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CHRIS: An influencer
is somebody who can
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persuade somebody's idea
of something else,
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and it's just that simple.
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It could be anything in life.
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- Too much.
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[dramatic orchestral music]
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♪ ♪
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GABRIELLE:
If you looked at
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Tracii Hutsona's
Instagram page,
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it was full of private jets
and infinity pools
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and Tracii standing
in front of step and repeats.
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It created the impression
that she was living
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this lavish life
among the glitterati of LA.
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- We are at Peter Marco
in Beverly Hills,
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picking up the jewels
that I'll be dressed in
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for today's shoot.
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GABRIELLE:
In her YouTube show,
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she presented herself
as totally authentic,
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but it was all just
a carefully-crafted persona,
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which is, of course, an
incredible psychological trick
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to convince people
she was real.
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DEBORAH: Tracii's game
is impersonating other people.
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- It's almost like she did
a hardcore study on my life
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and then decided,
I'm gonna recreate this.
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[fireworks booming]
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- We're living
like millionaires.
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We're living like
our billionaire clients.
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- She's so believable that
it makes you feel so loved.
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You get entangled in that web.
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- People who say that they
would never get caught up in it
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have never met Tracii.
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Sometimes, prettier things
are on the outside,
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the more rot there is
on the inside.
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[dramatic music]
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♪ ♪
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[pensive orchestral music]
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♪ ♪
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LORIANN: My name is
Loriann Hart Flaherty.
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I'm a second generation
Los Angeleno.
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I come from a long line
of entertainers.
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I have been a singer
and an actress.
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I'm currently doing voiceovers.
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Hi, Beau-Beau. Hi!
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Then there's my baby Beau.
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Yeah, I've got pictures of him
on his birthday.
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♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
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I am full of love,
full of laughter.
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I am a complete empath,
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and, um, I can be very naive.
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♪ ♪
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I first met
Tracii Hutsona in 2002.
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My son became friends
with Tracii's son
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when they were in first grade.
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We became friends based on
our love for our children
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and our love for fun.
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My life had changed
so radically since the time
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that I was young and single,
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hanging out with OJ and Nicole
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and Stephen Stills
and Ringo Starr
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and all those people.
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I missed it.
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[light clicks]
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[curtains whirring]
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I saw in Tracii a glamour.
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People were so drawn to her.
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People wanted
to be her friend.
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She was cool,
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and makes you feel cool
to be with her.
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[operatic music]
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♪ ♪
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Tracii always wanted
to make a big mark,
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to be a powerful
and influential person.
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You'd see her on
Facebook and Instagram.
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She'd make sure that
you could see this opulence
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that she was living.
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She always wanted to portray
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an image of herself
to be envied.
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Tracii wanted
all eyes on Tracii.
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But the more I think about it,
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I realized she had a plan
from the get-go.
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It's all about being famous,
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so she had to be
on social media.
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DERRELL: What up, buddy?
TRACII: Everybody comes here,
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and they think they want
to see somebody.
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So they want you
to be somebody so bad.
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- They looking
for Kim and Kanye,
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but they fail to realize
they live in Calabasas.
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They don't live in LA.
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[mellow R&B music]
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LORIANN: She even started
a Kardashians-type of show
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on social media with
Derrell, her husband.
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[bright classical music]
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TRACII:
It's a super busy weekend.
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We rented out, um,
all the houses,
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including our own,
and we rented out all the cars.
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We love how we live.
We love where we live.
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The trade-off is that
we got to pack it up.
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Babe, you packed up
my closet, too?
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DERRELL: Yeah, I got--
TRACII: I love you.
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LORIANN:
On Homeless Millionaires,
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she's being the cool gal
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who's with her
14-years-younger husband,
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driving in a fancy car,
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going to fancy places,
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looking at expensive jewelry.
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And they were just trying
to get the notoriety
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and get
the Instagram followers.
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[camera shutters clicking]
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Everything she posts
is just showing off,
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is saying,
"See what a great life I have?
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Don't you wish you were me?"
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But unfortunately,
from what I've learned,
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Tracii was a master at pulling
the wool over people's eyes.
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[dramatic musical flourish]
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[car engine revs]
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[soft piano music]
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♪ ♪
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JOUMANA:
I didn't grow up with much.
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[bell rings]
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I worked full time
at a makeup counter,
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did modeling gigs on the side.
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So when I got married
to an NBA player,
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it was a little bit
of a crash course in,
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you know,
living in the limelight.
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- What's it been like to be
a part of Jason's success
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here in his first year
in New Jersey?
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- It's amazing. I can't even...
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It was fun, it was awesome,
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and it gave me
great opportunities
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to, you know,
pursue journalism.
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I was always in charge
of my money pre-marriage.
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Then, you know, obviously,
getting married,
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it was like, whoa, OK,
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these are numbers
I've never seen.
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And I wasn't prepared
for what comes with it.
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My name is Joumana Kidd.
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Um, a lot of people know me
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because I was once married
to Jason Kidd,
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but I'm a lot more than
Jason Kidd's ex-wife.
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I'm a businesswoman,
a philanthropist...
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And a mom of three
amazing children.
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[gentle music]
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After my divorce,
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I moved to Los Angeles,
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which was a really,
really big decision for me.
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[engine revs]
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And it was like the final hour
before we're moving,
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and I found out
I had breast cancer.
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[pensive orchestral music]
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It's a lot to have to come
to a new place,
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do all this stuff,
and deal with it,
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you know, a scary illness.
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And so I knew that
I was gonna need some help,
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almost like
a glorified nanny...
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[chuckles] You know, that, um,
could also be, like,
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a house manager.
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So I actually reached out to
a friend who I trust very much
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and asked her
if she knew anyone.
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She called me back and said,
"There is this one lady
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that we always, like, use
for random concierge stuff."
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[notification chimes]
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[operatic music]
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She has this business
called Elite Lux Life,
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which is a concierge service.
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- My name's Tracii.
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I'm calling from
Elite Luxe Life in Los Angeles.
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JOUMANA:
They could get your Airbnb.
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You would get your car rental.
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TRACII:
This house comes with yacht.
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JOUMANA: They could hook
you up with makeup artists.
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They could hook you up
with tickets.
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I mean, really,
whatever you need.
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Her social feeds
were very elaborate
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and high-end cars and jewelry.
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Everyone viewed her as
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this really accomplished
businesswoman
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who can make anything happen.
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So I kind of
expected her to come
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and be way too overqualified,
want way too much money.
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So I don't know if she's even
gonna be interested in this,
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but she wants
to take the meeting.
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So I'm like, OK, cool.
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And that's how I met
Tracii Hutsona.
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She bonded with me,
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and she was very,
very flexible and easy.
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Honestly, I felt like
I was winning.
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Like, whoa.
How did this land on my lap?
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I got along well with Tracii.
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She was easy to talk to.
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I leaned on her a lot
during my treatment.
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Honestly, it would have been
so tough to do on my own,
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and it was nice to have
a caring, maternal person
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helping me care for my kids.
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And they were happy that I
found someone that could help.
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It was almost like
she was my, like,
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00:09:47,253 --> 00:09:48,838
fill-in husband or something,
you know what I mean?
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Like, she was the person
that cared just as much.
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- No, no, no, no, no.
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It was nice having
someone have my back,
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00:10:00,016 --> 00:10:01,643
someone looking out for me.
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00:10:01,643 --> 00:10:03,561
- So with our lifestyle
management clients,
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I just need to pop in
and, uh, you know,
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00:10:06,564 --> 00:10:10,860
boss everybody around once in
a while and then pop back out.
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JOUMANA:
I remember Tracii talked about
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Homeless Millionaires
as if it was, like,
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00:10:18,076 --> 00:10:21,246
some type of promo
for their Elite Luxe Life.
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00:10:22,872 --> 00:10:24,999
She had explained to me
that it's so funny.
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00:10:24,999 --> 00:10:26,626
Like, you know,
we rent everything out,
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00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:29,546
including our own home,
if someone wants it.
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00:10:29,546 --> 00:10:32,423
And that's where the
"Homeless Millionaires" term
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came about.
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But no one watched
Homeless Millionaires.
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[chuckles]
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It's kind of funny when
I look back at how little
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00:10:47,564 --> 00:10:50,233
I was interested
in her social media.
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00:10:50,233 --> 00:10:52,485
And I think that ended up
working against me,
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00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:54,487
in a way,
because I probably
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00:10:54,487 --> 00:10:57,115
would have seen
a lot more red flags.
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♪ ♪
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[unsettling music]
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00:11:05,456 --> 00:11:09,210
[indistinct chatter]
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00:11:09,210 --> 00:11:12,130
Ever since I moved
to Los Angeles,
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00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:16,301
Ron, my financial advisor,
224
00:11:16,301 --> 00:11:20,180
would always kind of
periodically reach out.
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00:11:20,180 --> 00:11:22,599
Just be like, slow down.
Like, you're overspending.
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00:11:22,599 --> 00:11:24,893
You guys want a treat?
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00:11:25,977 --> 00:11:28,354
OK.
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00:11:28,354 --> 00:11:31,316
And I talked about it
in front of Tracii.
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She would even,
like, pitch in.
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She was always
trying to find a deal
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00:11:34,652 --> 00:11:37,196
or find something
less expensive.
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00:11:39,157 --> 00:11:43,119
But one day,
Ron calls me and tells me,
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00:11:43,119 --> 00:11:45,079
OK, you're not
a credit card person.
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00:11:45,079 --> 00:11:47,832
Why do you have this
additional credit card?
235
00:11:47,832 --> 00:11:49,042
And I'm like,
what are you talking about?
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00:11:49,042 --> 00:11:52,170
I just have my Amex,
and I have my visa.
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00:11:52,170 --> 00:11:53,713
And that's it.
And he was like, no.
238
00:11:53,713 --> 00:11:56,090
There's a Chase Card.
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00:11:58,968 --> 00:12:03,556
So I was on the phone
with Tracii.
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00:12:03,556 --> 00:12:05,141
Do you ever hear me
talk about a Chase card?
