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Former Congressman Duped by Nigerian Scams
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ShareDecember 08, 2006 9:59 AM
If reports are true that Chelsea Clinton and her boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky are considering marriage, the father of the groom won't be able to attend the wedding until he is released from prison in November 2008.
Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa, is serving a seven-year sentence for fraud after getting caught up in a series of Nigerian e-mail scams.
Initially, Mezvinsky became the victim of "just about every different kind of African-based scam we've ever seen," federal prosecutor Bob Zauzmer told 20/20 for a report to be broadcast this evening.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
But then, says Zauzmer, Mezvinsky began to steal from clients and even his own mother-in-law to raise the money to try yet another scheme.
"He was always looking for the home run. He was always trying to find the business deal that would make him as wealthy as all the people in his social circle," said Zauzmer.
Click Here for the Brian Ross Investigative Homepage.
After leaving Congress, Mezvinsky moved to Philadelphia's Main Line suburbs with his wife Marjorie Margolies, a former television reporter, who won a seat in Congress herself as a Democratic congresswomen from Pennsylvania.
"They were seen as people of means; they were a legitimate power couple," said Gar Joseph, a political columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News.
The Mezvinkskys were also close to Bill and Hillary Clinton and were frequent guests at White House state dinners.
Prosecutors say Mezvinsky used his connections to the Clintons and his son's social relationship with Chelsea to persuade people to give him money to participate in the scams.
Mezvinsky traveled to Nigeria numerous times and ultimately lost more than $3 million as a victim of the scammers.
Prosecutors say Mezvinsky fell particularly hard for what is known as the "black money" scam. Victims are told millions of dollars have been coated with black ink so the money could be smuggled out of Nigeria.
Click here to see undercover video of the "black money" scam.
The scammers then offer to sell a special, expensive chemical to remove the black ink so the currency can be used.
Prosecutors say Mezvinsky fell for at least three separate "black money" schemes that he thought would bring him millions.
Mezvinsky declined requests sent to him in prison to speak with ABC News and also instructed his lawyer not to speak with ABC News. His wife, Marjorie Margolies, declined to comment "in the interest of the children."
There is no evidence the Clintons knew of any illegal activity.
December 8, 2006 in Nigerian E-mail Scams | Permalink | User Comments (347)
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You wonder why anyone could be dumb enough to fall for such a scheme?
Don't forget you probably voted for George Bush or John Kerry!!!!!!
How big a fool are we????????
Posted by: Don R | Dec 8, 2006 12:33:24 PM
"in the interest of the children"
Chelsia and Marc are not children - at least no more than the Bush twins. In the interest of my children and all the other children of the world please don't hide behind your Son and the Daughter of Hillary Rodham a possible candidate for President of these United States. You are all public figures and should be fair game for the world media. "The children" haven't done anything wrong but since when has that become an accepted begging for privacy point. I believe they are inocent people and do not deserve this kind of crap put on them - But - We have children in Iraq and other hell holes that deserve our empathy and sympathy - so - please don't equate Chelsea and Marc with children of real importance (children that face death every day). Don't hide behind children over 21 years of age that have been raised in the privileged world political arena.
Posted by: Ron J. Sonnier | Dec 8, 2006 12:36:41 PM
No excuse!! None of Politicians is trusted....
Posted by: Vicki | Dec 8, 2006 12:44:43 PM
"Edward (Ed) Mezvinsky, now 68, was an American U.S. representative from 1973-77 for Iowa’s 1st District"
Ryan you might want to check your facts.
Posted by: Dean | Dec 8, 2006 12:52:04 PM
Not to embrace what some few Nigerians are doing despite the selfishness and money greed of some Americans, but it is annoying to always point fingers directly to any African country while we have the other countries that are actually the root cause of these scams Please direct your investigation and news from the root and not to the stem. Be fair and stop the rethoric.
Posted by: K B Law | Dec 8, 2006 12:52:12 PM
Why is the word "victim" used to describe a man who WILLINGLY PARTICIPATED in stealing money from others???????
Posted by: I'm confused???? | Dec 8, 2006 12:52:29 PM
"in the ineterest of the children"
The children are innocent.
You are innocent.
That sleezeball SOB in prison is innocent - in that he did not do "It" (whatever "It" is).
"We should all just be friends" and forget this whole "fatal attraction" exists because after all "Tomorrow is another day" in Washington. Is that ink I see on your hands.
Posted by: just1vet | Dec 8, 2006 12:56:22 PM
Do you have to be killed by your stupidity to be dominated for a Darwin Award? Maybe they should consider a special new category.
Posted by: Jeff H | Dec 8, 2006 12:56:28 PM
You cannot cheat an honest man.
Posted by: M.R. | Dec 8, 2006 12:58:51 PM
No Bill- He is a former Iowa congressman. Check your facts again.
Posted by: Lori | Dec 8, 2006 1:01:38 PM
This is hardly an issue of Republicans v Democrats, especially as he did not steal THIS money while in office.
One comment to Mme fluterby; Ther will always be a first time that you hear of anything, this just happens to be one of those times.
Posted by: SoWhat | Dec 8, 2006 1:03:08 PM
You can't swindle an honest man.
Posted by: WC Fields | Dec 8, 2006 1:03:08 PM
Its not surprising that there are some people dumb enough to fall victim to this once. But how could anyone be so dumb as to fall victim to the same scam 3 times?
Posted by: LemonThrower | Dec 8, 2006 1:04:08 PM
Funny world isn't it.
Posted by: Stuwart Wagner | Dec 8, 2006 1:04:20 PM
Greed, power, corruption, stupidity, what else is new? Leave the kids alone unless they are proven greedy, corrupt and stupid.
Now let's get on to Cheney, and the Dems and Repubs who only provide access to wealthy lobbyists and friends. No wonder Marc's dad wanted the big bucks.
On another note: How about Hillary Clinton, and Chuck Schumer terrorizing thier district staff members? this is supposed to breed loyalty? Give me back Senator "Pothole" D'Amato. He knew how to run a district office and serve constituents even if it wasn't a photo op.
Posted by: Barbara | Dec 8, 2006 1:07:04 PM
To Ryan about checking facts, maybe you should take your own advice and check the facts. He was a congressman for Iowa's 1st district from 1973-77.
Why now is this getting airplay now, he was indicted back in '01??
Posted by: bob | Dec 8, 2006 1:07:51 PM
I don't believe this guy was scammed out of 3 million dollars, at all. I believe he took other people's money and put it in a bank account in his name, then told them he was scammed by Nigerians and all their money was gone. The former Dem congressman isn't stupid enough to be scammed like that, but the people who gave him 3 million dollars, then bought his story, are.
Posted by: fred | Dec 8, 2006 1:07:59 PM
The Clintons and their friends cohorts are grifters. They always have been. It's beyond me why the American public would give these people the time of day, let alone elect them.
Posted by: cactusrose | Dec 8, 2006 1:08:03 PM
Yes, Mezvinsky has come a long way from Sioux City. His wife was a real winner on local DC TV, but mistreated the crews, so her local health show was relegated to 5AM Sunday morning, I was told.
I have been the lucky recipient of dozens of Nigerian e-mail scams, Dutch lottery winner scams, and recently, other African scams.
It's hard to believe that anyone could be greedy enough or stupid enough to fall for such whack-job fakery, but congressmen, like intellectuals, can believe in anything.
Posted by: daveinboca | Dec 8, 2006 1:08:14 PM
What party was he in? Story doesn't say....hmmmmm.
Posted by: Carole | Dec 8, 2006 1:08:39 PM
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