- 4 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Arthur Williams was the greatest and most dangerous money counterfeiter in all of history,
00:05having successfully printed millions of fake bank notes. His genius surpassed all expectations to
00:12the point that he was arrested carrying a bag with sixty thousand counterfeit dollars. The
00:18astonishing part is that the police couldn't tell the difference between real and fake currency,
00:24and he managed to escape this situation easily. His sharp intellect and his undeniable courage
00:30truly shaped his rather unusual life, making it consistently full of exciting events and
00:34significant, often unexpected, surprises. Arthur Williams found himself entering the world of
00:38crime at a remarkably early age, and his very first offense, a desperate act, was stealing from
00:43parking meters just to help his struggling mother afford basic food. And one day he returned home
00:48for lunch, and when he opened the fridge, he found it empty. He then felt distressed and sad,
00:53and began to wonder about the harshness of their life conditions, and the reasons for their extreme
00:58poverty, and the injustice they were living. He went out for a walk, trying to release his anger,
01:04and as he crossed one of the streets his gaze fell upon a parking meter. He stopped right in front
01:09of
01:09it and began tapping on it with his fingers just to forget his bitter reality. Suddenly he heard the
01:14distinct sound of coins rattling inside. Then an idea struck him, why not simply take the money that
01:20was stored within it. He kept fiddling with the meter, trying to open it, and after several attempts
01:26he managed to insert a small piece of iron into the lock's opening, and started turning it right and
01:32left until the meter opened. Then he gathered up all the coins and went to the store, purchasing all
01:38the food and essential supplies they required. When his mother returned home, she was completely
01:43surprised by everything she saw, and asked him, quite astonished, where all these items had come from.
01:48He then told her that he had broken the parking meter. His mother simply could not come to terms
01:53with the fact that her son had resorted to stealing just to put food on her table, and she became
01:58absolutely furious with him. The primary reason for their dire financial situation, however,
02:03was his father, who had tragically abandoned them back in 1983 when Arthur was merely 11 years old.
02:10This was one of the most profound shocks he had ever experienced in his entire life.
02:14At that time, they were unable to pay the rent, so they were forced to leave their home and live
02:19for
02:20a period in a shelter designated for the homeless. Their sole objective was simply to survive.
02:26As time went on, they were eventually relocated to a government-subsidized housing project.
02:32This was a very dark period in Arthur's life, and the more he witnessed the signs of weariness and deep
02:37despair on his mother's face, the more his hatred grew for his father, who had abandoned them.
02:41Their circumstances compelled them to reside in such difficult places, and often, these residential
02:47complexes where Arthur and his mother made their home were completely overrun with gangs and various
02:51criminal activities. Arthur grew up in this harsh environment, and he formed many bad friendships
02:58which, over time, transformed into small gangs. They started carrying out various thefts from time
03:06to time, often stealing from small shops or even parking meters. And in the year 1987, when Arthur was
03:13just fifteen years of age, he encountered an older gentleman by the name of Da Vinci. This individual was,
03:19in fact, one of his mother's close acquaintances, or more accurately, her clandestine lover.
03:24One day, Arthur was caught trying to steal a car, and it was Da Vinci who went to the police
03:31station
03:32and bailed him out. On their way back from the police station, Da Vinci told Arthur,
03:39If you want to be a real thief, you have to use the smartest ways.
03:45Steer clear of breaking into shops and stealing cars. You won't gain anything from that. You are
03:50in need of something far more substantial. Arthur then inquired of Da Vinci, What exactly do you mean
03:54by that? Da Vinci, with a calm demeanor, responded, Come along with me, and I shall demonstrate what
03:59you must do. Da Vinci guided Arthur towards an ancient, imposing building which, at first glance,
04:03seemed to be nothing more than a long-abandoned, desolate warehouse. They ventured inside the massive
04:06structure and cautiously boarded a creaking, cracked old elevator, slowly descending deep down to the
04:09very lowest subterranean level. The entire expansive space below them was unmistakably a bustling,
04:12active workshop absolutely crammed with countless intricate machines, piles of scattered papers,
04:15and a multitude of other peculiar, truly strange instruments. Arthur walked in, completely
04:19astonished. First, he noticed the distinct smell of ink. Then he turned to Da Vinci and asked,
04:23What is this place? Da Vinci simply answered him, Please, follow me. They then moved towards
04:27the various machines and all the tools, and work began. Arthur grabbed the papers, put the ink in the
04:33molds, then started the machines. At that moment, Arthur realized Da Vinci was printing fake money.