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00:12:05,141 --> 00:12:07,977
That's crazy.
And she was just like,
242
00:12:07,977 --> 00:12:10,897
you know, I think maybe
because your kid's
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00:12:10,897 --> 00:12:13,900
gonna be starting college,
don't you remember us
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00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:15,860
talking about having
a credit card?
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00:12:15,860 --> 00:12:17,570
I'm like, uh, maybe.
I don't remember.
246
00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:19,447
You know, didn't even think
anything of it,
247
00:12:19,447 --> 00:12:22,242
but I just kind of figured
I'll get to the bottom of this.
248
00:12:22,242 --> 00:12:26,371
And about 30 minutes later,
she was at my door.
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00:12:26,371 --> 00:12:29,832
[operatic music]
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00:12:29,832 --> 00:12:31,751
Then she's crying.
251
00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:34,921
That credit card, that was me.
252
00:12:34,921 --> 00:12:37,840
She had charged
close to $100,000.
253
00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:39,801
"You should call the cops
right now."
254
00:12:46,432 --> 00:12:49,435
[car horns honking]
255
00:12:54,107 --> 00:12:57,235
[plucky string music]
256
00:12:57,235 --> 00:12:59,404
GABRIELLE: My name is
Gabrielle Bluestone.
257
00:12:59,404 --> 00:13:02,615
I'm a journalist,
author, and attorney,
258
00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:06,327
and I broke the Tracii Hutsona
story for The New York Times.
259
00:13:06,327 --> 00:13:08,538
[dramatic sting]
260
00:13:08,538 --> 00:13:11,916
I cover everything
ranging from celebrities
261
00:13:11,916 --> 00:13:14,919
to fraud to crime.
262
00:13:14,919 --> 00:13:16,337
My book is called
263
00:13:16,337 --> 00:13:18,798
Hype: How Scammers,
Grifters, and Con Artists
264
00:13:18,798 --> 00:13:22,635
Are Taking Over the Internet--
and Why We're Following.
265
00:13:22,635 --> 00:13:25,471
And it looks at
how modern-day scammers
266
00:13:25,471 --> 00:13:27,682
are able to subvert tools,
267
00:13:27,682 --> 00:13:31,394
whether it's social media,
Google results,
268
00:13:31,394 --> 00:13:33,354
any kind of algorithm
269
00:13:33,354 --> 00:13:37,442
to hide in plain sight
and to effectuate their scams.
270
00:13:37,442 --> 00:13:41,154
And as I investigated Tracii,
I realized that
271
00:13:41,154 --> 00:13:44,198
this was a fascinating story
of celebrity
272
00:13:44,198 --> 00:13:47,910
and fraud and social influence.
273
00:13:51,414 --> 00:13:54,250
There was definitely a gulf
between what you could
274
00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:55,960
discover about her online
275
00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,129
versus what was happening
in real life.
276
00:13:59,756 --> 00:14:03,509
Doing Elite Luxe Life
absolutely gave Tracii access
277
00:14:03,509 --> 00:14:07,430
to the trappings of wealth,
which she certainly flaunted
278
00:14:07,430 --> 00:14:11,976
both on Instagram and on
the home-produced reality show
279
00:14:11,976 --> 00:14:13,686
that she hosted on YouTube.
280
00:14:13,686 --> 00:14:16,064
[upbeat music]
281
00:14:16,064 --> 00:14:18,191
DERRELL: This is one of
my favorite houses.
282
00:14:18,191 --> 00:14:21,069
This is our
Hollywood Hills stunner.
283
00:14:21,069 --> 00:14:23,446
GABRIELLE: Tracii and Derrell
would give tours
284
00:14:23,446 --> 00:14:26,199
of the luxury homes
they were renting out,
285
00:14:26,199 --> 00:14:28,493
which they would
go and film at.
286
00:14:28,493 --> 00:14:31,162
She emulated
that Kardashian lifestyle.
287
00:14:31,162 --> 00:14:32,830
SINGER:
♪ Yeah ♪
288
00:14:32,830 --> 00:14:36,667
♪ You know we don't
need to win it ♪
289
00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:40,713
GABRIELLE: It's all of these
homes and luxury cars,
290
00:14:40,713 --> 00:14:43,216
you know, Rolls-Royces
and Lamborghinis
291
00:14:43,216 --> 00:14:45,760
and ridiculous kind of stuff.
292
00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,678
And you know,
293
00:14:47,678 --> 00:14:50,723
they were employees of that,
294
00:14:50,723 --> 00:14:53,226
but that wasn't their life.
295
00:14:53,226 --> 00:14:54,352
- We're living
like millionaires.
296
00:14:54,352 --> 00:14:55,561
DERRELL:
Right.
297
00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:56,562
- We're living like
our billionaire clients.
298
00:14:56,562 --> 00:14:57,980
DERRELL: Right.
- But--
299
00:14:57,980 --> 00:14:59,023
DERRELL: But you're working.
- Yeah, we're working.
300
00:14:59,023 --> 00:15:00,024
DERRELL:
But you're always working.
301
00:15:00,024 --> 00:15:01,317
- We're working, always.
302
00:15:01,317 --> 00:15:08,157
♪ ♪
303
00:15:08,157 --> 00:15:10,743
GABRIELLE: The more
I investigated Tracii,
304
00:15:10,743 --> 00:15:12,995
the more it was clear
that she is someone
305
00:15:12,995 --> 00:15:15,957
who is extraordinarily good
at impersonating
306
00:15:15,957 --> 00:15:19,335
multiple people,
and that this dated back
307
00:15:19,335 --> 00:15:21,671
to when she was a teenager.
308
00:15:23,381 --> 00:15:24,882
TRACII: They didn't RSVP
for our wedding.
309
00:15:24,882 --> 00:15:26,509
DEBORAH: She does not look
her age at all.
310
00:15:26,509 --> 00:15:28,386
TRACII: I'm not gonna
underestimate things.
311
00:15:28,386 --> 00:15:30,054
- I kind of always
knew that my sister
312
00:15:30,054 --> 00:15:32,890
would make it onto the
national stage, you know?
313
00:15:32,890 --> 00:15:35,476
It might have taken
30 years for her to do it,
314
00:15:35,476 --> 00:15:37,311
but I knew she would.
315
00:15:37,311 --> 00:15:38,896
She's bigger than life.
316
00:15:38,896 --> 00:15:40,523
[sighs]
317
00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:45,403
My name is
Deborah Show-Lindstrom,
318
00:15:45,403 --> 00:15:47,613
and I'm Tracii's older sister.
319
00:15:49,991 --> 00:15:54,287
This is how Tracii is,
as I remember her as a kid.
320
00:15:54,287 --> 00:15:56,706
I'm looking at the face
and trying to see a sign
321
00:15:56,706 --> 00:15:58,583
of the woman she'd become.
322
00:15:58,583 --> 00:16:02,628
But really, I just see a kid.
323
00:16:02,628 --> 00:16:05,464
She had absolutely no fear.
324
00:16:05,464 --> 00:16:08,176
If there was a way
you could describe a child
325
00:16:08,176 --> 00:16:10,595
as having electricity,
she did.
326
00:16:12,847 --> 00:16:16,058
My sister was born
into a household
327
00:16:16,058 --> 00:16:18,978
that was really chaotic.
328
00:16:21,939 --> 00:16:25,067
Our dad was a lost soul,
329
00:16:25,067 --> 00:16:28,112
because he was always,
always stoned.
330
00:16:28,112 --> 00:16:32,533
Marijuana at first,
and then cocaine later on.
331
00:16:34,827 --> 00:16:37,246
But my mom projected
this image, you know,
332
00:16:37,246 --> 00:16:39,081
of perfection.
333
00:16:39,081 --> 00:16:41,000
She made herself
look beautiful.
334
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,004
Always had nice things
for herself.
335
00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:48,674
- Tracii painted her
background as one of
336
00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:53,721
coming from a loving family,
and she revered her mother.
337
00:16:57,183 --> 00:17:01,145
DEBORAH: Our mother became
a real estate agent.
338
00:17:01,145 --> 00:17:03,981
She had a way of getting
people into houses.
339
00:17:03,981 --> 00:17:05,733
She called it
creative financing.
340
00:17:05,733 --> 00:17:07,485
So even if you didn't
have the money,
341
00:17:07,485 --> 00:17:08,945
she'd get you into a house.
342
00:17:08,945 --> 00:17:12,031
So she kind of
established a reputation
343
00:17:12,031 --> 00:17:15,701
as a means-to-an-end person.
344
00:17:15,701 --> 00:17:19,705
If our mother had been alive
in the age of social media,
345
00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:21,916
I'm sure that she would have
put out a curated image
346
00:17:21,916 --> 00:17:24,919
of having it all.
347
00:17:24,919 --> 00:17:27,463
She had this vision,
and so she kind of
348
00:17:27,463 --> 00:17:30,341
transmitted that to us girls,
349
00:17:30,341 --> 00:17:32,510
almost like a stage mom,
in a way.
350
00:17:32,510 --> 00:17:35,513
And Tracii got that message.
351
00:17:35,513 --> 00:17:40,393
She had that excitement
just from early on.
352
00:17:40,393 --> 00:17:42,728
She wants to be adored.
353
00:17:42,728 --> 00:17:45,564
You can really see how
she's trying to be relevant.
354
00:17:45,564 --> 00:17:47,275
For her, image is everything.
355
00:17:47,275 --> 00:17:50,152
[notifications chiming]
356
00:17:50,152 --> 00:17:54,740
In 1984, maybe,
when she first came down to LA,
357
00:17:54,740 --> 00:17:56,993
there wasn't a chance for her
to do this kind of thing,
358
00:17:56,993 --> 00:17:58,828
when she was, like,
an 18-year-old.
359
00:17:58,828 --> 00:18:02,873
But now, she sees
opportunity everywhere.
360
00:18:04,625 --> 00:18:08,713
♪ ♪
361
00:18:08,713 --> 00:18:11,424
- When Tracii was
at my door and had, like,
362
00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:14,385
her complete breakdown
about the credit card,
363
00:18:14,385 --> 00:18:18,472
it was a weekend
when my kids were away.
