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In this episode of American Greed, he's
a successful insurance broker.
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She's a vice president at a leading
financial firm.
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She was making close to a quarter of a
million dollars a year. They were living
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large. Tina and Joe Corona lived the
good life with a nice house and a
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collection of classic cars.
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We did everything together.
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She loves cars.
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She loves football.
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But Joe has one very dark secret.
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He's stealing money from clients to
finance their funds.
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He preyed on people that were friends
and family. He didn't prey on strangers.
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There was nobody he would not steal
money from.
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How far will Joe Corona go to keep his
sins a secret?
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I started crying and I said, I don't
want to believe this.
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Please tell me he didn't do this to her.
I don't want to believe it.
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Saturday, October 25th, 2008.
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Just outside Memphis, Tennessee, in the
quiet suburb of Olive Branch.
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Shortly after 7 o 'clock in the evening,
Carrie Brown, a trucking company
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manager, receives an alarming phone
call.
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It's Joe Corona, the husband of her
close friend, Tina Corona.
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He sounds worried.
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He just called somewhat panicky and just
said, have you talked to Tina today?
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And I'm like, no.
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Has she called you today?
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No. Joe, what's going on?
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Corona explains that he last saw Tina
around 10 o 'clock that morning when she
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left home in her black Chevy Avalanche.
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She planned to run errands in
preparation for a party later that
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But she never came home, Corona says.
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And she isn't answering her phone.
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Well, I went into a straight panic
because that's not like her.
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Especially not to answer phone calls
from him.
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Tina Corona is a 44 -year -old financial
executive and president of the Memphis
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Corvette Club.
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She is so well -loved that friends and
family immediately form a search party
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that very night.
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They were thinking somebody had abducted
her, so I just went looking for that
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black avalanche. It was like a massive
manhunt for Tina.
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The mystery of Tina Corona's
disappearance would eventually reveal a
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financial fraud scheme and murder plot.
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But just how did Tina and Joe Corona, by
all appearances a happy and successful
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couple, become entangled in this twisted
tale?
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It's a story that begins decades
earlier.
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I don't know anybody that didn't love
Tina.
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She was the kind of person that you...
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You had no choice but to love her,
really.
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Carrie Brown meets Tina in kindergarten.
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The two women stay tight through high
school and college and even get their
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first jobs together as tellers at a
local bank.
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Customers that adored her would wait
until she got back from lunch until she
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helped them.
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She's just that kind of person. She was
magnetic.
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Although she does not have a degree in
business or finance, Tina's infectious
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personality and strong work ethic propel
her up the corporate ladder.
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Within a few years, she's working for
the brokerage firm Payne Weber.
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She could talk a heating blanket from an
Eskimo.
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She could sell anything. She could make
every customer that walked in there
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happy.
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In early 1993,
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Tina meets her match in the charm
department.
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One afternoon while out shopping, Tina
is swept off her feet by a smooth
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-talking shoe salesman.
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She didn't look like, you're not going
to believe this.
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I just met somebody at the shoe
carnival. We're going out.
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Joe Corona is a manager at the store.
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He knew all the right buttons to push
with Tina.
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Lots of attention.
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flowers all the time, gifts all the
time, really winning her over.
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Less than a year after meeting, the two
are married.
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But shortly after the wedding, Tina
pushes her new husband for a career
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She thinks he can do better than
slinging shoes.
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So that's when she came to her dad and
said, will you take Joe in and train him
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in the insurance business?
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Tina's dad, Jim Murphy, is an
independent insurance agent.
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He's eager to teach his new son -in -law
the ropes.
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Two of Joe Corona's earliest clients are
his elderly neighbors, Lake and Helen
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Sturtevant.
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Their son, David, remembers when Corona
first came to call on them.
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He would come over to my parents' house
and practice his sales pitch on them.
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Have a live...
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somebody to tell about the product he
was selling.
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Because they adore Tina, the Sturdivans
are willing to take a chance with her
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new husband.
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They agree to let Joe open up an annuity
for them.
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They thought it was a safe deal, and I
think they thought they'd be helping out
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Tina by investing with them.
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An annuity is a financial product that
is often used to create a future revenue
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stream in retirement.
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When you buy an annuity, you're buying
an investment, and you're expecting your
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money to grow in value, and it's really
considered a safe investment. There's
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not a lot of risk involved with an
annuity.
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Joe Corona's new career is off to a
promising start when American Greed
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Corona takes a high -stakes gamble with
his family's fortune.
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Joe loved to gamble. Joe and Tina both
went to the casinos a lot. No one ever
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knew how much money that he was spending
at the casino.
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Memphis, Tennessee, home of the
legendary Beale Street, where seven days
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there's always a party going on. And by
2006, the good times are rolling for Joe
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and Tina Corona.
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That year, Tina takes an executive job
with the financial firm Cantor
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Fitzgerald. As the vice president in the
loan department, she's paid nearly a
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quarter million dollars a year,
according to her good friend, Carrie
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Everyone knew that she was successful
and was doing well, but she would never
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take the credit for all that. She'd be
like, oh, Joe's done so well, you know,
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in the insurance business. He's doing so
well.
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But she's being far too humble.
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Most of Joe's clients are Tina's
friends.
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She often accompanies her husband on
sales calls.
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Anybody that knew Tina would go with
them, but that was his bread and butter
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people who trusted Tina, therefore they
could trust Joe.
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With years of experience under his belt,
Joe now works out of his own office and
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away from the watchful eye of his father
-in -law.
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Carrie Brown eventually becomes one of
his clients.
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She purchases a life insurance policy
through Joe and considers opening up a
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,000 annuity with him as well.
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I said, you know, I've got some money
invested in an annuity. It just would
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more sense if I put it with someone that
I know.
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So why don't I move my money to you? And
Tan was like, it's a great idea.
