired from his criminal activity and posed as a fraud prevention expert and consultant, using it on Dateline NBC,[1][7] The View, Sally Leeza Crook & Chase and in various other television appearances, and when he wrote the book America's Guide to Fraud Prevention.[7][8][9] Comisar is now prohibited from using this alias or from referring to himself as a consumer fraud expert. His book is considered a "piece of fraud history" by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is on display in their fraud museum.[10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Prisoner Admits Trying to Extort Money From Two Local Lawyers". Metropolitan News-Enterprise Online. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ a b "Federal Bureau of Prisons". Bop.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ Sandbeck, E. (2007). Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Non-Toxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, and, Perhaps, Your Sanity. Scribner. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-4165-9570-0. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Awhile back the brilliant scam artist, Steve Comisar, cleverly exploited the efficiency of line drying laundry by advertising a "Solar Powered Clothes Dryer" for only $49.95. When the suckers, er, customers, opened the eagerly awaited packages, they discovered that the "Scientifically proven, space-age clothes dryer" was a piece of clothesline. I'm sure quite a few of them were amused. The equipment necessary for line drying clothes is usually inexpensive, ...
- ^ "Purported 'Former' Con Man Is Sentenced Anew - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1999. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ "Release No. 07-066 Career Con Man Sentenced To Five Years For Attempting To Extort Money From Attorney Representing Murderer". justice.gov (Press release). May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Rosenzweig, David (December 24, 2002). "'Former' Con Artist Accused of Bilking 84-Year-Old Man". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
- ^ a b "Schwarzenegger Names Federal Prosecutor To Court". Main Justice. July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Independent Newspapers Online (July 24, 1999). "The man who can't stop conning". Independent Online. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ "Author of Consumer Fraud Guide Arrested". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ Barry Minkow Added to the List of Repeat Offenders Archived June 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, from Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Scott Patterson, ACFE Media Relations Specialist
- ^ "ACFE's Fraud Museum". Accounting Today. Retrieved March 4, 2014.