364
00:18:20,725 --> 00:18:24,812
She said that she was
just bringing mail in,
365
00:18:24,812 --> 00:18:29,066
and there was
a preapproved card.
366
00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:32,653
She was having a weak moment,
367
00:18:32,653 --> 00:18:35,781
and then she just
kind of blurted it out.
368
00:18:35,781 --> 00:18:40,077
"That credit card that Ron's
talking about, that was me."
369
00:18:40,077 --> 00:18:43,164
She had charged
close to $100,000,
370
00:18:43,164 --> 00:18:45,833
and she was mortified.
371
00:18:45,833 --> 00:18:47,877
It was like
a full-on confessional.
372
00:18:47,877 --> 00:18:50,796
[dramatic orchestral music]
373
00:18:50,796 --> 00:18:54,258
Tracii had been working for me
about 3 and 1/2 years.
374
00:18:54,258 --> 00:18:56,302
It was a lot of emotions.
375
00:18:56,302 --> 00:18:58,888
And I was very confused
376
00:18:58,888 --> 00:19:02,892
by the level of deceit,
377
00:19:02,892 --> 00:19:07,480
because she just was
so genuine and so sweet
378
00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,567
and was such a hard worker.
379
00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:14,654
This was the last person
I actually would have thought
380
00:19:14,654 --> 00:19:17,740
would be capable
of something like this.
381
00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:19,325
So I was thinking, wow.
382
00:19:19,325 --> 00:19:21,243
Like, you had to
have been at a low.
383
00:19:21,243 --> 00:19:24,705
This is not like you.
384
00:19:24,705 --> 00:19:26,290
Next thing you know,
she's on her knees
385
00:19:26,290 --> 00:19:28,626
and she's crying
and begging for forgiveness.
386
00:19:28,626 --> 00:19:31,212
[tense music]
387
00:19:31,212 --> 00:19:32,672
"I just want to die.
388
00:19:32,672 --> 00:19:35,674
You should call the cops
right now."
389
00:19:35,674 --> 00:19:37,468
I'm trying to talk her
off the ledge
390
00:19:37,468 --> 00:19:39,720
and telling her, like,
you made a big mistake.
391
00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,182
We can figure this out.
392
00:19:43,182 --> 00:19:44,600
I told her, like,
you know, don't worry.
393
00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,769
No one has to know about this.
394
00:19:46,769 --> 00:19:48,145
I did say, like,
395
00:19:48,145 --> 00:19:49,730
I-I do think it's important
that you tell Derrell.
396
00:19:49,730 --> 00:19:51,232
He's your husband,
and I think it's important
397
00:19:51,232 --> 00:19:53,109
that you tell him.
398
00:19:53,109 --> 00:19:56,612
♪ ♪
399
00:19:56,612 --> 00:20:00,199
Two days later,
she came over with Derrell.
400
00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:03,160
Um, and they sat down with me.
401
00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,788
And she said, you know, I told
Derrell what you wanted me to.
402
00:20:05,788 --> 00:20:07,081
And Derrell, he was like, ah.
403
00:20:07,081 --> 00:20:09,208
He was just so shook
and so shocked.
404
00:20:09,208 --> 00:20:10,751
And everyone was crying.
405
00:20:10,751 --> 00:20:14,797
Like, it was, like, a really
heartfelt conversation.
406
00:20:14,797 --> 00:20:17,758
I didn't think that
she needed to go to jail.
407
00:20:17,758 --> 00:20:21,429
But at the same time,
I did want her to pay me back.
408
00:20:21,429 --> 00:20:26,434
♪ ♪
409
00:20:26,434 --> 00:20:28,853
I came up with
the idea of, like,
410
00:20:28,853 --> 00:20:30,896
would you be comfortable
if we signed something,
411
00:20:30,896 --> 00:20:34,108
just so I don't feel like
a complete idiot here,
412
00:20:34,108 --> 00:20:35,359
you know?
413
00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:36,777
It's gonna spell out
what she did,
414
00:20:36,777 --> 00:20:38,946
and it's gonna say
if there's anything else,
415
00:20:38,946 --> 00:20:40,906
that I'm going straight
to the authorities.
416
00:20:40,906 --> 00:20:44,034
And she had no problem
signing it and was so grateful.
417
00:20:44,034 --> 00:20:45,536
[chuckles]
418
00:20:47,288 --> 00:20:49,498
I'm still thinking
I couldn't trust her anymore
419
00:20:49,498 --> 00:20:51,292
at that point.
420
00:20:51,292 --> 00:20:53,752
I changed all my passwords.
421
00:20:53,752 --> 00:20:57,715
I changed the lock
to my house.
422
00:20:57,715 --> 00:21:01,469
But by the end of that week,
she came with $5,000,
423
00:21:01,469 --> 00:21:04,597
and then, you know,
another couple thousand.
424
00:21:04,597 --> 00:21:08,517
♪ ♪
425
00:21:08,517 --> 00:21:10,060
Honestly, I felt like
I had it under control.
426
00:21:10,060 --> 00:21:11,729
I really did.
427
00:21:11,729 --> 00:21:13,731
[waves crashing]
428
00:21:13,731 --> 00:21:19,528
♪ ♪
429
00:21:19,528 --> 00:21:21,947
It had been several months now
430
00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:26,327
of us in this deal
of her paying me back.
431
00:21:26,327 --> 00:21:29,121
Then she told me
about a restaurant
432
00:21:29,121 --> 00:21:33,209
that she had just opened
in San Diego
433
00:21:33,209 --> 00:21:35,878
called Breakfast Bitch.
[chuckles]
434
00:21:35,878 --> 00:21:38,172
[upbeat music]
435
00:21:38,172 --> 00:21:40,216
- Welcome to Breakfast Bitch.
436
00:21:44,887 --> 00:21:46,013
- Yeah.
437
00:21:47,806 --> 00:21:49,141
DERRELL:
Yeah.
438
00:21:49,141 --> 00:21:50,142
JOUMANA: She's like,
I'm telling you now,
439
00:21:50,142 --> 00:21:51,644
we've opened a restaurant.
440
00:21:51,644 --> 00:21:53,354
And I can pay you back
in increments of even, like,
441
00:21:53,354 --> 00:21:54,855
$10,000.
442
00:21:54,855 --> 00:21:57,233
As soon as I have it,
you'll have it.
443
00:21:57,233 --> 00:21:58,776
And I was like,
oh, that sounds great,
444
00:21:58,776 --> 00:22:01,153
another business for you guys.
445
00:22:01,153 --> 00:22:04,698
And she's posting
on social media
446
00:22:04,698 --> 00:22:06,826
at her restaurant
all the time.
447
00:22:06,826 --> 00:22:08,160
- We're very excited.
448
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,454
We're doing something, like,
that neither of us
449
00:22:10,454 --> 00:22:12,623
have experience in,
which is a little scary.
450
00:22:12,623 --> 00:22:14,124
But it's gonna be fun.
[cheers and applause]
451
00:22:14,124 --> 00:22:16,293
CUSTOMER: Go, go!
CUSTOMER: Yay!
452
00:22:16,293 --> 00:22:20,089
- If this is gonna pay me back,
do what you got to do.
453
00:22:20,089 --> 00:22:23,092
[dramatic operatic music]
454
00:22:23,092 --> 00:22:30,099
♪ ♪
455
00:22:32,101 --> 00:22:34,687
CHRIS:
All right.
456
00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:36,480
Ah, man.
It was just a long trip.
457
00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,315
I won't even wake up.
458
00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:44,613
- Mmm. Thank you.
459
00:22:46,866 --> 00:22:50,286
I launched it during, uh--
in 2019.
460
00:22:50,286 --> 00:22:52,413
We made it just for women.
461
00:22:52,413 --> 00:22:54,748
Um, it tastes like juice.
462
00:22:54,748 --> 00:22:56,000
I do very well with women.
463
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,586
I actually get along with women
better than men.
464
00:23:00,504 --> 00:23:01,755
My name's Chris Viso.
465
00:23:01,755 --> 00:23:04,383
I create concepts.
I'm a visionary.
466
00:23:04,383 --> 00:23:06,302
I can see five years
ahead of time
467
00:23:06,302 --> 00:23:08,512
and create things that
really create a reaction.
468
00:23:08,512 --> 00:23:10,431
[bell dings]
469
00:23:10,431 --> 00:23:13,809
I would never think of myself
as an influencer, ever.
470
00:23:13,809 --> 00:23:16,645
I just create cool shit.
471
00:23:16,645 --> 00:23:19,023
It's been told and said
all the time in Miami
472
00:23:19,023 --> 00:23:20,566
everything I touch is gold.
473
00:23:20,566 --> 00:23:23,152
[upbeat music]
474
00:23:23,152 --> 00:23:25,446
The idea for me was to always
open a restaurant in Miami.
475
00:23:25,446 --> 00:23:27,489
That was my goal.
476
00:23:27,489 --> 00:23:30,159
Uh, I opened Bacon Bitch
in 2017.
477
00:23:30,159 --> 00:23:32,453
I built a lot of stuff
for other people,
478
00:23:32,453 --> 00:23:33,996
and this was the
first one I actually
479
00:23:33,996 --> 00:23:35,914
built from scratch, by myself.
480
00:23:35,914 --> 00:23:40,461
And it worked, and everybody
told me it wasn't gonna.
481
00:23:40,461 --> 00:23:41,837
From day one,
482
00:23:41,837 --> 00:23:43,756
they said, you're crazy,
you can't name it this.
483
00:23:43,756 --> 00:23:46,467
But when it started,
I didn't have any money.
484
00:23:46,467 --> 00:23:50,054
So I had to create something
that was gonna market itself.
485
00:23:50,054 --> 00:23:51,889
Probably walk in to the hostess.
Right away, hey, bitch.
486
00:23:51,889 --> 00:23:53,515
How you doing?
Everything good today?
487
00:23:53,515 --> 00:23:56,143
It was an idea that
I knew was progressive,
488
00:23:56,143 --> 00:23:58,854
and my goal was to make
the word "bitch" OK.