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Of course you can move your money to
Joe.
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But rather than make a phone call and
transfer money over to the life
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company, Joe curiously tells Carrie to
make out a check to his business.
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He said, just call your broker and tell
him that you want a check in full made
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out to you.
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You'll sign that check over to me, and
then I will invest it with Alliant.
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And the same type of annuity.
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Carrie doesn't think twice about the
transaction.
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Joe is the husband of her good friend,
Tina.
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Complete 100 % trust.
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She was involved. I mean, she was there.
She helped sell it.
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With his insurance business thriving,
Joe picks up a new hobby, collecting
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classic cars.
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Within a few years, Joe buys a 1971
Chevelle.
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A 1969 Daytona yellow Corvette and a
couple of Porsches.
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He liked to be seen in them. He was very
proud of his cars.
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Joe becomes so enamored of his cars that
he and Tina join the exclusive Memphis
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Corvette Club.
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It's a defining moment, says Tina's
younger brother, Scott Murphy.
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Joe was all about the appearance of what
you had.
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He was looking to hang out with the
people that were in a different class
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he felt like had money.
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Joe and Tina moved to a bigger house in
Cordoba, a quiet town in the eastern
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suburbs of Memphis.
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The couple are high rollers at the
casinos in Tunica, Mississippi, where
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plays fast and loose with their cash.
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Joe loved to gamble. Joe and Tina both
went to the casinos a lot.
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She hit 10 grand one time, and, like,
it's so much fun. I mean, we're
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you know, because we're winning all this
money.
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00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:08,769
But what Tina doesn't yet realize is
that like any addiction, there can be
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to pay.
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Joe is losing a ton of money.
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00:10:12,710 --> 00:10:17,149
It's not uncommon for him to drop
several thousand dollars playing
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high -end slots.
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He won money, but not enough to cover
what he was losing.
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At one point, I think he was down $90
,000.
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00:10:27,740 --> 00:10:33,499
Next on American Greed, Joe Corona loves
life in the fast lane. But will he
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drive his friends, family, and clients
into a financial ditch?
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I never really thought he would try to
steal money from the family.
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In Memphis, Joe and Tina Corona appear
to have the perfect marriage.
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But what Tina doesn't know is that their
lifestyle is propped up by fraud.
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Joe's been pocketing his clients' money
for years, says Shelby County Assistant
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D .A. Danielle McCollum.
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Tina made good money, but I guess that
wasn't enough, and he wanted more cars
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a bigger house or to go gamble more.
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Since 2001, Joe's been stealing money
from several clients.
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He makes it look easy.
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When Joe sells an annuity to a customer,
he often encourages them to write the
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check directly to him.
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The check many times will be made
payable to Corona Investments, and Joe
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deposit that money to his account, and
he would never forward that money to the
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insurance company.
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Some checks went to the insurance
company. Some checks went to him.
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He was very good at what he was doing,
so he would mix it up.
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Corona's first ever client, Lake
Sturdivant, remains his favorite mark.
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My dad loved Joe to death.
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Joe was telling him about all this
interest that he was making.
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00:12:15,010 --> 00:12:19,709
And when they would come into some
money, most of the time we'd invest it
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Joe.
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Unfortunately, Lake rarely asks Joe for
any paperwork.
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00:12:27,690 --> 00:12:33,590
It's a mistake made by several of Joe's
clients, including Carrie Brown,
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who has a $20 ,000 annuity with Joe.
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I never got one statement, ever.
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At the time, the market was not doing
well, so I didn't want to look at it.
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When clients do press Joe on the
subject, he often whips up a fake
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The amount of time he spent defrauding
these people is ridiculous.
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He would go through and change the
amounts. He would retype parts and then
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00:13:05,350 --> 00:13:07,490
repaste that on top and then photocopy
it.
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00:13:08,890 --> 00:13:13,929
Remarkably, while Joe is plundering
their friends and family, Tina Corona,
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president of a financial firm, has no
idea of the fraud happening right under
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00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:19,760
her nose.
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00:13:19,761 --> 00:13:23,519
Joe was very controlling of a lot of
things in the relationship, but
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00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,820
the money. He did handle all of the
finances.
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She said, I don't even realize what I
make, because it goes into a direct
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00:13:31,180 --> 00:13:34,360
deposit into the account, and Joe gave
her allowance.
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If she needed money, Joe gave her the
money.
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00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:50,559
In June 2007, tragedy strikes Tina's
family, and Joe's greed reaches new
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depths.
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00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:58,359
One night after Jim Murphy attends a
classic car show, the 65 -year -old dies
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his sleep.
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00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:05,140
She called me about 5 o 'clock in the
morning, and she was absolutely, I mean,
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00:14:05,180 --> 00:14:09,100
just, Carrie Daddy died, you know,
Carrie Daddy died.
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00:14:10,460 --> 00:14:14,959
While his wife grieves, Joe turns his
attention to his father -in -law's car
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collection. It includes a 1963 Cadillac,
a Bentley, and several others
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worth more than $100 ,000.
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00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,799
He came to me and said, your mom's got
six, seven, eight cars out there that
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00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:36,199
your dad had, and they're not doing
anything but losing value, but I'll be
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00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:37,780
to help you guys sell them.
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00:14:38,220 --> 00:14:39,440
The Murphys agree.
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But Tina's brother, Scott, soon finds
out that Joe may not be the trustworthy
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brother -in -law he thought he was.
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00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:53,319
When Joe was selling the cars, instead
of having the checks made out to my
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00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,260
mother, Joe was having the checks made
out to Joe Corona.
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00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:04,859
Joe deposits some cash in Clara's
account, but the totals are far less
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00:15:04,860 --> 00:15:05,910
the family expects.