04:40Arthur was stunned. The money everyone desperately sought was being made right before his eyes.
04:47Da Vinci began taking Arthur to the workshop every day, where he would explain to him the intricate
04:51details of the printing process, how to mix the colors, the precise method of crafting the molds,
04:56and how to assign a distinct serial number to each individual banknote. Arthur was greatly captivated by
05:01this entire operation. He wasn't just fascinated by the money itself, but he truly loved the workshop's
05:06atmosphere and the artistic side of the counterfeiting process. As time went on, Da Vinci became like a
05:11father to him. He held great love and respect for him, and he considered him a true role model. And
05:17of
05:18course, Arthur was quite pleased with the money he was receiving, because the more currency he printed,
05:22the larger the rent payment he collected from Da Vinci. As time progressed, this arrangement gradually
05:27transformed into a regular business for Arthur, and this profitable situation continued for nearly an entire year.
05:33Then, quite suddenly, Da Vinci vanished without a trace. He no longer came to the workshop,
05:39and Arthur received no news concerning him. Each time Arthur visited his workshop, he would find it
05:44closed. This is how Da Vinci disappeared from Arthur's life at that particular time. At that very moment,
05:49he felt a cruel sensation, as though he'd been abandoned twice, once by his own biological father,
05:55and then again by the man who had shown him so much love and respect. This feeling was incredibly
06:00painful, and because of that, Arthur decided to rejoin his old friends and his gang, and they
06:04went back to carrying out robberies once again. And this turned out to be a very grave mistake.
06:09In the midst of all this, Arthur entered into a romantic relationship with a young girl which
06:13resulted in a pregnancy, and he was blessed with a son, becoming a father at the tender age of 17.
06:18He named his son Arthur III, and Arthur decided to take this young boy under his wing. He vowed to
06:24always be a constant presence in his life, and never to abandon him, as his own father had done.
06:29However, taking on this significant responsibility meant he had to work even harder to provide for
06:34his young son and his aging mother. Because of this, Arthur and his friends came up with a brand
06:38new scheme to collect money, and this time they decided to rob the drug dealers themselves.
06:43They disguised themselves in police uniforms, and drove a vehicle that closely resembled a police car.
06:48Given that they were from the very same city, and personally knew the local drug dealers,
06:53and Arthur and his companions already had prior knowledge of the individual carrying the narcotics,
06:58they proceeded to raid one of the residences, confiscating all the money and illicit substances
07:03found within, under the false pretense of being police officers.
07:10This situation was not at all surprising to the police force at that particular time,
07:13as it was widely known by everyone that a significant number of officers were deeply corrupt,
07:17and they would routinely confiscate money and illegal drugs, then appropriate them for their own
07:22personal gain. Therefore, what Arthur and his companions were doing appeared to be quite
07:26ordinary in their perception. They persisted in repeating this deception on numerous occasions
07:30without any noticeable repercussions, until they encountered a perilous experience that almost brought
07:35about their demise. On one particular occasion, as they were attempting to carry out the very same
07:41operation, they targeted a drug dealer whose entire gang was positioned nearby. Instead of surrendering and
07:47handing over his possessions, he shouted to his crew. They quickly drew their weapons and immediately
07:52began firing at Arthur and his companions. Everyone scattered instantly, each person running off in a
07:58different direction. Arthur kept on running as he heard the sound of gunshots right beside him.
08:03Suddenly, he was shot in the leg, falling to the ground. He started bleeding and slowly losing
08:09consciousness. He felt like these were his last moments alive, because he thought they were coming to
08:15kill him. But when he woke up in the hospital, he realized the gang left him bleeding until the
08:20ambulance arrived and saved his life. This particular incident proved to be quite shocking and truly
08:26terrifying for Arthur, compelling him to seriously consider the idea of leaving Chicago behind and
08:30relocating to Texas. This decision, of course, meant he would abandon both his son and his mother,
08:34just as his own father had done before him, because an overwhelming sense of fear had completely
08:38taken hold of him and he no longer felt secure or safe in Chicago. Consequently, he departed for Texas in
08:43the year 1993. When he arrived there, he endeavored to live a respectable life. He took on arduous jobs
08:49for meager wages, yet he steadfastly refused to surrender to his circumstances. He yearned to
08:54transform himself and embark on a fresh journey, leaving his dark, criminal past far behind him.
09:00During this challenging period, Arthur encountered a young woman named Natalie, and before long,
09:05a deep and reciprocal love began to flourish between them.