489
00:23:58,854 --> 00:24:01,398
And I got to tell you,
I think I did.
490
00:24:01,398 --> 00:24:03,734
And I started really
making an entire brand.
491
00:24:03,734 --> 00:24:05,277
Because a brand
isn't just a name.
492
00:24:05,277 --> 00:24:07,571
Brand's a feeling
and brand's an experience.
493
00:24:07,571 --> 00:24:10,491
And once it went
on social media,
494
00:24:10,491 --> 00:24:12,910
it just tripled, quadrupled.
495
00:24:12,910 --> 00:24:15,329
Then it started going viral
all the time.
496
00:24:15,329 --> 00:24:17,956
You had to go to Bacon Bitch
if you went to South Beach.
497
00:24:17,956 --> 00:24:22,795
♪ ♪
498
00:24:22,795 --> 00:24:25,756
So it was 2019.
499
00:24:25,756 --> 00:24:29,093
I had a really good
relationship with Yelp.
500
00:24:29,093 --> 00:24:30,469
And one of the girls
who worked there
501
00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:31,804
called me one day,
and she's like,
502
00:24:31,804 --> 00:24:33,347
"Chris, you're never
gonna believe this.
503
00:24:33,347 --> 00:24:36,266
"Somebody called me today
and tried to open up a Yelp
504
00:24:36,266 --> 00:24:39,103
with the name
Breakfast Bitch."
505
00:24:39,103 --> 00:24:41,647
I was like,
"You're fucking with me. No way.
506
00:24:41,647 --> 00:24:43,482
"Like, they called you,
out of all the people?
507
00:24:43,482 --> 00:24:45,609
How big is this company?
And they called you?"
508
00:24:45,609 --> 00:24:47,611
She's like, "Chris,
I don't even believe it myself.
509
00:24:47,611 --> 00:24:49,613
"And then she sent me the menu,
and it was your menu,
510
00:24:49,613 --> 00:24:50,864
your exact same menu."
511
00:24:50,864 --> 00:24:54,159
I was like, "No way.
No way, no way, no way."
512
00:24:54,159 --> 00:24:57,162
And it was the exact menu,
word for word.
513
00:24:57,162 --> 00:24:59,873
Insane.
514
00:24:59,873 --> 00:25:03,043
So I pull the website up,
BreakfastBitch.com.
515
00:25:03,043 --> 00:25:08,841
And it says "Inspired by Miami's
most iconic brunch restaurant."
516
00:25:08,841 --> 00:25:11,593
I was like, wow.
517
00:25:11,593 --> 00:25:14,805
And the girl's name
was Tracii Hutsona.
518
00:25:16,807 --> 00:25:19,226
I went into the situation
with Tracii
519
00:25:19,226 --> 00:25:20,728
almost like she didn't know
what she was doing.
520
00:25:20,728 --> 00:25:23,814
[orchestral music]
521
00:25:23,814 --> 00:25:25,357
[camera shutter snaps]
522
00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:28,068
Once I found out she was
really trying to do this,
523
00:25:28,068 --> 00:25:29,486
I was like, well,
524
00:25:29,486 --> 00:25:31,905
why didn't you just call me
and try to franchise this?
525
00:25:31,905 --> 00:25:34,992
So I went back and looked, and
she had two franchise requests
526
00:25:34,992 --> 00:25:39,580
a month and a half before
with her name, Tracii Hutsona.
527
00:25:39,580 --> 00:25:41,874
Franchise, San Diego.
528
00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:43,959
I was like, how is she
gonna deny this now?
529
00:25:46,044 --> 00:25:47,379
Finally got a hold of 'em.
530
00:25:47,379 --> 00:25:49,048
She just kept
adamantly denying
531
00:25:49,048 --> 00:25:50,674
that she tried to copy us.
532
00:25:50,674 --> 00:25:52,718
So why'd you send me
two franchise requests
533
00:25:52,718 --> 00:25:54,052
if you weren't
trying to do this
534
00:25:54,052 --> 00:25:55,596
and then decided
to do the same thing?
535
00:25:55,596 --> 00:25:57,848
And then she would just try
to say, oh, it's different.
536
00:25:57,848 --> 00:25:59,808
It's this and that.
I'm like, what? How?
537
00:26:00,559 --> 00:26:03,103
I didn't know the extent
of the similarities
538
00:26:03,103 --> 00:26:05,689
until she opened
the restaurant.
539
00:26:05,689 --> 00:26:07,357
She copied everything.
540
00:26:07,357 --> 00:26:09,693
I'm talking about the menu
541
00:26:09,693 --> 00:26:12,529
and the merchandise
and clothing.
542
00:26:12,529 --> 00:26:14,156
- All bitches are welcome.
543
00:26:14,156 --> 00:26:16,158
CHRIS: She started saying,
"Hey, bitch" to the customers,
544
00:26:16,158 --> 00:26:18,368
which was a big point for me,
545
00:26:18,368 --> 00:26:23,123
because that was what made us
who we were at the beginning.
546
00:26:23,123 --> 00:26:25,626
- You're a bitch
and you're a bitch. [laughs]
547
00:26:25,626 --> 00:26:27,878
- Tracii was pretty
consistently promoting herself
548
00:26:27,878 --> 00:26:31,715
on social media,
showing off the restaurant
549
00:26:31,715 --> 00:26:33,717
that she called Bacon Bitch.
550
00:26:33,717 --> 00:26:36,303
No, Breakfast Bitch.
See? Even I get confused.
551
00:26:37,513 --> 00:26:39,306
CHRIS: I felt like
the customer would think,
552
00:26:39,306 --> 00:26:41,225
when they went to
Breakfast Bitch,
553
00:26:41,225 --> 00:26:43,060
they were in Bacon Bitch,
554
00:26:43,060 --> 00:26:46,396
which was literally
the biggest part of why
555
00:26:46,396 --> 00:26:48,524
she can't do what she's doing.
556
00:26:49,983 --> 00:26:52,361
We called Tracii
over and over,
557
00:26:52,361 --> 00:26:54,446
got nowhere.
558
00:26:54,446 --> 00:26:58,826
It was to the point where
we had to finally file a suit.
559
00:26:58,826 --> 00:27:01,829
[dramatic music]
560
00:27:01,829 --> 00:27:04,957
♪ ♪
561
00:27:04,957 --> 00:27:08,168
GABRIELLE: The more I looked
into Tracii's history,
562
00:27:08,168 --> 00:27:11,505
it became clear that this
was a much bigger story...
563
00:27:13,757 --> 00:27:15,425
Her whole life.
564
00:27:15,425 --> 00:27:18,512
It certainly seemed like
Tracii is acting with
565
00:27:18,512 --> 00:27:19,972
the sense that
"I can't get caught.
566
00:27:19,972 --> 00:27:21,640
And if I do,
I won't get in trouble."
567
00:27:27,187 --> 00:27:30,232
[gentle music]
568
00:27:30,232 --> 00:27:34,027
♪ ♪
569
00:27:34,027 --> 00:27:35,571
GABRIELLE:
Tracii was scamming
570
00:27:35,571 --> 00:27:38,824
multiple people
over multiple years.
571
00:27:39,825 --> 00:27:44,621
Her first run-in with
the law was in 1994
572
00:27:44,621 --> 00:27:47,833
when she was arrested
for using a bad check
573
00:27:47,833 --> 00:27:52,004
to purchase a 1988 Jeep
from a dealership.
574
00:27:52,004 --> 00:27:55,257
- According to my mom,
she walked into a car dealership
575
00:27:55,257 --> 00:27:58,844
and pretended that she was on
the set of Jingle All the Way
576
00:27:58,844 --> 00:28:02,681
and that Arnold Schwarzenegger
needed a car to drive around.
577
00:28:02,681 --> 00:28:06,894
And she convinced these poor
saps into giving her a car.
578
00:28:06,894 --> 00:28:10,314
[dramatic music]
579
00:28:10,314 --> 00:28:12,524
GABRIELLE:
After the dealership arrest,
580
00:28:12,524 --> 00:28:18,488
Tracii was charged with forgery,
larceny, and grand theft,
581
00:28:18,488 --> 00:28:22,409
and sentenced to three years.
582
00:28:22,409 --> 00:28:24,161
[dog barking]
583
00:28:24,161 --> 00:28:27,414
[tense music]
584
00:28:27,414 --> 00:28:28,874
♪ ♪
585
00:28:28,874 --> 00:28:31,585
DEBORAH:
My mother died in 1997,
586
00:28:31,585 --> 00:28:34,296
and it was heartbreaking
that she had to die
587
00:28:34,296 --> 00:28:37,049
with my sister in jail.
588
00:28:38,759 --> 00:28:40,928
- By all accounts,
her prison sentence
589
00:28:40,928 --> 00:28:43,096
was very tough on her family.
590
00:28:43,096 --> 00:28:45,474
So when she came out,
591
00:28:45,474 --> 00:28:47,684
it was kind of their chance
to start over.
592
00:28:50,812 --> 00:28:55,067
So in 2004,
Tracii got a really good job
593
00:28:55,067 --> 00:28:58,111
at a well-known
staffing agency
594
00:28:58,111 --> 00:29:01,073
and was earning
close to $100,000 a year.
595
00:29:03,075 --> 00:29:07,162
DEBORAH: She was living in
Malibu, Pacific Palisades,
596
00:29:07,162 --> 00:29:09,665
spending a lot of money
on plastic surgery,
597
00:29:09,665 --> 00:29:13,627
clothing,
renting these fancy houses.
598
00:29:13,627 --> 00:29:18,590
She had all this talent,
and she could have been a CEO.
599
00:29:18,590 --> 00:29:21,468
But I don't think that would
ever be enough for her.
600
00:29:21,468 --> 00:29:23,553
♪ ♪
601
00:29:27,349 --> 00:29:29,935
JEFF: As vice president
of business development,
602
00:29:29,935 --> 00:29:32,688
Tracii was responsible for
603
00:29:32,688 --> 00:29:35,565
finding and hiring
temp workers
604
00:29:35,565 --> 00:29:37,985
for her company's clients.
