CDM International

I met CDM International's (CDM) president, Christian Michael de Medici, during a charity event at Atlantic Station. de Medici was a real estate mogul with a wealthy European backing; a lineage from the great de Medici family of the 14th century. He created an empire in Atlanta, beginning with real estate and event promotion, and even creating a cosmetics company.

A New York native and NYU alumnus, de Medici's conglomerate eventually spread to the Big Apple. He ran CDM from his home in the Trump World Tower and partied with movie stars.

After about a year of painting both Atlanta and New York red, the truth came out: de Medici was a con man. His ancestry was phony. His money belonged to everyone except him.