09:09I proposed to her, then they got married, and with her, he felt a level of security he had
09:13never experienced before, so much so that he confessed everything to her. He told her about
09:17his past, the thefts, the forgery, and all the things he had done. He had initially anticipated that
09:23her reaction would be to say to him, I cannot live with you, you are a criminal and a fraudster.
09:28However, she then informed him that he was the very man she had been searching for,
09:31and that his extensive criminal history had truly impressed her.
09:35She tried to persuade him to return to forgery, telling him, if you possess such a unique and
09:39valuable skill, why not put it to good use once more? But this time, you would be working entirely
09:43for yourself, and we would become truly wealthy, living a much better life. As time went on,
09:47Arthur gradually became convinced by the compelling idea, grew quite enthusiastic about it, and ultimately
09:52decided to approach it with complete and utter seriousness. He developed a very precise plan for
09:58this project. First, he began by purchasing printing machines, then he remembered all that he had
10:02learned from Da Vinci throughout that year. He began printing some banknotes for initial tests,
10:07dedicating significant effort to perfecting their quality, as Arthur would never settle for anything
10:12less than the highest standard. Gradually, he started printing small quantities of counterfeit money,
10:19realizing that spending these funds was far more dangerous than printing them, regardless of their
10:24perfection. Despite the fact that these banknotes were incredibly difficult to distinguish from genuine
10:30currency, spending them still carried significant risks. This was one of the crucial lessons he had
10:36learned from Da Vinci. He intended to increase the quantity, but first, he wanted to ensure that
10:42everything was proceeding smoothly, and that absolutely no one would be able to notice the difference.
10:48But in 1996, an unpleasant turn of events was waiting for Arthur and Natalie. The American government
10:54had released a brand new $100 bill, which came equipped with numerous security features.
10:58These were specifically designed to make counterfeiting far more complicated and challenging than ever
11:03before. Among these new protections was a special watermark, which would only become visible when
11:09the note was held up to the light. There's also color-shifting ink that changes the currency's color
11:14depending on the angle from which you view it. In addition, there's a security thread that glows
11:19brightly when exposed to ultraviolet light. The currency also features the Federal Reserve System's
11:24seal and intricate micro-printing distributed throughout the entire paper, which makes
11:29counterfeiting it an extremely difficult task. Given the widespread forgery at the time,
11:35the American government issued this new design to limit this phenomenon. However,
11:40Arthur was not disheartened by this development. Instead, he became quite enthusiastic and viewed it as
11:45a fresh and novel challenge. Distinct from everything he had previously acquired from Da Vinci,
11:50he realized that the moment had arrived for him to take charge and make his own decisions,
11:54to carve out his own unique path, without depending on anyone else. He brought tools that didn't exist
11:59in Da Vinci's time, including computers and design software, especially Photoshop, which was considered
12:08a revolutionary new technology. Arthur also became one of the first to utilize digital techniques for
12:15counterfeiting money. However, prior to the actual design, the very first item Arthur required was the
12:22specific printing paper, since it was absolutely crucial that the paper he utilized be an identical
12:27match to the kind issued by the Federal Reserve, because even the slightest discrepancy would significantly
12:32simplify the process for cashiers to verify the currency's authenticity. They had begun to employ
12:37a rather straightforward method to effectively differentiate between authentic and counterfeit paper.
12:41They would use a particular type of pen to draw a distinct line across the surface of the paper.
12:45If the paper was indeed genuine, this line would then become visible in a bright yellow hue.
12:50However, when applied to ordinary standard paper, the pen would instead leave a dark brown mark.
12:54This was one of the new security features that had been made possible through the chemical compounds
12:58utilized in the paper manufacturing process. However, the main issue was that this particular type of
13:04paper wasn't readily available to everyone, because in reality, it wasn't just ordinary paper.
13:09Instead, it was a complex blend of cotton, linen, and various distinct chemical substances.
13:15So how could they possibly find this specific type of paper? Arthur and Natalie began to request paper
13:19from all corners of the globe, trying out many different kinds of paper and performing meticulous
13:24tests on each and every type. However, all their numerous experiments ended in complete failure,
13:29to the extent that Arthur became overwhelmed with despair and deep frustration.
13:33Natalie became furious with him, stating she would not allow him to give up.
13:36Then she picked up a massive book that was right beside her, a phone directory,
13:40and lifted it, as if she were about to throw it directly at Arthur.
13:44Then she carefully placed the book down upon the table, and as she spoke to him,
13:47she drew a distinct line across the book's surface. And that's when the astonishing surprise occurred.
13:51The line appeared, perfectly yellow, exactly as it was meant to be. They exchanged looks of utter
13:56astonishment, and then their emotions burst forth with overwhelming joy and excitement.