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00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,240
The family calculates that Joe has
shorted them between $30 ,000 and $40
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00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:18,720
He had a Nash that he claims he sold for
$16 ,000.
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00:15:19,460 --> 00:15:23,779
Right there alone would have easily,
somebody would have come up and dropped
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00:15:23,780 --> 00:15:25,040
,000 cash on it.
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00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,620
The 57 Chevrolet, he let it go for $16
,000.
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00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,980
The Chevy fair market value is $25 ,000.
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00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:48,179
Two months after the funeral on August
22, 2007, the family gathers to
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discuss the transaction.
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00:15:50,180 --> 00:15:52,480
Joe is visibly anxious.
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He's sweating. He's shaking.
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00:15:55,380 --> 00:15:58,720
We've just about got him cornered up in
a wall.
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00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:04,560
Joe denies any wrongdoing and tries to
talk his way out of the situation.
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00:16:06,030 --> 00:16:10,989
But Scott is armed with solid evidence
that Joe has pocketed money owed to the
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00:16:10,990 --> 00:16:17,909
family. He has already contacted the
buyer of the 1963 Cadillac, who confirms
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00:16:17,910 --> 00:16:20,470
paid $12 ,000 cash for the car.
228
00:16:21,290 --> 00:16:23,730
But the Murphys haven't seen a penny.
229
00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:29,449
Well, at first he said, I made the
deposit the day of the funeral. And Tina
230
00:16:29,450 --> 00:16:32,490
said, Joe, we didn't go to the bank that
day.
231
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,860
So that's when he got up from the table.
232
00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,760
Joe Corona leaves the house and heads
outside to his car.
233
00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,520
A few minutes later, he returns with a
stack of cash.
234
00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,750
My sister says, you guys are not going
to believe this.
235
00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:54,799
He found the money. It fell in between
his seats, and it has been there for two
236
00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,880
solid months, and it was $4 ,000.
237
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,760
And I was like, hallelujah, $4 ,000.
238
00:17:01,340 --> 00:17:02,960
Now, where's the other $8 ,000?
239
00:17:04,740 --> 00:17:09,540
In the face of damning evidence, Tina
stands by her man.
240
00:17:10,079 --> 00:17:14,799
It's like she didn't believe us that she
believed Joe. Because she got up after
241
00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,240
it was all over with, she got up and
said, I've lost my family.
242
00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:25,079
That night, Joe writes a check to his
mother -in -law for $35 ,000.
243
00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,580
The next day, he pays Scott the other $8
,000.
244
00:17:30,590 --> 00:17:34,610
Joe and Tina proceed to break off all
contact with the Murphys.
245
00:17:35,450 --> 00:17:39,050
Oh, it's like a knife sticking me in my
heart.
246
00:17:41,930 --> 00:17:43,990
I tried to talk to her.
247
00:17:44,770 --> 00:17:48,010
I'd call her at the office, and she
wouldn't answer my call.
248
00:17:48,430 --> 00:17:51,450
I'd send her e -mails. She wouldn't
answer my e -mails.
249
00:17:53,410 --> 00:17:58,050
Next on American Greed, is there
anything Joe Corona won't do for money?
250
00:17:58,650 --> 00:18:00,310
Or to keep his secrets hidden.
251
00:18:00,311 --> 00:18:04,029
I said I don't want to believe that he's
done something wrong, but there's no
252
00:18:04,030 --> 00:18:05,080
doubt that he has.
253
00:18:05,630 --> 00:18:10,710
And later, Joe Corona's exclusive
interview with American Greed.
254
00:18:10,970 --> 00:18:15,089
I just believe that the truth needs to
come out. My time has never been told.
255
00:18:15,090 --> 00:18:19,809
family and obviously all the people that
were involved need to know what
256
00:18:19,810 --> 00:18:20,860
happened.
257
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,160
In Memphis, Joe Corona's greed has
opened up a family rift.
258
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,739
After his in -laws, the Murphys, accuse
him of stealing their money, Tina Corona
259
00:18:44,740 --> 00:18:46,860
and her mom stop talking.
260
00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:52,660
She used to drive by her mom's at
Thanksgiving, Christmas, see who's
261
00:18:53,380 --> 00:18:55,850
People have no idea how much that
devastated her.
262
00:18:56,420 --> 00:18:57,470
It was bad.
263
00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:07,300
While his wife quietly suffers, the
first cracks start to appear in Joe's
264
00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:14,960
In March 2008, Carrie Brown wants to
cash out part of her $25 ,000 annuity.
265
00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:18,680
She needs $10 ,000 to pay off some
bills.
266
00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,679
She tried to talk me out of it, and I
insisted that it was my money. Give it
267
00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:25,060
me. I want to pay some debt off.
268
00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:29,719
For the next three weeks, Carrie waits
for the money to be transferred in her
269
00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:30,770
bank account.
270
00:19:31,180 --> 00:19:32,360
But it never arrived.
271
00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:39,539
On the third week, I called him, and I
felt at the time, what's the deal? I've
272
00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:42,060
taken money out of investment accounts
before.
273
00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:43,620
It's never taken this long.
274
00:19:44,220 --> 00:19:47,420
A few days later, the money is finally
deposited.
275
00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:52,280
But curiously, the wire transfer doesn't
come from the insurance company.
276
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,820
Tina's name was on that transfer.
277
00:19:54,821 --> 00:19:58,399
And at the time, I thought it was odd,
but I got my money. That's all I cared
278
00:19:58,400 --> 00:19:59,450
about.
279
00:20:00,270 --> 00:20:03,310
Carrie Brown never mentions the incident
to Tina.
280
00:20:03,690 --> 00:20:08,769
Besides, Tina has exciting news of her
own that she can't wait to share with
281
00:20:08,770 --> 00:20:09,820
friend.
