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Overview
This story weaves a plot of deceit, lies, fraud, and betrayal. Meet Michael Steven Russell, a clever, fast-talking Carlsbad, CA man who lied and cheated his way to filming national Harley-Davidson event videos. A self-proclaimed Catholic, he swindled the motorcycle industry and numerous businesses. Shortly after filming the 2001 Laughlin River Run, he married Janet Northrop, a wealthy Catholic heiress he met a few months prior. (Her grandfather founded Northrop Grumman Corporation.) Pursued by the Carlsbad creditors, they sneaked off to Colorado Springs. In a Patty Hearst-like fashion, Janet became his accomplice. There, they got contracts to haul U.S. Mail, adding a long-time friend as a partner. They kept the money, swindled the partner, boldly came back to the Carlsbad area, and abandoned trucks owned by an Iowa company.
Since this publishing, numerous other businesses were started by the couple. They filed bankruptcy, later deemed fraud by the courts. Yet, no legal action was subsequently taken, and they continue their scams. Michael was working under the table for a Carlsbad, CA. Keller Williams Real Estate broker. The validity of Michael's real estate license seems questionable, however, since he has difficulty reading. He testified in court at a back child support hearing, that he received no monies from the broker, yet worked there for some time. As of 2007, Michael currently owed over $500,000 from back child support, dozens of unpaid court judgments, back taxes, and liens.
He used other people's names, different Social Security numbers, numerous driver's licenses, different bank accounts, different middle name spelling, family members, and unsuspecting friends. This candid book shows how easy it is to be conned, and how to prevent it. Discover how a sociopath thinks and manipulates others, and learn why they don't get caught. Maybe it's because, as Michael Russell always said, he "walks with Jesus. "
I wrote this book by recalling and piecing together the bizarre events that occurred during my relationship with a con artist who proclaimed to be a devout Catholic. The book was designed to make people aware of sociopaths like Michael Russell, and to help them prevent involvement with con artists. We must all evaluate our own relationships, and in doing so, see through the many disguises of con artists. Michael owed in excess of $500,000, a debt accrued over many years' time, involving many people. From the time this book was published, until August of 2010, Michael continued his scams. He started several trucking companies (T&R Transport, Bundy Trucking, and Bartholomew Trucking, to mention a few). He got contracts from the U.S. Post Office to haul mail, always convincing others to be the legal owners so he wouldn't have to be responsible for his actions. He cheated his employees by not paying in Social Security, Disability, and state and federal tax money he collected from their checks. He was rumored to have sold worthless stock certificates in his companies.
Sociopaths will continue to cause havoc in the lives of others, unless we become aware of their tactics in advance, and take precautions to prevent our involvement with them.
In August of 2010, Michael Russell was found dead on a pier on Oakland, CA due to a gunshot wound.