605
00:29:37,985 --> 00:29:40,612
♪ ♪
606
00:29:40,612 --> 00:29:43,073
Approximately
five months later,
607
00:29:43,073 --> 00:29:45,575
she started
her first fraud scheme.
608
00:29:45,575 --> 00:29:49,204
[operatic music]
609
00:29:49,204 --> 00:29:51,707
My name is Jeff Mitchell.
I'm a federal prosecutor
610
00:29:51,707 --> 00:29:54,584
at the United States Attorney's
office in Los Angeles.
611
00:29:56,586 --> 00:29:59,381
Tracii's fraud scheme
was continuous,
612
00:29:59,381 --> 00:30:00,841
deliberate, and calculated.
613
00:30:00,841 --> 00:30:03,844
♪ ♪
614
00:30:03,844 --> 00:30:05,971
GABRIELLE:
She took her passport
615
00:30:05,971 --> 00:30:11,018
and her husband's passport
and photoshopped them a bit.
616
00:30:11,018 --> 00:30:14,771
Tracii created these
two fictitious people
617
00:30:14,771 --> 00:30:18,108
and convinced this staffing
company that they were real.
618
00:30:20,152 --> 00:30:22,612
JEFF: She created
these fake employees
619
00:30:22,612 --> 00:30:24,781
and had all of their paychecks
direct deposited
620
00:30:24,781 --> 00:30:27,909
into her personal
bank accounts.
621
00:30:29,327 --> 00:30:30,996
GABRIELLE: The investigation
into her started
622
00:30:30,996 --> 00:30:32,914
in May of 2006
623
00:30:32,914 --> 00:30:36,501
when her staffing company
called the police.
624
00:30:36,501 --> 00:30:38,086
I mean,
that kind of kicked off
625
00:30:38,086 --> 00:30:41,089
a series of events
that took several years
626
00:30:41,089 --> 00:30:44,259
and saw Tracii move from
company to company.
627
00:30:44,259 --> 00:30:47,596
So as that first scam ended,
628
00:30:47,596 --> 00:30:50,015
that's when
the second scam started.
629
00:30:50,015 --> 00:30:52,225
♪ ♪
630
00:30:52,225 --> 00:30:55,854
- We were able to obtain
her bank records,
631
00:30:55,854 --> 00:30:59,316
and the bank records show
that she was receiving
632
00:30:59,316 --> 00:31:02,861
deposits from
several staffing companies.
633
00:31:02,861 --> 00:31:06,073
GABRIELLE: And when the
second scam was discovered,
634
00:31:06,073 --> 00:31:09,326
that's when she launched
a third scam.
635
00:31:09,326 --> 00:31:14,289
♪ ♪
636
00:31:14,289 --> 00:31:16,750
Looking at it
from a bird's eye view,
637
00:31:16,750 --> 00:31:20,545
it was just so audacious.
638
00:31:20,545 --> 00:31:22,714
I mean, she had to have known
639
00:31:22,714 --> 00:31:26,009
when the paychecks stopped
coming from the first company
640
00:31:26,009 --> 00:31:28,720
that law enforcement
was likely to be involved,
641
00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:32,140
and yet she did it again.
642
00:31:32,140 --> 00:31:34,184
And when those
paychecks stopped,
643
00:31:34,184 --> 00:31:39,022
she did it a third time,
using the same bank account.
644
00:31:39,022 --> 00:31:43,068
It really was kind of amazing.
645
00:31:43,068 --> 00:31:45,112
- Over the course of 18 months,
646
00:31:45,112 --> 00:31:48,949
she stole approximately
a half a million dollars.
647
00:31:48,949 --> 00:31:51,952
[tense music]
648
00:31:51,952 --> 00:31:53,286
♪ ♪
649
00:31:53,286 --> 00:31:55,080
[birds cawing]
650
00:31:57,958 --> 00:32:00,877
LORIANN: Tracii told me
that the FBI was after her.
651
00:32:00,877 --> 00:32:05,298
And Tracii talked to me
about how innocent she was
652
00:32:05,298 --> 00:32:06,967
and how she was being framed.
653
00:32:06,967 --> 00:32:08,969
And I was dumbfounded.
654
00:32:08,969 --> 00:32:12,514
I believed that they had
to have been wrong.
655
00:32:12,514 --> 00:32:15,350
Not my friend.
656
00:32:15,350 --> 00:32:18,728
[bus whirs]
657
00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:21,982
GABRIELLE:
In October 2008,
658
00:32:21,982 --> 00:32:25,569
Tracii pleaded guilty
to one count of wire fraud,
659
00:32:25,569 --> 00:32:28,238
one count of aggravated
identity theft,
660
00:32:28,238 --> 00:32:31,867
and one count of tax evasion.
661
00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:34,244
JEFF: She was being
escorted into custody,
662
00:32:34,244 --> 00:32:35,662
and she stopped,
663
00:32:35,662 --> 00:32:37,164
she turned around,
and she yelled at me,
664
00:32:37,164 --> 00:32:39,624
something to the extent of,
"I hope you're happy."
665
00:32:39,624 --> 00:32:41,877
Over the course of 15 years,
I don't think anybody
666
00:32:41,877 --> 00:32:44,588
has ever made it personal
or yelled at me,
667
00:32:44,588 --> 00:32:47,090
so she sticks out
for that reason.
668
00:32:47,090 --> 00:32:52,095
- Ultimately, she was sentenced
to 75 months in prison.
669
00:32:52,095 --> 00:32:54,014
JEFF:
Over six years' imprisonment
670
00:32:54,014 --> 00:32:57,100
was a significant sentence
for her.
671
00:32:57,100 --> 00:33:00,353
It was longer than anything
she had received in the past,
672
00:33:00,353 --> 00:33:02,522
um, and we hoped
it would deter her.
673
00:33:02,522 --> 00:33:06,067
But unfortunately, it did not.
674
00:33:06,067 --> 00:33:08,403
[soft indistinct chatter]
675
00:33:08,403 --> 00:33:12,115
LORIANN: I was so shocked
by the whole thing.
676
00:33:12,115 --> 00:33:14,159
I didn't communicate
with Tracii at all
677
00:33:14,159 --> 00:33:15,577
while she was in prison.
678
00:33:15,577 --> 00:33:17,662
I figured that was it.
679
00:33:17,662 --> 00:33:21,458
I would never hear
from her again.
680
00:33:21,458 --> 00:33:24,169
[pensive music]
681
00:33:24,169 --> 00:33:27,714
Then, in 2014,
I was, uh, on the road
682
00:33:27,714 --> 00:33:30,091
coming back
from Palm Springs
683
00:33:30,091 --> 00:33:32,886
when Tracii called me
out of the blue.
684
00:33:32,886 --> 00:33:35,263
[phone buzzing]
685
00:33:35,263 --> 00:33:40,477
For her to call me after
seven years was surprising.
686
00:33:40,477 --> 00:33:42,437
We had a very long
conversation,
687
00:33:42,437 --> 00:33:46,942
and she was in a halfway house
in downtown LA at that point.
688
00:33:46,942 --> 00:33:51,571
And so I opened up
my arms to her,
689
00:33:51,571 --> 00:33:54,824
because I figured
she had been rehabilitated.
690
00:33:54,824 --> 00:33:57,535
♪ ♪
691
00:33:57,535 --> 00:34:00,038
GABRIELLE: It's a pattern
that you will see repeated
692
00:34:00,038 --> 00:34:03,124
a number of times
in Tracii's life,
693
00:34:03,124 --> 00:34:07,337
where people repeatedly
offer her grace.
694
00:34:07,337 --> 00:34:09,881
LORIANN: I have been an angel
in many people's lives.
695
00:34:09,881 --> 00:34:15,595
I'm not ashamed to say that,
and I thought I was her angel.
696
00:34:15,595 --> 00:34:18,640
♪ ♪
697
00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:22,894
And it just occurred to
my husband, Vince, and I
698
00:34:22,894 --> 00:34:25,730
that maybe she should move
into the other house,
699
00:34:25,730 --> 00:34:29,067
which is on our property
as well.
700
00:34:29,067 --> 00:34:30,860
We thought it was a good idea
701
00:34:30,860 --> 00:34:35,198
because it would give her
a place to start over
702
00:34:35,198 --> 00:34:37,242
and to rebuild.
703
00:34:37,242 --> 00:34:40,370
Tracii moved into this.
704
00:34:40,370 --> 00:34:44,791
This is the back side
of the 12,000-square-foot home
705
00:34:44,791 --> 00:34:47,877
that Vince built.
706
00:34:47,877 --> 00:34:51,756
She moved in there and, uh,
enjoyed every minute of it,
707
00:34:51,756 --> 00:34:53,550
as you can imagine.
708
00:34:53,550 --> 00:34:57,012
She went from living in
a prison cell for seven years
709
00:34:57,012 --> 00:34:59,764
to moving into
a 12,000-square-foot mansion
710
00:34:59,764 --> 00:35:02,434
in, like, one day.
711
00:35:02,434 --> 00:35:08,023
It's a big place
with painted murals,
712
00:35:08,023 --> 00:35:11,735
all wood-paneled,
and it's just beautiful.
713
00:35:14,446 --> 00:35:18,199
My husband and I were together
for about 17 years
714
00:35:18,199 --> 00:35:21,745
before she came here
and moved in.
715
00:35:21,745 --> 00:35:24,456
Vince and I had
a really rocky relationship.
716
00:35:24,456 --> 00:35:28,501
When Tracii came here,
she recognized that right away.
717
00:35:28,501 --> 00:35:33,173
And she would agree that
I was being disrespected.
718
00:35:33,173 --> 00:35:35,133
Tracii was telling me that
719
00:35:35,133 --> 00:35:40,555
Vince was a narcissistic
piece of crap,
720
00:35:40,555 --> 00:35:42,974
and what
a terrible person he was,
721
00:35:42,974 --> 00:35:45,310
and how I needed
to get rid of him.