282
00:20:10,610 --> 00:20:14,769
She's planning on buying a new home, a
half -million -dollar house in the
283
00:20:14,770 --> 00:20:18,950
upscale suburb of Eads, where many of
her Corvette Club friends live.
284
00:20:20,430 --> 00:20:22,290
She was so excited about the house.
285
00:20:22,750 --> 00:20:26,910
She had been wanting to buy a house out
in that area for a really long time.
286
00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:33,599
For years, Joe has quashed his wife's
plan of buying a bigger home, telling
287
00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,660
they have other expenses that need to be
addressed first.
288
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:43,199
The truth is, Joe can't risk exposing
his personal finances to the mortgage
289
00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:44,250
lenders.
290
00:20:45,380 --> 00:20:50,699
According to Danielle McCollum of the
Shelby County DA's office, Joe is
291
00:20:50,700 --> 00:20:52,680
his fraud will be revealed.
292
00:20:53,340 --> 00:20:55,440
He knew what the ramifications would be.
293
00:20:55,441 --> 00:20:59,699
as far as the financial truth starting
to come out. And then Tina was going to
294
00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:02,639
start asking questions about that. And
it was just going to be a snowball
295
00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,020
before she knew everything.
296
00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,080
But Tina is persistent.
297
00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,380
She won't take no for an answer.
298
00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,860
In October 2008, Joe finally gives in.
299
00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:14,920
They'll buy the dream house.
300
00:21:16,060 --> 00:21:21,440
Tina's so happy, on October 23rd, she
shares the big news with her girlfriend.
301
00:21:23,180 --> 00:21:27,859
According to Carrie Brown, Tina explains
that Joe has found a buyer for their
302
00:21:27,860 --> 00:21:32,060
current home and they're going to be
closing on the new house that weekend.
303
00:21:35,620 --> 00:21:36,670
Unfortunately,
304
00:21:39,620 --> 00:21:43,300
Tina never gets a chance to move into
her dream house.
305
00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:49,280
As two days later on Saturday, October
25th, something unexpected strikes.
306
00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,940
Next on American Greed. I was just
devastated.
307
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,040
And I pulled up and I was hurling.
308
00:21:57,380 --> 00:21:59,780
I lost it. It was just shock.
309
00:22:00,140 --> 00:22:06,399
Shock. To learn more about Joe Corona's
secrets, go to AmericanGreed .CNBC
310
00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:11,759
.com. Want inside information from
behind the scenes of the show? Join the
311
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:12,810
social network.
312
00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:15,420
Like us on American Greed's Facebook
page.
313
00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:16,750
We'll be right back.
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00:22:25,070 --> 00:22:29,130
It's a crisp fall day on Saturday,
October 25th, 2008.
315
00:22:30,550 --> 00:22:35,730
Joe Corona plans to have a lazy day
tinkering on his car at a friend's
316
00:22:36,490 --> 00:22:41,709
While his wife, Tina, is out getting
party supplies for a Corvette Club
317
00:22:41,710 --> 00:22:42,760
that night.
318
00:22:49,230 --> 00:22:53,890
But by 6 p .m., Tina hasn't come home
from her errands.
319
00:22:54,250 --> 00:22:55,790
It's not like her to be late.
320
00:22:57,310 --> 00:23:01,510
Around 7 p .m., Joe Corona starts
calling Tina's friends.
321
00:23:02,050 --> 00:23:06,290
He just called somewhat panicky and just
said, have you talked to Tina today?
322
00:23:06,470 --> 00:23:07,630
And I'm like, no.
323
00:23:08,070 --> 00:23:09,330
Has she called you today?
324
00:23:09,570 --> 00:23:11,230
No, Joe, what's going on?
325
00:23:12,290 --> 00:23:17,570
Around this time, the Corvette Club
party is just starting when Joe calls.
326
00:23:17,571 --> 00:23:20,969
And then he starts calling all the
people at the party.
327
00:23:20,970 --> 00:23:24,340
Have you guys seen Tina? I haven't seen
her. I haven't heard from her.
328
00:23:24,379 --> 00:23:29,040
Tina's friends are worried, and the
party quickly changes into a search
329
00:23:30,260 --> 00:23:35,319
They spread out and hit all of Tina's
regular shopping places, posting flyers
330
00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,080
and searching for her SUV.
331
00:23:38,460 --> 00:23:42,479
And that's when everyone starts to get
really nervous and driving all over the
332
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,859
city looking for that black avalanche.
See if it's on the side of the road,
333
00:23:45,860 --> 00:23:46,910
maybe she broke down.
334
00:23:48,020 --> 00:23:52,820
On Sunday, the search continued, but
there's still no sign of Tina.
335
00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:58,039
Sunday at 1 o 'clock until probably 1 o
'clock in the morning, I drove around
336
00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:59,940
everywhere looking for my sister.
337
00:24:00,820 --> 00:24:02,810
I don't even know what I was looking
for.
338
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:16,759
On Monday morning, October 27th, police
find a black SUV on a residential
339
00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,360
street in the Memphis suburb of
Bartlett.
340
00:24:22,060 --> 00:24:24,020
Kevin Martin is a Bartlett detective.
341
00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:26,540
He's one of the first officers on the
scene.
342
00:24:27,420 --> 00:24:33,139
I went up and basically looked into the
back, and I could see a form of a body
343
00:24:33,140 --> 00:24:37,160
laying in the back floorboard of this
avalanche.
344
00:24:39,340 --> 00:24:42,200
The license plates match the missing
vehicle.
345
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:49,740
Inside, police find what they already
suspect, the lifeless body of Tina
346
00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:56,020
There are no bullet or stab wounds, so
it's unclear how she died.
347
00:24:57,340 --> 00:25:02,999
Given Memphis' reputation for violent
crime, police at first think Tina Corona
348
00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,140
is yet another victim of a carjacking
and robbery gone wrong.
