Michael Sabo
Encyclopedia
Michael John Sabo is an American consultant and speaker on identity theft and fraud in the business sector. He is currently Executive Director of US Prison Consultants, a principal resource for individuals charged with white-collar crime.
Before his reformation, Sabo was best-known for his history as a check, stocks and bonds forger, a master impostor, and as an escaped fugitive from federal custody. He became notorious in the 1960s and throughout the 1990s for successfully forging bank and government checks, as well as the forgery of stock and bond certificates. Sabo obtained executive status for certain blue chip companies, made counterfeit payroll checks, scammed numerous major hotel chains, and also obtained gold coins fraudulently. He stole over $5 million throughout the course of his criminal career.
The FBI and Interpol
have confirmed over 100 false identities that Sabo used throughout his white-collar crime spree. Sabo impersonated airline pilots with six different carriers, medical doctors, PhDs, loan officers, an IRS agent, and once hired 300 people for a one-day computer scam in Phoenix
, AZ. Just six weeks after escaping from a federal prison, he was hired as a prison guard while on the run from the FBI. Sabo's FBI file suggests he was associated with the Lucchese crime family
, through which he laundered stolen goods such as diamonds and furs.
To make the feature film Catch Me If You Can
, director Steven Spielberg
petitioned Sabo in hopes of basing the plot on his life story. However, Sabo could not comply and sell the rights to his story because he was wanted by law enforcement officials across the United States. Spielberg then opted to use Frank Abagnale
as the primary character in the story. Sabo was also featured on the national television program, Unsolved Mysteries
, where he impersonated a doctor.
By 1992, Sabo had been convicted of bank fraud
, forgery
of stocks and bonds, grand larceny
, and identity theft
, both in federal and state courts. He has served a total of 12 years in federal and state prisons.
Before his reformation, Sabo was best-known for his history as a check, stocks and bonds forger, a master impostor, and as an escaped fugitive from federal custody. He became notorious in the 1960s and throughout the 1990s for successfully forging bank and government checks, as well as the forgery of stock and bond certificates. Sabo obtained executive status for certain blue chip companies, made counterfeit payroll checks, scammed numerous major hotel chains, and also obtained gold coins fraudulently. He stole over $5 million throughout the course of his criminal career.
The FBI and Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
have confirmed over 100 false identities that Sabo used throughout his white-collar crime spree. Sabo impersonated airline pilots with six different carriers, medical doctors, PhDs, loan officers, an IRS agent, and once hired 300 people for a one-day computer scam in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, AZ. Just six weeks after escaping from a federal prison, he was hired as a prison guard while on the run from the FBI. Sabo's FBI file suggests he was associated with the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
, through which he laundered stolen goods such as diamonds and furs.
To make the feature film Catch Me If You Can
Catch Me If You Can
Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 American biographical comedy-drama film based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before his 19th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor...
, director Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
petitioned Sabo in hopes of basing the plot on his life story. However, Sabo could not comply and sell the rights to his story because he was wanted by law enforcement officials across the United States. Spielberg then opted to use Frank Abagnale
Frank Abagnale
Frank William Abagnale, Jr. is an American security consultant known for his history as a former confidence trickster, check forger, impostor, and escape artist...
as the primary character in the story. Sabo was also featured on the national television program, Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
, where he impersonated a doctor.
By 1992, Sabo had been convicted of bank fraud
Bank fraud
Bank fraud is the use of fraudulent means to obtain money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution, or to obtain money from depositors by fraudulently representing to be a bank or financial institution. In many instances, bank fraud is a criminal offense...
, forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
of stocks and bonds, grand larceny
Grand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
, and identity theft
Identity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
, both in federal and state courts. He has served a total of 12 years in federal and state prisons.