722
00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:48,188
And she wouldn't really tell me
723
00:35:48,188 --> 00:35:52,108
exactly why she felt that way.
724
00:35:52,108 --> 00:35:54,402
And at the same time,
she told me
725
00:35:54,402 --> 00:35:59,366
how wonderful I was
and how special a person I am.
726
00:35:59,366 --> 00:36:02,786
[tense music]
727
00:36:02,786 --> 00:36:07,499
For nine months,
I was being built up,
728
00:36:07,499 --> 00:36:11,002
loved, and respected.
729
00:36:11,002 --> 00:36:15,882
But I'm not really sure what
she was doing behind my back.
730
00:36:15,882 --> 00:36:19,052
[orchestral music]
731
00:36:19,052 --> 00:36:21,471
She played Polly Purebred
with me.
732
00:36:21,471 --> 00:36:25,058
She dressed very plainly.
733
00:36:25,058 --> 00:36:27,268
On the other hand,
734
00:36:27,268 --> 00:36:30,480
when she was at
the other house around Vince,
735
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,983
she'd be dressing
very, very sexily,
736
00:36:33,983 --> 00:36:38,571
to a point where
it was embarrassing.
737
00:36:38,571 --> 00:36:40,532
And I asked her,
would you please
738
00:36:40,532 --> 00:36:42,283
stop dressing in this fashion?
739
00:36:42,283 --> 00:36:44,202
It's not fair to Vince.
740
00:36:44,202 --> 00:36:46,454
It's not fair to my son.
741
00:36:46,454 --> 00:36:48,373
It's inappropriate.
742
00:36:48,373 --> 00:36:51,000
Please don't do that.
743
00:36:52,502 --> 00:36:58,133
I didn't know that they were
going places together.
744
00:36:58,133 --> 00:37:02,929
And when I found that out,
I was appalled and hurt.
745
00:37:02,929 --> 00:37:07,350
I felt that he was
choosing Tracii over me,
746
00:37:07,350 --> 00:37:13,148
that Tracii was the younger
version and the trophy girl.
747
00:37:13,148 --> 00:37:15,817
♪ ♪
748
00:37:15,817 --> 00:37:20,029
Her end game,
I don't know for sure.
749
00:37:20,029 --> 00:37:22,949
But I feel that she wanted to
750
00:37:22,949 --> 00:37:26,578
get Vince to herself
751
00:37:26,578 --> 00:37:32,208
and be the proud owner of the
villa and any other property.
752
00:37:32,208 --> 00:37:36,212
I just think that
she wanted something I had
753
00:37:36,212 --> 00:37:40,008
and was trying to get it.
754
00:37:45,263 --> 00:37:50,018
I'm angry and I'm hurt
to this day.
755
00:37:51,311 --> 00:37:55,732
I still cry about it.
It was that painful.
756
00:37:55,732 --> 00:37:58,735
[somber music]
757
00:37:58,735 --> 00:38:03,615
I couldn't believe that people
would treat me that way,
758
00:38:03,615 --> 00:38:06,701
people who supposedly loved me.
759
00:38:06,701 --> 00:38:09,454
♪ ♪
760
00:38:09,454 --> 00:38:12,874
I'm sorry.
Should I take a break?
761
00:38:12,874 --> 00:38:14,042
[sniffles]
762
00:38:14,042 --> 00:38:17,045
[pensive music]
763
00:38:17,045 --> 00:38:22,008
♪ ♪
764
00:38:22,008 --> 00:38:23,927
GABRIELLE: As I spoke
to more and more people
765
00:38:23,927 --> 00:38:25,637
who knew Tracii,
766
00:38:25,637 --> 00:38:29,015
a number of traits
kind of stuck out.
767
00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:35,396
Tracii is extraordinarily
intelligent
768
00:38:35,396 --> 00:38:37,524
in the emotional sense,
769
00:38:37,524 --> 00:38:40,693
someone who is good
at understanding
770
00:38:40,693 --> 00:38:42,862
what people are looking for,
771
00:38:42,862 --> 00:38:46,574
who is very good
at getting you to help her
772
00:38:46,574 --> 00:38:49,577
while thinking that
she's helping you.
773
00:38:49,577 --> 00:38:52,789
All the while,
she's the one in control.
774
00:38:52,789 --> 00:38:58,169
And there's really no real way
to tell what's what.
775
00:38:58,169 --> 00:39:02,215
LORIANN: She doesn't think
she's gonna get in trouble.
776
00:39:02,215 --> 00:39:05,718
A good example is of
what she did with Joumana.
777
00:39:05,718 --> 00:39:08,555
♪ ♪
778
00:39:08,555 --> 00:39:11,850
And Joumana gave her
a second chance,
779
00:39:11,850 --> 00:39:13,351
and she did worse.
780
00:39:19,607 --> 00:39:22,610
[soft dramatic music]
781
00:39:22,610 --> 00:39:26,239
JOUMANA: It had been
several months now
782
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,409
of us in this deal
of Tracii paying me back
783
00:39:29,409 --> 00:39:34,289
the $100,000 that she put
on the credit cards.
784
00:39:34,289 --> 00:39:38,209
She had already paid me
a good, like, 45,000.
785
00:39:41,170 --> 00:39:43,506
It is extremely
important for me
786
00:39:43,506 --> 00:39:46,467
when people are genuine,
when people are transparent,
787
00:39:46,467 --> 00:39:48,428
when people are humble.
788
00:39:48,428 --> 00:39:50,305
And I do believe
that everyone always
789
00:39:50,305 --> 00:39:52,932
deserves a second chance.
790
00:39:52,932 --> 00:39:54,726
And after the confession,
791
00:39:54,726 --> 00:39:58,354
I would wake up
to random texts.
792
00:39:58,354 --> 00:40:00,523
She said, like,
"You had no reason
793
00:40:00,523 --> 00:40:02,817
to give me the level of grace
that you've given me."
794
00:40:02,817 --> 00:40:04,694
And you know,
"There's so many people
795
00:40:04,694 --> 00:40:05,862
"who just say
they're Christian.
796
00:40:05,862 --> 00:40:07,822
You really live it."
797
00:40:07,822 --> 00:40:11,326
It was just kind of like
an ongoing affirmation
798
00:40:11,326 --> 00:40:15,997
that I did the right thing,
allowing her to pay me back.
799
00:40:15,997 --> 00:40:18,124
I hadn't talked
to anyone about it.
800
00:40:18,124 --> 00:40:20,835
And I just felt like
I needed to tell someone.
801
00:40:20,835 --> 00:40:24,422
And I called
my financial advisor, Ron,
802
00:40:24,422 --> 00:40:28,217
and I said, remember that
Chase card from a while back?
803
00:40:28,217 --> 00:40:30,720
It-it was Tracii.
804
00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:32,263
That was a really
tough conversation,
805
00:40:32,263 --> 00:40:33,848
because he was just
so disappointed in me
806
00:40:33,848 --> 00:40:35,475
and so upset with me.
807
00:40:35,475 --> 00:40:38,519
And so then Ron says to me, OK,
don't ever talk to her again.
808
00:40:38,519 --> 00:40:41,606
Don't fire her.
Don't say a word to her.
809
00:40:41,606 --> 00:40:43,775
He called these, like,
forensic guys
810
00:40:43,775 --> 00:40:46,235
that dive into
cases like this.
811
00:40:46,235 --> 00:40:48,863
And I started
calling credit cards.
812
00:40:48,863 --> 00:40:51,741
I called Bank of America,
and I told them
813
00:40:51,741 --> 00:40:53,826
that I needed
to cancel my card
814
00:40:53,826 --> 00:40:56,329
and I needed to close
my checking and my savings.
815
00:40:56,329 --> 00:40:58,164
And so he pulls it all up.
816
00:40:58,164 --> 00:41:00,875
And he says,
OK, well, that's done.
817
00:41:00,875 --> 00:41:02,835
How about the other ones?
818
00:41:02,835 --> 00:41:06,339
And I'm like,
there are no other ones.
819
00:41:06,339 --> 00:41:09,425
And he's like,
there are other ones.
820
00:41:09,425 --> 00:41:12,095
And you actually
have limited access.
821
00:41:12,095 --> 00:41:14,222
[dramatic music]
822
00:41:14,222 --> 00:41:15,640
I was just overwhelmed.
823
00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:19,352
Like, how is all of this
happening?
824
00:41:19,352 --> 00:41:23,982
At that point, I thought,
let me call everything.
825
00:41:23,982 --> 00:41:26,609
So I called
the kids' college funds.
826
00:41:28,111 --> 00:41:30,988
Their college money
was no longer there.
827
00:41:30,988 --> 00:41:33,282
[tense music]
828
00:41:33,282 --> 00:41:35,410
[somber music]
829
00:41:35,410 --> 00:41:39,747
I just became undone
at that point.
830
00:41:39,747 --> 00:41:41,416
Who does that?
831
00:41:41,416 --> 00:41:44,377
I think that is when
I removed her
832
00:41:44,377 --> 00:41:47,588
from, like, the human category.
833
00:41:47,588 --> 00:41:50,466
You can attack me,
you can steal from me,
834
00:41:50,466 --> 00:41:55,304
but this was an attack
at my children.
835
00:41:55,304 --> 00:42:00,727
That was probably one of
the lowest points of my life.
836
00:42:00,727 --> 00:42:03,896
I told my kids.
837
00:42:03,896 --> 00:42:05,565
They were just so sweet
and, like,
838
00:42:05,565 --> 00:42:07,525
wanting to make sure
that I knew that,
839
00:42:07,525 --> 00:42:09,485
"You didn't let us down."
840
00:42:09,485 --> 00:42:14,198
♪ ♪
841
00:42:14,198 --> 00:42:15,908
And then we went
right into Quantico mode.
842
00:42:15,908 --> 00:42:18,453
[suspenseful music]
843
00:42:18,453 --> 00:42:20,955
It was like
this huge investigation
844
00:42:20,955 --> 00:42:25,001
of trying to figure out
who Tracii was.
845
00:42:25,001 --> 00:42:27,462
My daughter had this app
where you could, like,
846
00:42:27,462 --> 00:42:30,590
download every text
you've ever had.