349
00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,620
That theory changes upon closer
inspection of the crime scene.
350
00:25:13,620 --> 00:25:17,680
Her hands were duct taped. They were
loose, and they weren't even connected.
351
00:25:17,860 --> 00:25:19,840
They looked like somebody tried to...
352
00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,060
to make it look like her hands had been
tied up, which they weren't.
353
00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:28,120
She had diamond rings on both hands,
earrings.
354
00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,040
And that stuck out like a sore thumb to
us.
355
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:35,119
If that guy in this area is not going to
leave a $30 ,000, $35 ,000 ring on
356
00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:36,170
somebody's finger.
357
00:25:42,660 --> 00:25:48,059
Friends and family are gathered at Joe
and Tina's house when police deliver the
358
00:25:48,060 --> 00:25:49,110
devastating news.
359
00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:56,720
As they were showing the picture of her
dead body to him, there was no emotion.
360
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,780
He just shook his head, yes, like, you
know, that's her.
361
00:26:02,020 --> 00:26:03,880
He acted like he couldn't walk.
362
00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:07,840
It was all like, I have no strength, I'm
so weak.
363
00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:14,599
The next day, Bartlett police asked Joe
to come in for a formal interview to
364
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,280
learn what happened on the day Tina went
missing.
365
00:26:17,281 --> 00:26:21,359
She didn't know where she was going
first. No, no, I didn't know where she
366
00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:26,499
going. Joe tells officers he spent the
day working on his Chevelle at a
367
00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:31,179
house. And you're doing your thing at
the house, whatever. Well, yeah, and
368
00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:36,000
I was over at a friend's house working
on two cars.
369
00:26:36,220 --> 00:26:41,460
And I'm guessing I was there by like a
little bit after 12.
370
00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,180
Joe's alibi checks out.
371
00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:52,379
But in the days following her murder,
Tina's family grows suspicious of his
372
00:26:52,380 --> 00:26:58,180
behavior. He seems more giddy than
grieving, and he's eager to move on.
373
00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,260
He cleaned out the house.
374
00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,880
Everything that was Tina's, he got rid
of.
375
00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,200
Her clothes, her shoes.
376
00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:11,400
He even threw her Bible away and said,
she ain't gonna need this anymore.
377
00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,620
Police investigate other suspects.
378
00:27:15,210 --> 00:27:16,330
but nothing sticks.
379
00:27:17,850 --> 00:27:21,989
After we started looking at the crime
scene and looking at everything, it kept
380
00:27:21,990 --> 00:27:23,490
bringing us back to one person.
381
00:27:23,870 --> 00:27:25,110
But there's a problem.
382
00:27:25,750 --> 00:27:30,110
Police can't find any physical evidence
that ties Joe Corona to the murder.
383
00:27:30,390 --> 00:27:32,830
No DNA, no murder weapon.
384
00:27:33,070 --> 00:27:37,830
And medical examiners can only determine
that Tina died by asphyxiation.
385
00:27:37,831 --> 00:27:42,029
There was no indication whether she'd
been suffocated and asphyxiated through
386
00:27:42,030 --> 00:27:44,440
suffocation or whether she had been
strangled.
387
00:27:45,420 --> 00:27:50,919
The Corona house is beyond tainted, as
friends contaminated the premises while
388
00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:52,040
searching for Tina.
389
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,099
Over 100, 150 people have been in and
out of the house over there where they
390
00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:00,619
lived. So any crime scene that we had
over there would have been destroyed or
391
00:28:00,620 --> 00:28:02,060
wouldn't have been of any use.
392
00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,960
Lacking physical evidence, the case
stalls.
393
00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:09,340
But three weeks later...
394
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:14,219
Police catch a critical break when
Carrie Brown thinks back to her
395
00:28:14,220 --> 00:28:15,340
dealings with Joe.
396
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:21,239
She remembers that Tina's name was on
the wire transfer when she withdrew
397
00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,640
that were supposed to come from her
annuity.
398
00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:28,580
She calls a friend at the bank and asks
her to pull up the transaction.
399
00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:33,979
And she said, oh, no, Carrie, I think
this is fraudulent. I said, why? And she
400
00:28:33,980 --> 00:28:38,280
said it came from their personal
checking account at Regions Bank.
401
00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:43,580
A call to her insurance company confirms
the suspicions of fraud.
402
00:28:44,020 --> 00:28:48,619
I called Allianz, and all they could
verify was my life insurance. I said,
403
00:28:48,620 --> 00:28:50,000
have an annuity.
404
00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,080
And this is when I opened it.
405
00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:59,419
Although Brown withdrew $10 ,000, she
believes she still has an annuity worth
406
00:28:59,420 --> 00:29:00,620
$15 ,000.
407
00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,760
Well, do you have an account number?
408
00:29:04,220 --> 00:29:06,870
Well, no, because he never sent me
anything, right?
409
00:29:07,020 --> 00:29:08,360
So no, I don't.
410
00:29:10,030 --> 00:29:15,149
Carrie goes to the Bartlett police and
tells them that she thinks Joe is
411
00:29:15,150 --> 00:29:16,200
a scam.
412
00:29:17,230 --> 00:29:20,790
So we started thinking, well, Joe's
taking money from her.
413
00:29:21,450 --> 00:29:22,870
What's he doing with it?
414
00:29:23,510 --> 00:29:27,589
And that's when we started looking at
everything, all his financial stuff we
415
00:29:27,590 --> 00:29:28,640
started looking at.
416
00:29:31,050 --> 00:29:35,370
The police subpoena Corona's bank
records and make a shocking discovery.
417
00:29:36,250 --> 00:29:41,949
One week after Tina's demise, Joe
withdrew $30 ,000 from one of her
418
00:29:41,950 --> 00:29:45,590
and forged his late wife's signature on
the check.
