Would-be stars are always warned to be wary of people offering them their dreams, because it may well prove too good to be true. That was certainly the case with Jonathan Roda, as featured on "I (Almost) Got Away With It" (Tue. 9 p.m. ET on ID). While he was ultimately caught in 2005, and reportedly sentenced to 30 years in prison for fraud, Roda was for many years a very talented con man.
He bilked aspiring artists out of millions of dollars by posing as a phony talent promoter and record producer. Roda was so convincing, that he apparently convinced country singer Mindy McCready that he was the real deal, though there were some reports at the time that she may have been involved with him.
He might have continued to get away with it were he not a little jumpy around the authorities.
He was in an airport with McCready in '05 when he fled from the police. They were there to shut down the airport, but he thought they were there for him. After he ran, they were. Apparently, this incident lead ultimately to Roda living in Florida under probation.
According to the Tampa Bay Times in 2008, Roda was again conning people when he reportedly violated his parole by leaving the state. He was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
"I (Almost) Got Away With It" features more stories of the nearly perfect plan every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on ID.
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