14:00Natalie tracked down the company that was responsible for printing phone directories,
14:03and then she called them, pretending to be a school teacher who had a special educational
14:06project with her students that specifically required this particular type of paper.
14:10They readily informed her that she could take as much as she desired, completely oblivious to her
14:14true, underlying intention, which was to utilize this very paper for the purpose of counterfeiting money.
14:19When Arthur received the paper, he was impressed by its quality. He then placed two sheets of it
14:25together, and the outcome was remarkably similar to genuine currency. He suggested to Natalie that they
14:31could insert the watermark and security strip between two sheets. The only significant problem
14:38remaining was the color-changing ink. And one day, as Arthur was walking down the street,
14:44he saw a parked car with a paint that shifted between purple and green. And as he moved around it,
14:50the car's color changed completely, just like the ink on a $100 bill. Arthur contacted the company
14:57responsible for manufacturing the car paint. He eventually discovered that it was, in fact,
15:02the very same company that produced the specialized dye for the United States government
15:05to print its currency. This meant they had finally arrived at the actual, true source.
15:11Following that, they had everything completely prepared. The appropriate paper, the correct ink,
15:15and the meticulous design. And all that remained for them was the printing phase,
15:19a phase that would require a considerable amount of strenuous effort. Arthur knew that all banknotes
15:24possessed a creamy green color, a shade that couldn't possibly be achieved using standard,
15:28ordinary printers. Instead, it necessitated specialized printing machinery, because the paper
15:33itself had to be pressed repeatedly, several times over, in order to finally attain the precise
15:37desired color. Consequently, they would first carefully apply the ink, then proceed to incorporate
15:42the watermark and the crucial security strip before finally pressing it for the very first time.
15:46After that, they placed the picture right in the center and pressed down on it for the second time.
15:51Then they added the stamp and the serial number for the third time.
15:55They also utilized a unique software program specifically designed to automatically produce
15:59a distinct serial number for every single banknote. All of these intricate technical details
16:04ultimately established Arthur as the most accomplished counterfeiter in the entire history
16:08of the United States, and quite possibly across the globe. Arthur eventually perfected the entire
16:13operation, and the final outcome was truly astonishing. The counterfeit banknote had become
16:17an absolutely perfect match to the original. His unwavering perseverance and profound dedication to
16:21his work had yielded truly extraordinary success, enabling him to flawlessly replicate the entire
16:25process with the exact same precision as an authentic official banknote. Natalie, in turn,
16:29decided it was finally time to put her own experimental attempt to the test for the very first time.
16:33She went to a supermarket and bought an item for $10. She paid the cashier with a counterfeit $100 bill
16:40and received $90 in real money as change. The cashier took the $100 bill and examined it with a special
16:48pen, drawing a line on it, which turned yellow. Then he tilted and flipped the banknote, and the ink
16:55color actually changed. After that, he held the banknote up to the light, and noticed the watermark was clear.
17:03His mind was put at ease, and he was completely certain it was a genuine banknote. So, he accepted it,
17:09and gave her the change. Natalie then left the supermarket, absolutely overjoyed. When Arthur saw
17:16her exiting the store at that very moment, he realized that their money would transport them
17:20to an entirely new life. From that day forward, they began to print even more counterfeit currency.
17:26They were producing nearly $50,000 each and every month, but they remained exceptionally cautious
17:31regarding its expenditure. It is true their money had been forged with great professionalism,
17:36but they had taken all the necessary precautions. Over the course of the next year and a half,
17:41they were constantly moving from one location to another, printing the money in a single place,
17:46then immediately relocating to a different one to spend it. And thanks to this clever method,
17:51they successfully managed to launder all that counterfeit money, transforming it into genuine,
17:55clean cash. This allowed their fortune to grow at an incredibly rapid pace. For these two young men,
18:01who were then just 22 and 23 years old, their entire lives felt just like a vivid dream. They
18:08had complete freedom to do absolutely anything their hearts desired. And with this absolute freedom,
18:14they proceeded to develop their wealth by printing enormous quantities of money. They sometimes even
18:20managed to print as much as $30,000 every single day, a sum that provided them with absolutely
18:25everything they could possibly need, to the extent that they eventually found themselves at a loss for
18:29what to purchase next. So they began regularly buying children's clothes, diapers, and various other
18:34items, which they would then donate to charitable organizations. These acts consistently brought them a
18:39profound sense of happiness and deep satisfaction. The years went by and they continued in this way
18:44until the year 2000 when Arthur decided to return to his birthplace, Chicago. And naturally, Natalie went
18:50with him. Throughout those preceding years, Arthur had been providing for his son and his mother,
18:55but he hadn't seen his son for quite a long time. The boy had now grown to be 10 years
18:59of age.