847
00:42:30,590 --> 00:42:34,802
Our goal was to look at
the credit card statements,
848
00:42:34,802 --> 00:42:38,556
social media, and connect it
all with the texts
849
00:42:38,556 --> 00:42:41,058
and see consistencies,
inconsistencies.
850
00:42:41,058 --> 00:42:45,229
♪ ♪
851
00:42:45,229 --> 00:42:50,485
This went from one credit card
to a slew of things in a day.
852
00:42:50,485 --> 00:42:53,905
So many bank statements,
credit card statements.
853
00:42:53,905 --> 00:42:56,908
It was, like,
a lot of moving money.
854
00:42:56,908 --> 00:42:59,952
It consumed us.
855
00:42:59,952 --> 00:43:01,579
Starts off the conversation
telling me that
856
00:43:01,579 --> 00:43:04,791
she needs to take one
of the cars in for service.
857
00:43:04,791 --> 00:43:06,167
And then she texts me.
858
00:43:06,167 --> 00:43:10,171
She needed to get
a security question.
859
00:43:10,171 --> 00:43:13,591
What city is your mother
born in?
860
00:43:13,591 --> 00:43:15,593
The last thing I'm thinking
is that this person
861
00:43:15,593 --> 00:43:17,345
is trying to get information.
862
00:43:17,345 --> 00:43:21,432
[operatic music]
863
00:43:21,432 --> 00:43:23,601
I really couldn't
wrap my brain around
864
00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:26,104
how she was getting
all the access.
865
00:43:26,104 --> 00:43:30,608
I finally learned she had
power of attorney.
866
00:43:30,608 --> 00:43:32,902
And I'm like, wait, what?
867
00:43:32,902 --> 00:43:36,239
I-I've never signed
a power of attorney.
868
00:43:36,239 --> 00:43:40,243
So we asked for a copy of it.
869
00:43:40,243 --> 00:43:43,579
So she had snuck a page
870
00:43:43,579 --> 00:43:46,958
into something
that I was signing.
871
00:43:46,958 --> 00:43:49,836
When she had that
power of attorney signed,
872
00:43:49,836 --> 00:43:51,671
she had full acc--she was me.
873
00:43:51,671 --> 00:43:55,633
There was nothing
she didn't have access to.
874
00:43:55,633 --> 00:43:58,302
Tracii ended up stealing
875
00:43:58,302 --> 00:44:01,889
1.5 million cash...
876
00:44:03,933 --> 00:44:07,103
Including between
600,000 and 700,000
877
00:44:07,103 --> 00:44:09,063
from the kids' college funds,
878
00:44:09,063 --> 00:44:13,860
and then another
1.14 million in credit.
879
00:44:15,069 --> 00:44:19,949
Our goal was to have this,
like, airtight case,
880
00:44:19,949 --> 00:44:24,412
and to make sure that
it went straight to the DA.
881
00:44:24,412 --> 00:44:25,830
Every time I found something,
882
00:44:25,830 --> 00:44:27,665
I would just
send it off to them.
883
00:44:27,665 --> 00:44:31,669
And I was told that we'll
have her arrested by December.
884
00:44:31,669 --> 00:44:33,921
And then that didn't happen.
885
00:44:33,921 --> 00:44:36,215
Then they said,
OK, probably January.
886
00:44:36,215 --> 00:44:38,801
And then that didn't happen.
887
00:44:38,801 --> 00:44:42,597
And, um, I really thought
that once we figured out
888
00:44:42,597 --> 00:44:45,850
all the fraud stuff,
if you had that evidence,
889
00:44:45,850 --> 00:44:47,977
you can go to jail.
890
00:44:47,977 --> 00:44:50,062
[indistinct chatter]
891
00:44:50,062 --> 00:44:52,273
But she still has
the restaurants.
892
00:44:52,273 --> 00:44:54,942
As a matter of fact,
she ended up branching out
893
00:44:54,942 --> 00:44:58,487
and opening a second one
in Phoenix.
894
00:44:58,487 --> 00:45:02,033
This was all after
I'd turned her in.
895
00:45:02,033 --> 00:45:05,119
She's just posting
on social media.
896
00:45:05,119 --> 00:45:07,121
- The same way she stole
Joumana's identity,
897
00:45:07,121 --> 00:45:09,749
I mean, Breakfast Bitch
stole Bacon Bitch's identity.
898
00:45:09,749 --> 00:45:12,543
[tense music]
899
00:45:12,543 --> 00:45:14,754
This is the MO.
900
00:45:20,009 --> 00:45:24,222
♪ ♪
901
00:45:24,222 --> 00:45:29,185
So I wake up one morning,
and my phone's blowing up.
902
00:45:29,185 --> 00:45:32,271
And I look, and I'm watching
903
00:45:32,271 --> 00:45:34,106
Jimmy Fallon
talking about Bacon Bitch.
904
00:45:34,106 --> 00:45:35,566
- The owners of the
restaurant Bacon Bitch
905
00:45:35,566 --> 00:45:37,777
are suing the owners
of a San Diego restaurant
906
00:45:37,777 --> 00:45:39,528
called Breakfast Bitch...
907
00:45:39,528 --> 00:45:41,238
[crowd laughs]
908
00:45:41,238 --> 00:45:43,157
For stealing their idea.
909
00:45:43,157 --> 00:45:45,201
CHRIS: This was the first
national attention we had.
910
00:45:45,201 --> 00:45:48,079
And then the stories
were everywhere.
911
00:45:48,079 --> 00:45:49,872
But not only did it hit
the late nights,
912
00:45:49,872 --> 00:45:51,624
but it also hit the news.
913
00:45:51,624 --> 00:45:53,751
I was kind of
already contemplating
914
00:45:53,751 --> 00:45:55,628
letting her run her businesses
into the ground
915
00:45:55,628 --> 00:45:57,797
because she doesn't know
what she's doing.
916
00:45:57,797 --> 00:45:59,590
And I don't know how
she's affording all this.
917
00:45:59,590 --> 00:46:00,925
When you open a store,
918
00:46:00,925 --> 00:46:02,176
you don't make money
for the first year.
919
00:46:02,176 --> 00:46:03,594
It doesn't matter
how busy you are.
920
00:46:03,594 --> 00:46:05,388
So, like, I--
I-I knew something was off.
921
00:46:05,388 --> 00:46:06,764
I was like, she must
be getting the money
922
00:46:06,764 --> 00:46:08,224
from an illicit source.
923
00:46:08,224 --> 00:46:10,476
Little did I know, she was
stealing money from Joumana.
924
00:46:10,476 --> 00:46:14,021
♪ ♪
925
00:46:14,021 --> 00:46:17,274
- So when the police were
ready to arrest Tracii,
926
00:46:17,274 --> 00:46:20,319
they had me call her,
927
00:46:20,319 --> 00:46:21,696
try to, you know,
get her on the phone
928
00:46:21,696 --> 00:46:24,657
so they can nail down
her location.
929
00:46:24,657 --> 00:46:28,577
♪ ♪
930
00:46:28,577 --> 00:46:31,831
She never answered,
931
00:46:31,831 --> 00:46:34,750
but she ended up sending me
this long text
932
00:46:34,750 --> 00:46:36,168
the very next day,
933
00:46:36,168 --> 00:46:39,296
just basically saying how,
you know, she was just--
934
00:46:39,296 --> 00:46:44,760
it just rocked her to the core
to hear my voice.
935
00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:48,306
"No matter how I try to pay it
forward in acts of kindness,
936
00:46:48,306 --> 00:46:50,349
I feel like I'm a fraud."
937
00:46:50,349 --> 00:46:52,351
One day, she's gonna woman up
938
00:46:52,351 --> 00:46:55,855
and have a conversation with me
and how she's sorry.
939
00:46:57,273 --> 00:46:58,774
It's just so fake.
940
00:46:58,774 --> 00:47:01,193
But it was what
the police needed,
941
00:47:01,193 --> 00:47:04,447
and I guess they were able
to secure her location.
942
00:47:08,367 --> 00:47:11,370
[tense music]
943
00:47:11,370 --> 00:47:13,748
♪ ♪
944
00:47:13,748 --> 00:47:17,084
[indistinct chatter]
945
00:47:17,084 --> 00:47:20,588
JOUMANA: When the police
were ready to arrest Tracii,
946
00:47:20,588 --> 00:47:22,131
they drove by the restaurant.
947
00:47:22,131 --> 00:47:26,010
And then they saw her
in the alley.
948
00:47:26,010 --> 00:47:29,930
And once she saw them,
apparently, she ran on foot.
949
00:47:29,930 --> 00:47:32,933
[siren wailing]
950
00:47:35,019 --> 00:47:37,813
ANCHOR: Tracii Hutsona
is accused of stealing
951
00:47:37,813 --> 00:47:39,648
more than $1,000,000.
952
00:47:39,648 --> 00:47:42,651
[handcuffs clicking]
953
00:47:44,779 --> 00:47:47,740
ANCHOR: Our camera's there
as she's arrested in Phoenix,
954
00:47:47,740 --> 00:47:50,242
getting out
of her company car.
955
00:47:50,242 --> 00:47:53,704
JOUMANA: They arrested her,
and it was a great day.
956
00:47:55,915 --> 00:47:59,877
But Tracii went to jail
and got out,
957
00:47:59,877 --> 00:48:02,588
like, the next day on bail.
[chuckles]
958
00:48:02,588 --> 00:48:04,173
REPORTER:
Hutsona denies it all.
959
00:48:04,173 --> 00:48:07,218
JOUMANA:
I mean, not even house arrest?
960
00:48:07,218 --> 00:48:09,011
Part of me felt--
961
00:48:09,011 --> 00:48:10,846
I hate to go this route,
but, like,
962
00:48:10,846 --> 00:48:13,766
the white privilege
was just next level.
963
00:48:13,766 --> 00:48:15,392
[siren wails]
964
00:48:15,392 --> 00:48:19,647
I've heard stories of people
being pulled over with weed
965
00:48:19,647 --> 00:48:20,981
and they're doing life.
