Description :

Matthew Bevan Cox

Matthew Bevan Cox, born in 1969, is a notorious American con artist, mortgage fraudster, and author. His elaborate schemes and criminal activities made him one of the most wanted white-collar criminals in the United States during the early 2000s. His story is a fascinating tale of deception, ingenuity, and the consequences of fraud.

Early Life and Education:
Cox was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in fine arts. Despite his artistic talents, Cox soon found himself drawn to the world of real estate and finance, where he began to explore the potential for deceit and fraud.

Entry into Fraud and Crime:
Cox's criminal career started with small-scale insurance fraud, but he quickly moved on to more sophisticated scams. He exploited the booming real estate market of the late 1990s and early 2000s by engaging in mortgage fraud. Using a combination of fake identities, forged documents, and straw buyers, Cox was able to secure millions of dollars in fraudulent loans.

Elaborate Schemes:
Cox?s schemes were intricate and well-planned. He would create fake companies, fabricate employment records, and even produce false credit histories to deceive banks and lending institutions. His knowledge of the real estate industry and his ability to exploit its weaknesses allowed him to carry out his fraudulent activities for several years without detection.

Downfall and Arrest:
Cox?s criminal activities eventually caught up with him. In 2003, the FBI began investigating his fraudulent schemes. Despite the mounting pressure, Cox continued his operations, even assuming multiple fake identities to evade capture. His ability to manipulate and deceive was extraordinary, but in December 2006, he was finally apprehended in Nashville, Tennessee.

Conviction and Sentencing:
In 2007, Matthew Bevan Cox was convicted of conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft. He was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution to his victims. His sentence reflected the extensive damage caused by his scams, which affected numerous individuals and financial institutions.

Incarceration and Rehabilitation:
While serving his sentence, Cox began to reflect on his life and crimes. He turned to writing, using his experiences to author several books, including his memoir, "Once a Crooked Man: A Memoir of Struggling to Break Free from Crime." His writings offer a glimpse into the mind of a con artist and serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of fraud.

Legacy:
Matthew Bevan Cox's story is a compelling narrative of ambition, greed, and the eventual consequences of a life of crime. His elaborate scams and ability to evade capture for so long make him a notable figure in the annals of white-collar crime. Despite his criminal past, Cox?s efforts to document his experiences and warn others about the dangers of fraud reflect a complex individual who has sought to make amends for his actions.

Current Status:
As of now, Cox was released from federal prison on July 19, 2019. His story remains a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the financial system and the severe penalties that await those who choose to exploit them.

Overall, Matthew Bevan Cox's life serves as both a cautionary tale and an intriguing study of the complexities of white-collar crime, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of fraud on individuals and institutions alike.