El gran fraude

The Big Conn is the latest docu-series on AppleTV+ and judging by the trailer, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was the next Tiger King. The story is equal parts heartbreaking and crazy, while the team in charge of this - who also produced McMillions - throw everything into this to make an aesthetically slick and bombastic documentary. Unfortunately, despite only being 4 episodes long. The first episode in particular, perfectly exemplifies the issues that ripple through this. It takes 7 and a half minutes before we even begin the story, with nothing but hype and a massive introduction to pad out the opening. We're also graced with a 40 second establishing shot before we get our first interview with a local in Kentucky. These moments are small but they add up to a bloated docu-series that I can't help but feel could have been more tightly edited to produce a much smoother 2 or 3 episode series. Just to play devil's advocate on my own point though, all four episodes are split into different chapters that tackle a slightly different part of this case that lead Conn being brought to justice. The general premise here revolves around a charismatic lawyer called Eric C. Conn. Living the high life in eastern Kentucky and becoming something of a celebrity in the community, two whistleblowers called Jennifer and Sarah, discover that Eric is actually defrauding the US government through the Social Security System. In fact, he actually managed to obtain an eye-watering sum of half a billion dollars. Conn then orders two Pepsis, returns to his car and find a money pouch he earlier obtained has gone missing. Did we need that 5 minute segment? Did I need to include this big, excruciating statement in this review to emphasize the point? No and no. The trouble is, The Big Conn does it anyway to try and make the story crazier. The irony is, these moments of incredulous developments (minus the pouch disappearing) have the opposite effect. The Big Conn is a documentary series that's a bit too big to fill the boots of other, more prolific docu-series. It's certainly a crazy story and full of twists and turns, but the masterful editing of the trailer gives the impressive that this is going to be a fast-paced, lively romp. It's not.

This is the only media piece I've seen about the fleecing of ssdi but the problem has been around for decades. My only criticism is that the story wasn't more broadly based and exposes the application process but instead concentrates on this one lawyer who exceeded his grasp in many ways. There are many lawyers across the country who are abusing the system but stay under the radar because 1) they're lawyers and no one wants to point fingers at lawyers, 2) they walk the wall with just enough ambiguity that it's difficult to say if they're actions are criminal. As mentioned, if you apply for ssdi, most cases are denied from the beginning and then you have to hire a lawyer. But who has the money to hire a lawyer if they need ssdi. Doesn't make any sense. Also, for years, in my area and probably most areas of america, local radio and local tv are funded in large part by commercial advertising by ssdi lawyers. But, how can they afford those costs except by turning ssdi into a paper mill, volume business along the same model as the lawyer in this story. So my only criticism is that this documentary doesn't expose the system as a whole but focuses mostly on the titillating parts of this character's life. I suppose real life, closer to home is not that entertaining unless it's animated, and in short bytes and includes porn stars, sex parties, bizarre characters, intrigue and all that. A boring story about billions of dollars being wasted can't stand on it's own.

Disturbing , frustrating and devastational proves of a federal system that doesnt work properly. I think its payback time for the culprits, but dont let that affect your own striving and trying to surviving citizens that became welfare pensioneers due to this justice fraud.give them the benefit of the doubt or at least a evaluation process on turbotime to make their rotten existence durable again.

Great documentary with alot of aha moments, even though the con mr conn couldve been purged even more.that may leave a thought on how much digging in the material that has been done.

Some have said this documentary could have been done in three episodes instead of four, but honestly there wasn't any part of it that I felt should've been left out.

I live in Western Kentucky, and I don't recall hearing about this before. (I'm not a news watcher. I like facts, and the news is not all facts.). I was fascinated throughout the entire series. I put the show on just to have something on while I was doing other things on my phone, but I ended up being engrossed with it.

There are many players in this documentary. Conn, himself, is a bit complicated. I felt bad for him in some ways. I do think this was another player's idea to begin with as Conn said (I don't want to give too many details). The whistleblowers had their work cut out for them, and they didn't give up. There were so many people with fault to some degree in this whole mess, whether it was money related, harassment, or turning a blind eye. To be honest, the Social Security Administration chose an abhorrent "resolution". I'd like to see them deal with anything close to what they've done to innocent people. (Yes, some were frauds, but two are still fighting that absolutely should have already been back on their benefits. The poor girl, I cannot see how in the world she's been denied.. EVER!)

The ending was definitely another twist.

I binged the entire series when I really should have been doing other things. It's that good.

Pikeville, Kentucky native son Eric Christopher Conn took the U. S. government, via the Social Security Administration Disability payment program, for an estimated $2.62 billion, of which $550,000 went directly into his pockets. Married 16 times and prone to flee rather than atone for his sins, Eric is a real piece of work, promising Appalachian Valley residents their Social Security checks (typically $900 a month) in 30 days rather than the 18 months that was the norm. And he delivered on that promise, no matter how it was achieved.

Did he get a lot of business? Oh, my, yes! Even after the whistleblowers trying to report his actions (Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith) were ignored for 6 years and the SSA failed to follow up on numerous reports of a corrupt judge, lawyer and doctor, who formed a triumvirate of evil, Conn got additional clients because he got results. He even got more clients when it became clear that is promises of prompt payment were valid.

Nevermind the fallout from all of this graft, which included at least 3 suicides, Congressional hearings, destitute victims who were legitimate, and prison sentences that seem far too lenient for most,

This is a great story, told in 4 parts, and one that was initially uncovered by Wall Street Journal reporter Damian Polito, covered at one point by "Sixty MInutes" and has everything to keep you interested for its four well-researched episodes.