419
00:29:46,130 --> 00:29:47,650
It's a big happy handwriting.
420
00:29:47,950 --> 00:29:52,350
And he scribbled it like, sorry, most
men scribble. It was just Tina Corona.
421
00:29:52,630 --> 00:29:56,989
That kind of caught our eye. You know,
he's cashing out an annuity check in his
422
00:29:56,990 --> 00:29:58,040
wife's name.
423
00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:04,979
Police start to suspect that Tina's
murder is inextricably linked to the
424
00:30:04,980 --> 00:30:09,240
couple's finances and Tina's dream of
buying a new home.
425
00:30:10,220 --> 00:30:14,819
I think it's very clear that Tina
thought they were closing very soon on
426
00:30:14,820 --> 00:30:19,659
house. The only person that knew the
truth was Joe, that there was no closing
427
00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:20,860
that was going to happen.
428
00:30:21,020 --> 00:30:25,079
Why he would continue to lead her on, in
our opinion, was because he knew there
429
00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,879
wasn't going to be a closing. He knew he
was going to have to kill her.
430
00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,110
Otherwise, all of this was going to come
out.
431
00:30:30,190 --> 00:30:35,809
As a motive developed, the detectives
bring in the IRS and the U .S. Postal
432
00:30:35,810 --> 00:30:36,860
Inspector.
433
00:30:37,930 --> 00:30:42,889
The investigators look deeper into Joe's
insurance business and discover that
434
00:30:42,890 --> 00:30:45,770
he's stolen nearly $700 ,000.
435
00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:48,470
This was multiple people.
436
00:30:48,950 --> 00:30:53,309
As far as the amount of money that he
stole, it was thousands and thousands
437
00:30:53,310 --> 00:30:55,110
thousands and thousands of dollars.
438
00:30:55,250 --> 00:30:56,300
They said, wow.
439
00:30:56,301 --> 00:31:00,939
Boy, did you open a box. You wouldn't
believe what he's done to all these
440
00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:01,990
people.
441
00:31:02,820 --> 00:31:05,440
The agencies reach out to Joe's victims.
442
00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,580
No one has any idea they've been
swindled.
443
00:31:09,140 --> 00:31:13,559
Initially, the victims couldn't believe
money had been stolen from them. And
444
00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:17,199
then when the victims started looking at
their records, they realized there was
445
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:18,250
a problem.
446
00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:24,000
Lake Sturdivant takes the biggest hit.
He's lost more than $200 ,000.
447
00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:29,279
Daddy, he'd sit there in his wheelchair
and wring his hands and he'd say, I just
448
00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:33,040
can't believe Joe would do something
like that to a crippled old man.
449
00:31:38,940 --> 00:31:43,020
In March 2009, five months after Tina's
murder,
450
00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:48,739
The feds collect enough evidence of
financial fraud to search Joe's house
451
00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:49,790
seize his assets.
452
00:31:51,420 --> 00:31:56,699
At the same time, local prosecutors get
a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of
453
00:31:56,700 --> 00:31:58,000
murdering Tina Corona.
454
00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:01,100
There's just one problem.
455
00:32:01,820 --> 00:32:02,870
Where's Joe?
456
00:32:03,780 --> 00:32:08,379
Yeah, he bolted. I think he knew that it
was all coming to a head, and that's
457
00:32:08,380 --> 00:32:09,430
when he disappeared.
458
00:32:09,870 --> 00:32:15,049
For the next few weeks, police conduct a
massive manhunt for Joe Corona, who's
459
00:32:15,050 --> 00:32:17,450
believed to be driving a gray Hummer.
460
00:32:18,990 --> 00:32:24,470
In late March, they finally catch a
break when a McDonald's employee in
461
00:32:24,570 --> 00:32:29,490
Tennessee, over 70 miles away, says Joe
is a regular customer.
462
00:32:30,170 --> 00:32:34,350
He comes to her McDonald's drive -thru
just about every morning for breakfast,
463
00:32:34,450 --> 00:32:37,710
and he's in a gray Hummer.
464
00:32:38,490 --> 00:32:43,089
Detective Martin and his partner begin
to drive around Jackson searching for
465
00:32:43,090 --> 00:32:44,140
vehicle.
466
00:32:44,290 --> 00:32:49,409
Incredibly, after just a few minutes,
they spot a gray Hummer in a hotel
467
00:32:49,410 --> 00:32:50,460
lot.
468
00:32:50,710 --> 00:32:55,189
And so we drove by in the parking lot
and looked over and we knew it was the
469
00:32:55,190 --> 00:32:56,450
by the tag on the vehicle.
470
00:32:57,170 --> 00:33:00,110
We saw the tag and I was like, wow, it's
him.
471
00:33:01,150 --> 00:33:05,350
The detectives contact the local
authorities and assemble a task force.
472
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:11,959
Accompanied by U .S. Marshals and
Sheriff's deputies, police descend on
473
00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:13,010
hotel room.
474
00:33:13,011 --> 00:33:17,239
We were going to try an element of
surprise. We were going to hit the door,
475
00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,340
unlock it, and come in and effect
arrest.
476
00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,920
But the door is locked, and they can't
get in.
477
00:33:24,540 --> 00:33:26,440
The police call out to Joe.
478
00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:27,900
He doesn't respond.
479
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:33,680
Officers grow tense when they hear a
familiar sound inside the room.
480
00:33:35,439 --> 00:33:36,860
Next on American Greed.
481
00:33:37,220 --> 00:33:39,440
You could hear a racking sound.
482
00:33:39,740 --> 00:33:40,790
It was very distinct.
