November 24, 2023 • 6 mins
The California sun beat down on Ray Brewer as he strode across the dusty dairy farm. Cows mooed lazily in the heat,their manure baking in the midday warmth. Ray breathed it all in - the pungent smells conjuring up rosy images of the future. This was where his empire would begin.
"See here," Ray slapped the metal frame of an empty enclosure, "this is where we'll build the first digester. A 15,000 gallon beauty capable of converting 10 tons of manure a day into usable biogas and electricity. At full capacity, she'll churn out enough power for 150 homes!"
The investors nodded, struggling to picture the glossy technology Ray described amidst the mounds of cow dung. But he had them hooked with the numbers - the millions in annual energy savings, the attractive ROIs, the compounding residuals. If Ray said he could spin waste into gold, who were they to argue?
Over succulent steaks that night, Ray expanded on his grand vision - a win-win scenario harnessing cow emissions to create clean energy. The investors would fund the digester construction, owning the rights to sell gas, credits and fertilizer byproducts back to the dairy farms. Ray's company AgriGreen would manage everything in between, with attractive administration fees flowing back to him in perpetuity.
His eyes danced as he described a future of digesters blanketing California's sprawling dairy industry. The investors envisioned it too - clouds of cash raining upon them from the manure-filled skies. Over dessert, they pulled out their checks, investing over $500,000 into the sparkle of Ray's dreams.
But months passed without progress. Ray waved away concerns with practiced nonchalance - supply chain delays and permitting paperwork that was taking longer than expected. The stories and excuses flowed freely. But the digesters did not materialize.
Suspicion smoldered as investors demanded proof of construction progress. In response, a slick brochure arrived in their mailboxes. Glossy photos showed concrete slabs and digester parts at various stages of completion. Ray walked them proudly through each image over the phone. See the rebar sticking out ready for concrete pouring? And there's the 15,000 gallon tank arriving on site!
Appeased with scenes consistent with Ray's tales, the investors rested easier. But some still drove out periodically to see the digesters first hand. Ray would meet them by the empty slab and point far across the dairy fields.
"Over there is where the big one is going up. But let me show you the 8000 gallon backup digester here close by!" He would take them to a shipping container, obscuring the view inside with technical jargon about mixing chambers and flow valves. Dazzled, investors left pumped about the infrastructure brewing.
But both digesters existed only in Ray's head, where his imagination churned faster than any methane conversion system. The money was propelling grander visions - a custom-built mansion, paid for in cash under his wife's name. New trucks and an impressive plot of land materialized as reward for his clever stories.
Years passed, the lies compounding. Ray had a knack for telling investors what they wanted to hear. He kept them satiated with charts showing attractive payout schedules just over the horizon. He spent over a million on advertising to attract new investors, using their money to pay out residuals to old ones.
The churning money cyclone powered greater heights of wealth and deception. Ray purchased entire dairy farms just to keep up the appearances of productivity. He took investors on tours of empty barns where their millions were supposedly churning out energy empires. They saw what they wanted to amidst the utter emptiness.
But empires built on lies contain the seeds of their own demise. Questions compounded, accusations flew. Lawsuits landed atop Ray's desk, imploding the paper palace he had built. As investor rage peaked, Ray grabbed his wife and the funds he could and disappeared - his castle of cards crumbling behind him.
Under an alias, the fugitive family settled amongst the craggy peaks of rural Montana. Ray breathed the crisp high-mountain air, the fading frenzy of fantasy fading like a bad dream. But the urge to spin illusions had never left him. He turned his imagination to new tales rooted in the same fertilizer.
Amidst the sleepy Montana dairy farms, exciting chatter began swirling about a hotshot entrepreneur named "Frank Miller", here to revolutionize waste systems. He spun their worn skeptical farmers yarns of methane magic, wooing them with promises familiar to dreams past.
A few signed on, lending acreage for digesters soon to materialize. Frank showed early investors scenes eerily similar to Ray's old brochures - concrete pads un
"See here," Ray slapped the metal frame of an empty enclosure, "this is where we'll build the first digester. A 15,000 gallon beauty capable of converting 10 tons of manure a day into usable biogas and electricity. At full capacity, she'll churn out enough power for 150 homes!"
The investors nodded, struggling to picture the glossy technology Ray described amidst the mounds of cow dung. But he had them hooked with the numbers - the millions in annual energy savings, the attractive ROIs, the compounding residuals. If Ray said he could spin waste into gold, who were they to argue?
Over succulent steaks that night, Ray expanded on his grand vision - a win-win scenario harnessing cow emissions to create clean energy. The investors would fund the digester construction, owning the rights to sell gas, credits and fertilizer byproducts back to the dairy farms. Ray's company AgriGreen would manage everything in between, with attractive administration fees flowing back to him in perpetuity.
His eyes danced as he described a future of digesters blanketing California's sprawling dairy industry. The investors envisioned it too - clouds of cash raining upon them from the manure-filled skies. Over dessert, they pulled out their checks, investing over $500,000 into the sparkle of Ray's dreams.