966
00:48:20,981 --> 00:48:24,193
This woman is robbing people.
967
00:48:24,193 --> 00:48:27,321
We even had evidence that
she had purchased things
968
00:48:27,321 --> 00:48:30,241
to open the restaurant
on my credit cards.
969
00:48:30,241 --> 00:48:31,784
- Chilling on a Friday.
970
00:48:31,784 --> 00:48:35,121
JOUMANA: She's posting videos
floating in her pool,
971
00:48:35,121 --> 00:48:38,082
talking about, um,
living the life,
972
00:48:38,082 --> 00:48:40,251
and looks dead in the camera
and says,
973
00:48:40,251 --> 00:48:42,962
"Just don't con anyone."
974
00:48:51,262 --> 00:48:53,430
- Like, what the fuck
is wrong with her?
975
00:48:53,430 --> 00:48:56,058
[laughs]
976
00:48:56,058 --> 00:48:58,227
TRACII: I'm not gonna
underestimate things.
977
00:48:58,227 --> 00:49:01,021
- My sister is so good
at her game.
978
00:49:01,021 --> 00:49:02,565
TRACII:
Most of you know me.
979
00:49:02,565 --> 00:49:04,108
DEBORAH:
She's mastered it.
980
00:49:04,108 --> 00:49:05,651
- I keep it real 100%.
981
00:49:05,651 --> 00:49:08,028
So I'm just gonna tell you
the truth right now.
982
00:49:08,028 --> 00:49:11,490
- "I'm gonna tell you the truth
right now."
983
00:49:11,490 --> 00:49:14,994
So Joumana Kidd was
just being human.
984
00:49:14,994 --> 00:49:18,247
And people who say
that they would never
985
00:49:18,247 --> 00:49:21,083
get caught up in it have never
met my sister, Tracii.
986
00:49:21,083 --> 00:49:24,420
[tense music]
987
00:49:24,420 --> 00:49:27,923
LORIANN: Tracii has a way
of getting you
988
00:49:27,923 --> 00:49:31,594
to feel like
she had your back,
989
00:49:31,594 --> 00:49:34,722
and then she'd stick
the knife in.
990
00:49:34,722 --> 00:49:37,600
[shutter clicking]
I'm a savvy person.
991
00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:40,978
I've been around the block
more than once.
992
00:49:40,978 --> 00:49:43,647
She really can sell you.
993
00:49:43,647 --> 00:49:45,232
I was her best friend.
994
00:49:45,232 --> 00:49:47,735
She loved me
more than her sisters.
995
00:49:47,735 --> 00:49:51,280
I was the greatest friend
she's ever had in her life.
996
00:49:51,280 --> 00:49:53,115
I mean, even with
this interview,
997
00:49:53,115 --> 00:49:55,034
I have a little tiny bit of me
998
00:49:55,034 --> 00:49:58,078
that makes me feel like
I'm betraying Tracii.
999
00:50:00,831 --> 00:50:04,585
[thunder rumbles]
1000
00:50:04,585 --> 00:50:08,005
- Fraudsters need to convince
their victims
1001
00:50:08,005 --> 00:50:10,466
that they're authentic
and genuine.
1002
00:50:13,177 --> 00:50:16,514
So having
a social media presence
1003
00:50:16,514 --> 00:50:19,475
or indicators
of trustworthiness
1004
00:50:19,475 --> 00:50:22,269
is important to the fraud.
1005
00:50:23,354 --> 00:50:25,439
DEBORAH: It's the perfect time
for Tracii,
1006
00:50:25,439 --> 00:50:28,567
if only she wasn't 54 years old.
1007
00:50:28,567 --> 00:50:30,903
When image is everything,
it's got to be really hard
1008
00:50:30,903 --> 00:50:32,613
when you see yourself
getting older.
1009
00:50:32,613 --> 00:50:35,324
♪ ♪
1010
00:50:35,324 --> 00:50:37,743
There's only so many
filtered photographs
1011
00:50:37,743 --> 00:50:39,453
you can put out there.
1012
00:50:39,453 --> 00:50:42,831
[soft music]
1013
00:50:42,831 --> 00:50:44,333
CHRIS:
And we finally got Tracii
1014
00:50:44,333 --> 00:50:47,294
to come to mediation, and...
1015
00:50:47,294 --> 00:50:49,421
[sighs]
Didn't get anywhere.
1016
00:50:49,421 --> 00:50:53,759
♪ ♪
1017
00:50:53,759 --> 00:50:57,721
I decided to walk away
from the lawsuit
1018
00:50:57,721 --> 00:50:59,265
and let it get dismissed.
1019
00:50:59,265 --> 00:51:02,935
The last thing I wanted to do
was be throwing money at her.
1020
00:51:02,935 --> 00:51:07,439
She had no intention
of coming to a solution.
1021
00:51:07,439 --> 00:51:12,820
- It's just something that
she gets a high off of.
1022
00:51:12,820 --> 00:51:14,488
She's not someone
who's stealing
1023
00:51:14,488 --> 00:51:16,991
to put food on the table
for her kids.
1024
00:51:16,991 --> 00:51:18,409
REPORTER:
The US Attorney's office
1025
00:51:18,409 --> 00:51:20,744
calls the owner of this
Hillcrest restaurant
1026
00:51:20,744 --> 00:51:22,413
a "serial con artist."
1027
00:51:22,413 --> 00:51:25,040
She faces up to
20 years in prison
1028
00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:27,293
if convicted on all charges.
1029
00:51:27,293 --> 00:51:30,629
LORIANN: When I caught wind
of Tracii in trouble again,
1030
00:51:30,629 --> 00:51:32,423
I wanted to find out
more and more.
1031
00:51:32,423 --> 00:51:36,468
And I reached out to Debbie
and told her who I was
1032
00:51:36,468 --> 00:51:38,846
and what had happened.
1033
00:51:38,846 --> 00:51:43,475
And she set me up
with meeting Joumana.
1034
00:51:43,475 --> 00:51:45,602
- Tracii would be
devastated to know
1035
00:51:45,602 --> 00:51:48,355
that I've been talking
to Joumana Kidd.
1036
00:51:48,355 --> 00:51:51,692
- It made things come together.
1037
00:51:51,692 --> 00:51:55,029
The puzzle was more complete.
1038
00:51:55,029 --> 00:51:57,114
JOUMANA: I am the person
who will tell you
1039
00:51:57,114 --> 00:51:59,033
that something good
came out of anything.
1040
00:51:59,033 --> 00:52:01,535
Bringing me together
with, like,
1041
00:52:01,535 --> 00:52:06,540
Chris Viso, Deb, and Loriann
is a gift on its own.
1042
00:52:09,460 --> 00:52:11,128
[truck horn honks]
1043
00:52:11,128 --> 00:52:14,131
[indistinct chatter]
1044
00:52:14,131 --> 00:52:16,133
[engine revs]
1045
00:52:19,261 --> 00:52:21,764
GABRIELLE:
In July 2022,
1046
00:52:21,764 --> 00:52:26,352
Tracii pled guilty
to one count of wire fraud.
1047
00:52:26,352 --> 00:52:28,395
She only pleaded to one count,
1048
00:52:28,395 --> 00:52:32,191
so they obviously
struck some bargain.
1049
00:52:32,191 --> 00:52:34,735
Cameras caught Tracii
as she was leaving the court
1050
00:52:34,735 --> 00:52:36,278
with her attorney,
1051
00:52:36,278 --> 00:52:38,989
but she declined
to comment to reporters.
1052
00:52:43,744 --> 00:52:46,914
JOUMANA: Tracii finally
came to a plea deal,
1053
00:52:46,914 --> 00:52:52,836
and she agreed to pay
1.1 million back to me,
1054
00:52:52,836 --> 00:52:58,300
and 1.1 million in
forfeitures to the government.
1055
00:52:59,885 --> 00:53:04,306
Well, I feel like she owes me
more than 1.1 million.
1056
00:53:04,306 --> 00:53:07,935
And by the way, that's
a really high-profile lawyer
1057
00:53:07,935 --> 00:53:09,311
she has there.
1058
00:53:09,311 --> 00:53:13,482
So I'd love to know how
she's affording that also.
1059
00:53:13,482 --> 00:53:17,444
I guess I'm paying
for that too.
1060
00:53:17,444 --> 00:53:19,613
- Even after the arrest
became public,
1061
00:53:19,613 --> 00:53:22,199
Tracii was pretty consistently
promoting herself
1062
00:53:22,199 --> 00:53:25,327
on social media,
proclaiming her innocence
1063
00:53:25,327 --> 00:53:27,913
and that the truth
would come out.
1064
00:53:27,913 --> 00:53:30,040
When I started
investigating the story,
1065
00:53:30,040 --> 00:53:32,042
the Breakfast Bitch account
1066
00:53:32,042 --> 00:53:35,337
started liking photos
on my Instagram.
1067
00:53:35,337 --> 00:53:37,005
You know,
there was definitely no,
1068
00:53:37,005 --> 00:53:41,093
you know, attempt to
kind of retreat in any way.
1069
00:53:41,093 --> 00:53:42,720
[dramatic music]
1070
00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:45,139
[cheers and applause]
1071
00:53:45,139 --> 00:53:48,892
JOUMANA: 100%, she was
striving to be an influencer.
1072
00:53:48,892 --> 00:53:50,352
[shutter clicking]
1073
00:53:50,352 --> 00:53:52,604
It's just all so fake.
1074
00:53:52,604 --> 00:53:54,940
She's pretending
she's something she's not.
1075
00:53:58,318 --> 00:54:04,074
- Tracii is a manipulative,
calculated con artist
1076
00:54:04,074 --> 00:54:06,410
who is absolutely addicted
to conning.
1077
00:54:06,410 --> 00:54:08,495
Someone like that's
capable of anything.
1078
00:54:08,495 --> 00:54:11,165
[both laugh]
1079
00:54:11,165 --> 00:54:14,126
[bright operatic music]
1080
00:54:14,126 --> 00:54:21,133
♪ ♪
81247
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