19:00Arthur started taking him along on various outings, buying him toys, clothes, and everything he could
19:05possibly wish for. As a result, the son's attachment to his father grew much stronger, which greatly helped
19:09to reinforce the bonds between them. Meanwhile, Arthur reconnected with his old acquaintances, and he
19:15informed them about his new life, revealing that he was printing counterfeit money and detailing the
19:19significant profits he had made from this venture. He then presented them with a sample of the fake bank
19:24notes, and not a single one of them was able to distinguish between the genuine currency and the
19:29forged bills. Arthur told his friends about his work because he wanted them to join him and help him.
19:34He was printing far more money than he could possibly spend, and he aimed to leverage his
19:39friend's extensive network of contacts in large restaurants, nightclubs, and casinos to assist him
19:45with his money laundering operations. In fact, Arthur's money quickly spread almost everywhere.
19:52Even the Federal Bureau of Investigation began to pay increasing attention to these counterfeit bills,
19:59and they considered them the best counterfeit dollar version available in the entire market.
20:05The sheer volume of money Arthur managed to print was absolutely enormous, a situation that compelled
20:09him to collaborate with criminal gangs to more easily facilitate the laundering of his counterfeit
20:13currency. Consequently, he decided to offload $100,000 in fake bills in exchange for just $30,000 of
20:19legitimate real cash. Simply put, he was providing funds to various criminal organizations. At the same
20:25time, he quickly realized he had entered a very dangerous world. Therefore, he took extensive
20:30additional precautions to ensure his personal safety, fearing that these gangs might try to
20:35eliminate him, especially once he began dealing with the Italian La Cosa Nostra, the Russian Bratva,
20:41and numerous other powerful criminal syndicates. Wherever Arthur went, he would always look around,
20:46meticulously scanning the entire area to ensure that no one was spying on him or attempting to record
20:51him through any hidden microphones. As time went on, Arthur became utterly obsessed with caution,
20:57to the point of near madness, so much so that he began carrying a bug detection device with him
21:02whenever he went to meet anyone, always prepared for any potential danger. He continued to endure
21:07this constant state of tension for many long years. Then, in the year 2002, the Russian Bratva gang,
21:12with whom he had been dealing, invited him to a lavish party, which was absolutely brimming with all
21:16sorts of illicit drugs, and Arthur was carrying with him a substantial amount of counterfeit money,
21:21designated for its handover to the Russian gang. The party was held in a nightclub at a luxurious hotel.
21:28Many ordinary people were also staying at this hotel, alongside its workers and staff.
21:34The gang had reserved several rooms, and one of those rooms belonged to Arthur.
21:39He went up to his room to get some rest, carrying his suitcase, which was completely filled with
21:45counterfeit money. It contained approximately $60,000, in addition to some narcotics that his
21:50Russian friends had gifted him. About half an hour later, he heard powerful knocking on the door,
21:55and someone shouted from outside,
21:57''Police, open the door immediately!'' Arthur flung the door open instantly, and the police burst into the
22:03room, weapons drawn, immediately questioning him about drugs. Arthur vehemently denied having any drugs,
22:08but the officers quickly discovered some placed right on the bedside table.
22:10The police then thoroughly searched the entire room, and soon located the bag, and at this point,
22:15Arthur's apprehension truly began to mount. To his great misfortune, it turned out that one of the
22:20officers was particularly skilled and experienced in handling large sums of cash. At first, they believed
22:25it was drug money, but when the officer started counting the bills, he felt something quite strange about
22:30the money. So they arrested him and confiscated the drugs and the cash as criminal evidence. At that very
22:37moment, Arthur felt this was truly his end, and that the police would inevitably discover the money was
22:43counterfeit, a federal crime far more serious than mere drug possession. When the police initiated their
22:48investigative procedures, Arthur sought the assistance of a lawyer. The lawyer arrived and presented him
22:53with a police report, which detailed that the door to the room had been left open at the time of
22:56his
22:56arrest, and that officers had observed the illicit drugs openly displayed on the table right beside the
23:01bed, and consequently, they proceeded to forcefully enter the room and commence their search. Arthur
23:06emphatically told his legal counsel that this particular claim was absolutely impossible,
23:10given that the hallway was exceptionally long, making it utterly impossible for anyone standing
23:14at the entrance to clearly see the table. Based on this crucial information, the attorney promptly
23:18filed a formal motion to dismiss the entire case, asserting that the alleged entry was both entirely
23:23unlawful and completely unauthorized, which ultimately provided a very strong and compelling
23:27foundation for his client's defense. It was indeed proven that the grounds for the arrest were unfounded,
23:32and furthermore, the search operation itself was deemed illegal, leading the judge to order the dismissal
23:37of the entire case. Despite this legal victory, Arthur's fear and anxiety only intensified, as he knew the
23:44FBI would now be monitoring him closely, fully aware of his possession of counterfeit money. Arthur made the
23:50decision to cease his printing operations and all his other activities, which notably included his
23:54involvement with gangs. However, even after he stopped, he remained living in a state of perpetual
23:59dread and constant panic, feeling a profound need for a radical change in his life. Consequently,
24:03he began searching for his father, who had abandoned him and his mother when Arthur was just 11 years old.