483
00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:45,739
In my line of work, I know what a slide
on a weapon is going back and forth, and
484
00:33:45,740 --> 00:33:48,060
that's what it was. So we knew he was
armed.
485
00:34:00,590 --> 00:34:06,570
After 17 days on the run, police have
cornered Joe Corona at a hotel in
486
00:34:06,730 --> 00:34:07,780
Tennessee.
487
00:34:08,050 --> 00:34:09,790
But he isn't going quietly.
488
00:34:11,010 --> 00:34:12,170
It was high strife.
489
00:34:12,469 --> 00:34:15,570
We knew he was armed. We knew he had a
weapon in there.
490
00:34:16,230 --> 00:34:20,429
Over the next several moments, officers
tried to reason with the fugitive.
491
00:34:20,929 --> 00:34:22,690
I was like, you need to come out.
492
00:34:23,230 --> 00:34:25,969
I'm not coming out. You know, I've got a
gun in here.
493
00:34:25,970 --> 00:34:29,819
You could hear him racking it, and I'm
like, yeah, Joe, we've got a lot of guns
494
00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:32,530
out here, too. You know, we don't want
to resort to that.
495
00:34:32,739 --> 00:34:35,960
After 20 minutes, Joe finally relents.
496
00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:41,698
I just told him, all it's going to do is
delay the inevitable of what's going to
497
00:34:41,699 --> 00:34:43,319
happen. You're going to go to jail.
498
00:34:43,420 --> 00:34:45,890
We're going to come and get you one way
or another.
499
00:34:46,820 --> 00:34:48,159
Joe knows he's trapped.
500
00:34:48,679 --> 00:34:51,320
He puts down the gun and gives himself
up.
501
00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:55,080
The manhunt is finally over.
502
00:34:56,489 --> 00:35:02,149
In an exclusive interview with American
Greed, Joe Corona talks about the events
503
00:35:02,150 --> 00:35:03,200
of that day.
504
00:35:03,530 --> 00:35:07,970
According to him, the situation is blown
out of proportion.
505
00:35:08,241 --> 00:35:10,029
The
506
00:35:10,030 --> 00:35:16,629
news
507
00:35:16,630 --> 00:35:22,430
of Joe's arrest spreads quickly.
508
00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:29,659
I was driving down the 64 highway, and
Scott said, they've arrested Joe. And I
509
00:35:29,660 --> 00:35:31,840
just started screaming.
510
00:35:33,940 --> 00:35:38,220
I got out of the car, and I just said,
thank you, God, thank you.
511
00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:45,279
Over the next three years, Joe sits in
jail, denied bail for being a flight
512
00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:48,220
risk, and waits for the murder case to
go to trial.
513
00:35:49,670 --> 00:35:54,769
At the same time, federal prosecutors
indicted Joe on 57 counts of insurance
514
00:35:54,770 --> 00:35:57,750
fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.
515
00:35:59,430 --> 00:36:03,350
Edward Stanton is the U .S. attorney for
Western Tennessee.
516
00:36:04,270 --> 00:36:09,049
He preyed upon individuals he knew that
were vulnerable. We wanted to make sure
517
00:36:09,050 --> 00:36:12,990
that Joe Carano was held accountable to
the fullest extent of the law.
518
00:36:13,950 --> 00:36:16,730
But before the federal case can
proceed...
519
00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:20,260
the state must first move forward on the
murder charge.
520
00:36:20,261 --> 00:36:24,599
It was very difficult because this
wasn't a case about whether or not he
521
00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,419
money, but the financial part was a
piece of the puzzle in whether or not he
522
00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:29,470
killed Tina.
523
00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:34,400
In October 2012,
524
00:36:35,140 --> 00:36:38,980
Joe Corona goes on trial for the murder
of Tina Corona.
525
00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,990
Prosecutors paint him as a con man
without a conscience.
526
00:36:45,230 --> 00:36:49,410
Someone who would rather commit murder
than give up his posh lifestyle.
527
00:36:51,090 --> 00:36:56,089
Detective Martin believes that in the
days leading up to the murder, Tina had
528
00:36:56,090 --> 00:36:58,450
inklings that Joe was a fraud.
529
00:36:59,510 --> 00:37:03,489
Either she received something in the
mail or she found out or received a
530
00:37:03,490 --> 00:37:06,250
call. And I think she confronted him
about that.
531
00:37:06,590 --> 00:37:12,729
And his whole world was going to be
dissolved if she went and told anybody
532
00:37:12,730 --> 00:37:13,780
what he was doing.
533
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:19,559
In his interview with American Greed,
Joe Corona disputes the accusation and
534
00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:22,380
insists he could never hurt Tina.
535
00:37:25,211 --> 00:37:27,139
Though
536
00:37:27,140 --> 00:37:35,419
the
537
00:37:35,420 --> 00:37:38,160
events of that day still aren't exactly
known.
538
00:37:38,810 --> 00:37:43,450
Prosecutors believe Joe suffocated Tina
at their home on that Saturday morning.
539
00:37:44,210 --> 00:37:47,930
He then drove the avalanche to the spot
where it was discovered.
540
00:37:49,250 --> 00:37:54,790
Cell phone records confirm Joe was in
the area of where Tina's SUV was found.
541
00:37:55,550 --> 00:37:58,610
And there's one more fact linking Joe to
the site.
542
00:37:59,070 --> 00:38:04,770
His storage unit where he keeps his
classic cars is just a quarter mile
543
00:38:04,771 --> 00:38:09,339
When we looked at cell phone records,
the records did show that Joe drove from
544
00:38:09,340 --> 00:38:13,799
his house and drove that direction into
Bartlett. Joe told the police that he
545
00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:17,119
never went to the storage unit that day.
Well, his cell phone records told us
546
00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:18,440
something very different.
