How Crime Businesses Actually Work, From Fake Money to Gun Smuggling

Jeff Turner counterfeited over $1 million in US currency. He forged the 1996-series $100 bill and later the 2013 “blue note.” He was indicted on federal conspiracy charges in 2019 and cooperated with the Secret Service, eventually serving 10 months in prison. Turner speaks to Business Insider about how to spot a fake US bank note and how the cartels forge dollars in Colombia and Peru. He now runs a YouTube channel and works as a professional printer.

Robert Mazur is a former government agent who investigated drug-money laundering for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service intelligence division, and the Customs Service. He discusses how cartels launder their proceeds from drug smuggling. Mazur is the author of “The Infiltrator” and “The Betrayal” and consults globally with his company, KYC Solutions, on the threat of money laundering.

Ed Calderon was a police officer in Baja California, Mexico, for 12 years, working in counter-narcotics and organized crime units in the northern border region. Calderon talks to BI about methods of smuggling and how the weapons end up in the hands of the cartels. He now does security consulting with members of the US Army and Mexican and United States intelligence service agents.

Bryan Sobolewski was a jewel thief who committed a string of armed robberies and diamond heists around New England in the early ’90s. Sobolewski speaks with BI about scams within the diamond industry, the scarcity and value of diamonds and uncut gems, and how thieves value sets and engravings. He is the author of “Family Jewels,” and in 2021, he started “Family Jewels Podcast,” which details his life story.

Jim Browning is a software engineer and an expert on scam call centers. He speaks to BI about the structure of scam call centers’ offices, recruitment, and payroll. He also discusses money laundering, the role of police and law enforcement, and solutions for data security. Browning runs a YouTube channel where he baits scammers, observes them through CCTV, and hacks into their networks. He then supplies this information to law enforcement.

Rob Holmes is a private investigator. He works with major luxury watch brands to track down fakes and stop them from getting to market. He speaks with BI about how counterfeits are made in factories overseas. He details how fake luxury goods are trafficked into the United States and distributed to consumers and how the counterfeit industry has evolved. Holmes runs a private investigations business, MI:33.

Find out more:
Jeff Turner
@jeffreypatrickturner
Robert Mazur
https://www.robertmazur.com/
Ed Calderon
https://patreon.com/edsmanifesto
Bryan Sobolewski
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-jewels-podcast-true-crime-from-a-criminals/id1558693050
Jim Browning
https://www.youtube.com/@JimBrowning
Rob Holmes
https://linktr.ee/holmespi