24:08After a long and extensive search, he finally managed to locate someone in Alaska who possessed crucial
24:12information about his father, and that individual then provided him with the address. So Arthur immediately
24:17wrote a letter to his father and sent it by mail. To his great surprise, only a week later,
24:21his father called him, and they spoke for almost an hour. After that emotional conversation,
24:26they decided to meet in person, so Arthur boarded a plane and traveled to see him.
24:30When he saw his father, for the very first time, he was filled with a mix of emotions. There was
24:35overwhelming happiness at seeing him, but he also felt deep resentment and sorrow because his father
24:39had left him as a small child with his mother, who was suffering from severe financial hardship.
24:43His father then offered a profound apology, justifying his actions by saying he was in a very
24:48poor psychological state during the time he had abandoned them. Over time, the bond between Arthur
24:54and his father grew stronger. He felt more comfortable with him, so much so that he decided
25:00to tell him about the counterfeit money he had made. His father listened to him with great attention,
25:06without showing any sign of disapproval. The very next day, his father approached Arthur and explained
25:12that he was experiencing a very difficult period, completely without funds, and hadn't earned any profits
25:17from his business for quite some time. Then he asked if Arthur could print some money for him.
25:22Arthur was surprised by his father's words, and said to him, I told you I was arrested and was about
25:28to go to prison, and now you're asking me to print money? His father replied, trying to convince him.
25:34You have a talent, and you should use it for our benefit. If you're afraid of the police, no one
25:40knows
25:40anything about you here in Alaska, so there's no need to worry, and I'm ready to help you.
25:45At first, Arthur felt a wave of fear wash over him, yet at the very same moment he yearned to
25:49witness
25:49the pride in his father's gaze. After much careful consideration and deep thought, he ultimately
25:54decided to reprint it once more. He used to hide some papers and printing presses in a warehouse in
25:59Chicago. He then asked his friends to ship them to him in Alaska, and he successfully received the
26:05entire shipment. He began setting up the printing workshop with his father. This experience greatly
26:10contributed to strengthening their bond, and Arthur became very happy and proud to show his father his
26:15skills and his high level of mastery in his work. However, this particular time, the outcome wasn't
26:21exactly good, nor was it entirely bad, but its quality was noticeably inferior compared to the
26:26previous versions. Arthur then told his father that this matter absolutely had to remain a secret
26:31between them, and that it was essential to thoroughly test the money first, just as he had done with
26:35Natalie, before they could consider spending it normally. Although his father initially showed
26:39understanding, he ultimately acted in a completely different manner. The very first thing he did
26:44was inform his wife, Anis, then he handed her $3,000 for the purpose of laundering it, and she,
26:50Anis, in turn, distributed a portion of these funds to some of their neighbors, so that they,
26:55in their own way, could spend and effectively launder the cash. When these neighbors received the money,
27:00and saw it was perfectly identical to authentic currency, they decided not to wash it, arguing that
27:05no one could possibly distinguish if the cash was fake or genuine, so they proceeded to spend it
27:10quite naturally. The father, his wife, and the neighbors spent the money without ever exchanging
27:15it for real funds. As for Arthur, he truly had no idea what was happening, but he sensed his father
27:20was starting to act quite strangely, and whenever he questioned him about the money, his father would
27:25consistently avoid giving an answer and quickly change the subject. When Arthur saw that things were
27:30not going well, he decided to stop printing and leave Alaska immediately. He spoke to his father,
27:36telling him he no longer felt comfortable printing money, and that he would be departing. His father
27:41didn't try to convince him to stay. On the contrary, he let him go, because he had already learned the
27:46printing process very well, and intended to continue it by himself. Arthur departed from Alaska, and this
27:53decision proved to be quite beneficial for him, because the couple to whom Anis had entrusted the money
27:57were squandering it carelessly. They proceeded to a shop, purchased several items, and then,
28:03at the point of payment, they attempted to use the counterfeit currency. When the cashier observed the
28:08counterfeit currency, he grew suspicious of its legitimacy. Once he confirmed it was indeed fake,
