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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.
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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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Wow, someone close to the Clintons who is involved in scheming people out of millions of dollars...No Way! Unbelievable.
Posted by: jared | Dec 8, 2006 11:29:00 AM
They got your modalities, Mugu!
Posted by: Shadrack | Dec 8, 2006 11:29:19 AM
I'm always stunned that seemingly intelligent people are still falling for the Nigerian scams!!!
Posted by: Mme flutterby | Dec 8, 2006 11:39:29 AM
Ya know... maybe it's just me, but I frequent news sites often & am more or less on top of stories - but why is this the first I've ever heard about this? Don't get me wrong, I don't think you can hold the Clintons or Chelsea responsible for the actions of this guy - but I can't help but think that if this were a friend of the Bush family whose son was rumored as a potential fiance of one of the twins, you'd see it splashed all OVER the media...
Posted by: dogsoul | Dec 8, 2006 11:40:40 AM
Hmmmm. Gee, I'm sorry that I still don't have room on my 'Things To Worry About' list to add 'Who Chelsea Clinton MIGHT Be Going To Marry'. Didn't we go thru this routine a few years ago with some other guy? In between reports that kept cropping up that she - and her mother - MIGHT be lesbian.
Posted by: Melva Hackney | Dec 8, 2006 11:42:48 AM
I guess his father is a republican?
Posted by: casey570 | Dec 8, 2006 11:43:24 AM
And these represent our elected officials. Wow!!!
Posted by: why_would_u_b_surprised | Dec 8, 2006 11:56:36 AM
How was the son involved with these scams??
Posted by: Chip | Dec 8, 2006 11:57:40 AM
haha, what a dummy.
Posted by: quang ha | Dec 8, 2006 11:59:35 AM
Note that the word "Democrat" doesn't appear in this story--if he were a Republican his party affiliation would be in the first line.
Posted by: Manfredo Felice | Dec 8, 2006 12:09:42 PM
What is wrong with this guy? How can any normal, rational thinking person fall for these scams? Even my naive 75 year old mother would recognize these scams for what they are. It just goes to show you what kind of people are working in our government; Morons and fools.
Posted by: Gale Jean | Dec 8, 2006 12:12:15 PM
This is a silly story. Who cares? The guys is in prison for trying to scam others. What does that have to do with anyone other than him? Before this article, I'd never heard of him. You think this is important because Chelsea Clinton might be his daughter-in-law someday? PUH-LEASEEEEEEEEEEE! Give us a break and use your time to report IMPORTANT stuff.
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 8, 2006 12:12:24 PM
always check facts. This guy isn't a former Iowa congressman. He's from New York
Posted by: Bill Haas | Dec 8, 2006 12:12:41 PM
If people such as him are running our congress, I am very afraid about the future of our country.
Posted by: Sammy | Dec 8, 2006 12:24:44 PM
My God! In this day and Age why would anybody with any bit of intelligence be scammed by such unprofessional and transparent con artists? I guess we should check the IQ's of our politicians before electing them...
Posted by: Ken DiCarlo | Dec 8, 2006 12:24:46 PM
He was bankrupt of character and work ethics before he lost any money.
Posted by: Richard Cross | Dec 8, 2006 12:27:03 PM
I almost fell for a scam just like this once ... but I was in second grade.
Posted by: LarryfromVA | Dec 8, 2006 12:28:12 PM
This is the problem, we have ordinary citizens that outweigh in intelligence the majority of politicians in power....
Posted by: Aaron C | Dec 8, 2006 12:30:53 PM
Exactly! A former democratic congressman is this stupid and the story doesn't mention that he was a democrat. As mentioned in another comment, if this guy were republican, the headline would have read, "Former Republican Congressman Falls for Nigerian Scheme". Let us all applaude the liberal media for another job well done!
Posted by: Dan | Dec 8, 2006 12:32:50 PM
It was Clinton who, basically, cost Margolies her congressional seat during the 1994 debacle. It is interesting that they have stayed friends.
As for the kids, leave them the hell alone. They've both probbaly spent more time in the public eye than any young people ever should. Let them get on with their lives and, hopefully, be happy.
Posted by: Bob | Dec 8, 2006 12:33:06 PM
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