547
00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:27,239
Joe's defense team argues that the
police mishandled the crime scene and
548
00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:31,040
there's no physical evidence linking him
to Tina's murder.
549
00:38:32,260 --> 00:38:33,380
Ask the police.
550
00:38:33,381 --> 00:38:37,179
How did I do this? If they're so sure
that I did it, how did I do it? Where
551
00:38:37,180 --> 00:38:40,459
I do it? None of those things were ever
explained because they couldn't be
552
00:38:40,460 --> 00:38:42,600
explained because they don't know.
553
00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:48,540
After nine days of arguments, the jury
retires to deliberate.
554
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:52,120
It only takes them an hour and a half to
reach a verdict.
555
00:38:53,380 --> 00:39:00,109
On November 1, 2012, exactly four years
to the day since Tina's funeral, Joe
556
00:39:00,110 --> 00:39:03,330
Corona is found guilty of first -degree
murder.
557
00:39:04,930 --> 00:39:10,289
I just threw my head back and said,
thank you, Lord, thank you, Lord. I was
558
00:39:10,290 --> 00:39:16,130
just... I was happy.
559
00:39:17,930 --> 00:39:23,850
Joe is sentenced to life in prison. He
isn't eligible for parole until 2063,
560
00:39:24,050 --> 00:39:26,530
when he'll be 99 years old.
561
00:39:27,790 --> 00:39:31,809
He held me in prison for 50 -something
years for murdering my sister, and I am
562
00:39:31,810 --> 00:39:32,860
thankful for that.
563
00:39:33,850 --> 00:39:35,370
He will never see daylight.
564
00:39:35,670 --> 00:39:38,230
He'll never come out of prison. He'll
die in prison.
565
00:39:40,290 --> 00:39:47,149
On February 26, 2013, Joe pleads guilty
to the federal indictment and
566
00:39:47,150 --> 00:39:50,100
gets another seven years tacked on to
his prison sentence.
567
00:39:50,230 --> 00:39:54,050
The reason that I pled guilty out to
those accounts is because that's...
568
00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:58,460
What was in my best interest. I do not
believe the system was after the truth.
569
00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:04,580
I was not going to try to go to another
trial again with an unpaid lawyer.
570
00:40:05,720 --> 00:40:11,400
The feds say Joe stole nearly $800 ,000
from 18 clients.
571
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:15,519
These victims were devastated. They had
saved and planned on saving for
572
00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:18,340
themselves and their kids, and they lost
their money.
573
00:40:19,690 --> 00:40:23,870
A number of these individuals, it was
their life savings, retirement savings.
574
00:40:24,230 --> 00:40:29,689
These were not individuals that were
looking for a get -rich -quick scheme or
575
00:40:29,690 --> 00:40:31,250
enormous return on investment.
576
00:40:31,870 --> 00:40:37,270
Lake Sturdivant is the biggest victim,
losing more than $209 ,000.
577
00:40:37,790 --> 00:40:43,609
But Joe's first and best customer never
receives any satisfaction as Lake passes
578
00:40:43,610 --> 00:40:47,130
away in 2010 at the age of 84.
579
00:40:50,060 --> 00:40:54,839
Some of the victims, including Terry
Brown, are compensated by the insurance
580
00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,840
companies that Corona claimed he had
invested with.
581
00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:03,120
Others, however, are waiting for
restitution from the court.
582
00:41:04,180 --> 00:41:08,940
We have seized multiple vehicles,
personal property, sports memorabilia,
583
00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:10,010
motorcycles.
584
00:41:10,270 --> 00:41:15,069
We're in the process of liquidating
those, and it's our hope that we will be
585
00:41:15,070 --> 00:41:21,169
able to do everything we can to provide
restitution to the multiple victims
586
00:41:21,170 --> 00:41:22,220
here.
587
00:41:22,510 --> 00:41:28,349
To this day, Joe Corona believes Tina
was murdered on a busy road close to
588
00:41:28,350 --> 00:41:32,250
she was found and that the real killer
is still on the loose.
589
00:41:33,530 --> 00:41:37,789
The bottom line is a lot of the people I
used to hang out with, their lives are
590
00:41:37,790 --> 00:41:38,840
on that same street.
591
00:41:48,670 --> 00:41:54,909
But his victims say Joe Corona is where
he belongs, behind bars and forced to
592
00:41:54,910 --> 00:42:00,570
account for his financial crimes and the
murder of a woman that so many loved.
593
00:42:01,130 --> 00:42:05,130
Why did you steal from all these old
people?
594
00:42:05,530 --> 00:42:07,310
Why did you kill Tina?
595
00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:12,759
I mean, it's gratifying that he'll pay
for his crime. It still doesn't change
596
00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:15,740
anything. It is what it is. I mean,
she's gone.
597
00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:24,399
You know, I'd like for them to put a big
picture of Tina on his wall where he
598
00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:28,070
couldn't get it down so he could see her
every day and what he's done to her.
599
00:42:28,860 --> 00:42:32,819
I just wish we could have talked before
all this happened. She could have come
600
00:42:32,820 --> 00:42:33,870
to me.
601
00:42:39,950 --> 00:42:41,590
That wasn't God's plan, was it?
602
00:42:43,690 --> 00:42:45,750
My town, Vegas, baby.
603
00:42:46,110 --> 00:42:47,160
Yeah!
604
00:42:47,690 --> 00:42:52,350
Meet Steve Stevens. I'm the one that
tells you who to bet on. UL Lafayette,
605
00:42:52,490 --> 00:42:56,550
absolute blowout winner. I'm not the
bookie. I'm a bookie killer.
606
00:42:56,810 --> 00:42:58,870
Bets big, lives larger.
607
00:42:59,310 --> 00:43:00,930
Money Talks.
608
00:43:00,931 --> 00:43:02,559
Here we premiere right now.
609
00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:07,110
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