28:13he promptly contacted the police, leading to the couple's arrest. The couple was subsequently enlisted
28:19as police informants to locate the individual responsible for printing the money, which ultimately
28:24enabled the police to apprehend Arthur's father and his wife, Anis. The police also intercepted a recorded
28:30phone call with their neighbors, in which they explicitly confessed to the forgery and provided all the
28:36intricate details. When the police questioned Anis, she revealed everything to them, informing the
28:42investigators about Arthur and confirming his full involvement. And no sooner had Arthur returned to his wife
28:48Natalie in Texas than the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Forces raided his home. However,
28:54Arthur was extremely careful and knew precisely how to conduct himself, so he didn't keep anything at
28:59all in his house, only a small quantity of counterfeit cash, which he had hidden away in plastic containers
29:03and then buried deep within the forest. Despite this, he was apprehended based on the testimony provided
29:09by his stepmother, Anis. In the end, Arthur's father was sentenced to a term of five years in prison.
29:15As for Arthur, he received a three-year sentence, which was considerably lighter than his father's,
29:21despite the fact that he was the true mastermind, because his father was caught red-handed in the middle
29:26of the operation. The neighbors were also released after cooperating with the police.
29:31Arthur went to prison and spent two and a half years there. This was one of the most difficult periods
29:36of his life, separated from his son, mother and wife, which led him to reflect on his life and the
29:41mistakes
29:42that brought him to this situation. He made a solemn vow to himself to abandon the world of crime
29:47forever, and he began to eagerly await the day of his release, hoping to commence a brand new life.
29:51But when he was finally released, a truly shocking surprise awaited him, for on the very day he
29:55stepped out of prison, his father tragically passed away inside his own cell. The impact of the shock was
30:01incredibly severe for him. At the precise moment he had resolved to start a brand new chapter of his
30:05life, he was delivered this truly devastating news. Even though his father had left him at a very tender age,
30:10and his mother had to struggle tirelessly to provide him with a respectable and stable life,
30:14Arthur, despite these hardships, held a truly great love for his father. His father's untimely death
30:19left a profoundly deep and lasting impact on his emotional well-being, leaving only his beloved son,
30:23Arthur III, as the sole remaining connection in his life. He tried to re-establish his normal life,
30:29so he took on a variety of jobs, among them he was a waiter in a restaurant and a bathroom
30:33cleaner.
30:34He performed these duties on a part-time and temporary basis, and for very low pay. He went
30:40through an extremely difficult experience, especially considering he was supporting both
30:43his son and his mother. Despite this, he still possessed some counterfeit money hidden in the
30:48forest, but he steadfastly refused to use it to avoid ruining his life once more, unless his son
30:53required something truly vital. He made considerable efforts to mend his relationship with his son,
30:58and to compensate him for the many years that had passed. He was quite successful in this,
31:03as their bond showed a truly remarkable improvement. Then, in 2005, the renowned
31:08Rolling Stone magazine published a detailed article about Arthur, describing him as the world's greatest
31:13money forger, and it reported that he had counterfeited well over 10 million dollars.
31:18His son was reading the article, but he simply couldn't believe what was written within it.
31:22So he turned to his father and asked,
31:23Is this news, published in the magazine, actually true? His father then responded,
31:27Yes, I have indeed done exactly that over the course of the past several years,
31:30and I truly believe I've reached that specific number, or perhaps even more than that.
31:34The son was so impressed by the article and its details, that he decided to try it himself.
31:38And since intelligence is not hereditary, the son proceeded to scan the money digitally,
31:43and print it using his own printers in his room.
31:46When Arthur's mother saw what her grandson was doing, she immediately called her son,
31:50Arthur, and informed him that his son was printing money in his room.
31:54Arthur was overcome with guilt and shame, because the article had portrayed him as a genius,
32:00despite the fact that he was a criminal. He had never expected that his candid answer would lead
32:05his son to consider following in his footsteps. Arthur immediately returned to his son's room,
32:10only to find him printing a $20 bill with his own special printers.
32:14At that particular time, Arthur was truly going through a very difficult phase in his life,
32:18struggling with drug use due to his deep psychological suffering. Arthur then stormed
32:22into his son's room and began to yell directly at him, exclaiming,
32:25There's absolutely no need for you to do that. I am the one who provides everything for you.
32:29The son, with clear anger, retorted that he was free to do as he pleased, and their voices quickly
32:34escalated. The son took the printed cash and ran out of the house. His father pursued him,
32:39and the shouting and fighting continued between them in the street. In a moment of anger,
32:44the son threw the money in his father's face. But to their great misfortune, a police patrol car
32:49just happened to be passing by, right at that very moment, and it immediately pulled them over
32:53to investigate what was going on. Arthur quickly bent down to gather up all the scattered money,
32:57and then calmly reassured the police officer, telling him,
33:00Everything here is perfectly fine, officer. He told him it was just a simple verbal argument
33:05between himself and his son. The officer asked Arthur for his identification to verify it,
33:10then requested backup. Just a few moments later, the police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
33:15cordoned off the street, and Arthur was placed in handcuffs. After a thorough examination of the
33:20money he was carrying, they escorted him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters,
33:24where he was met by a senior officer who then stated, We are not concerned with these $20,
33:29but the $100 bills that were found in your pocket seem quite familiar to us.
33:34This was some counterfeit currency he would still employ whenever it was necessary.
33:39The first time Arthur was apprehended, he received a three-year prison sentence
33:42due to insufficient evidence. However, on this occasion, he was convicted of precisely the same
33:47charge, and his direct involvement was ultimately proven, leading to him being sentenced to a
33:52substantial nine years in prison. Meanwhile, his son, Arthur III, was committed to a juvenile detention
33:57facility for a period of several months. The FBI attempted to turn him into a witness against his father,
34:04but he vehemently refused, upholding his pride and the blood ties that bound him to his father.
34:10After his second imprisonment, Arthur felt profound despair, feeling like the biggest loser in the
34:16world and utterly unable to mend the damage he had caused with his father or his son. At that very
34:22moment, a profound feeling overwhelmed him that he no longer wished to continue living. As for his son,
34:27he had returned to reside with his mother, but they found themselves utterly incompatible. So the son decided to
34:32depart from the home and live independently. In the years that followed, he dedicated all his time
34:38to counterfeiting money. Although his counterfeit money was far from perfect, it was more like a
34:43poorly scanned copy, yet he still had customers eagerly awaiting his finished product. The son
34:49diligently worked to enhance his output and acquired superior equipment, for his singular ambition was to
34:55emulate his father's achievements. He then established his own workshop, bringing in various machines, printers,
35:01and a multitude of advanced tools. Soon after, he began to receive an increasing number of orders, and his printers
35:07were operating almost continuously throughout the night. And then, one day in the year 2009, when he was just
35:1518 years of age, while he was fully occupied with the execution of one of his largest orders, a considerable
35:20number of
35:21federal bureau of investigation agents suddenly raided the workshop, and he was apprehended right there,
35:26red-handed. When his father received the news, he was deeply shocked and felt profound guilt, because his
35:31son had also been imprisoned for the crime of counterfeiting money. Arthur then submitted an official request for
35:35a transfer to the very prison where his son was incarcerated, and after a month's time, his application was finally
35:40approved. Arthur felt immense happiness and was truly excited to meet his son once again.
35:44And, throughout the years they spent together there, they grew to be very close friends, always talking
35:51about their future, their hopes, and their ambitions, and what they would do once they were released from
35:56prison. Arthur, for his part, dreamed of becoming an artist. He started to draw while he was incarcerated,
36:03and he continuously worked on improving his artistic abilities, and upon his release in the year 2015,
36:08he decided to make the artistic domain his permanent career path. All his artistic works were a reflection
36:13of his life, and his experience in forgery, he skillfully exploited his knowledge of the security
36:19features found in currency, using them to create incredibly precise and distinctive paintings. The
36:25value of Arthur's artworks then began to range between $40,000 and $50,000 for each piece, completely
36:31transforming his life. Instead of forging a $100 bill, he became capable of painting a single artwork that
36:38could be worth $100,000. The moral of the story is that anyone can achieve success if their skills
36:45and abilities are guided correctly and in a positive direction. Arthur's story reminds us that talent,
36:52no matter how it's used wrongly, can be transformed into a constructive force if directed towards what is
36:59right. True success doesn't come from falsification or deceit, but from channeling determination and creativity
37:05towards building an honorable and fruitful life. And you, dear viewer, share your opinion with us in the
37:13comments. If you enjoyed the video, subscribe to our channel to receive all the latest updates.