But months passed without progress. Ray waved away concerns with practiced nonchalance - supply chain delays and permitting paperwork that was taking longer than expected. The stories and excuses flowed freely. But the digesters did not materialize.
Suspicion smoldered as investors demanded proof of construction progress. In response, a slick brochure arrived in their mailboxes. Glossy photos showed concrete slabs and digester parts at various stages of completion. Ray walked them proudly through each image over the phone. See the rebar sticking out ready for concrete pouring? And there's the 15,000 gallon tank arriving on site!
Appeased with scenes consistent with Ray's tales, the investors rested easier. But some still drove out periodically to see the digesters first hand. Ray would meet them by the empty slab and point far across the dairy fields.
"Over there is where the big one is going up. But let me show you the 8000 gallon backup digester here close by!" He would take them to a shipping container, obscuring the view inside with technical jargon about mixing chambers and flow valves. Dazzled, investors left pumped about the infrastructure brewing.
But both digesters existed only in Ray's head, where his imagination churned faster than any methane conversion system. The money was propelling grander visions - a custom-built mansion, paid for in cash under his wife's name. New trucks and an impressive plot of land materialized as reward for his clever stories.
Years passed, the lies compounding. Ray had a knack for telling investors what they wanted to hear. He kept them satiated with charts showing attractive payout schedules just over the horizon. He spent over a million on advertising to attract new investors, using their money to pay out residuals to old ones.
The churning money cyclone powered greater heights of wealth and deception. Ray purchased entire dairy farms just to keep up the appearances of productivity. He took investors on tours of empty barns where their millions were supposedly churning out energy empires. They saw what they wanted to amidst the utter emptiness.
But empires built on lies contain the seeds of their own demise. Questions compounded, accusations flew. Lawsuits landed atop Ray's desk, imploding the paper palace he had built. As investor rage peaked, Ray grabbed his wife and the funds he could and disappeared - his castle of cards crumbling behind him.
Under an alias, the fugitive family settled amongst the craggy peaks of rural Montana. Ray breathed the crisp high-mountain air, the fading frenzy of fantasy fading like a bad dream. But the urge to spin illusions had never left him. He turned his imagination to new tales rooted in the same fertilizer.
Amidst the sleepy Montana dairy farms, exciting chatter began swirling about a hotshot entrepreneur named "Frank Miller", here to revolutionize waste systems. He spun their worn skeptical farmers yarns of methane magic, wooing them with promises familiar to dreams past.
A few signed on, lending acreage for digesters soon to materialize. Frank showed early investors scenes eerily similar to Ray's old brochures - concrete pads un
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
The California sun beat down on RayBrewer as he strode across the dusty dairy
farm. Cows mooed lazily in theheat, their manure baking in the mid
day warmth. Ray breathed it allin, the pungent smells, conjuring up
rosy images of the future. Thiswas where his empire would begin. See
(00:21):
here, Ray slapped the metal frameof an empty enclosure. This is where
we'll build the first digester, afifteen thousand gallon beauty capable of converting ten
tons of manure a day into usablebiogas and electricity. At full capacity,
she'll churn out enough power for onehundred and fifty homes. The investors nodded,
(00:41):
struggling to picture the glossy technology Raydescribed amidst the mounds of cow dung.
But he had them hooked with thenumbers, the millions in annual energy
savings. The attractive rois the compoundingresiduals. If Ray said he could spin
waste into gold, who were theyto argue over succulent stakes. That night,
Ray expanded on his grand vision,a win win scenario harnessing cow emissions
(01:04):
to create clean energy. The investorswould fund the digester construction, owning the
rights to sell gas credits and fertilizerby products back to the dairy farms.
Ray's company, Agrigreen, would manageeverything in between, with attractive administration fees
flowing back to him in perpetuity.His eyes danced as he described a future
of digesters blanketing California's sprawling dairy industry. The investors envisioned it too, clouds
(01:30):
of cash raining upon them from themanure filled skies. Over dessert, they
pulled out their checks, investing overfive hundred thousand dollars into the sparkle of
Rai's dreams. But months passed withoutprogress. Ray waved away concerns with practiced
nonchalants, supply chain delays, andpermitting paperwork that was taking longer than expected.
(01:52):
The stories and excuses flowed freely,but the digesters did not materialize.
Suspicions moldered as investors demanded proof ofconstruction progress. In response, a slick
brochure arrived in their mailboxes. Glossyphotos showed concrete slabs and digester parts at
various stages of completion. Ray walkedthem proudly through each image over the phone
(02:15):
see the rebar sticking out ready forconcrete pouring. And there's the fifteen thousand
gallon tank arriving on site. Appeasedwith scenes consistent with raised tails, the
investors rested easier, but some stilldrove out periodically to see the digester's first
hand. Ray would meet them bythe empty slab and point far across the
dairy fields. Over there is wherethe big one is going up. But
(02:38):
let me show you the eight thousandgallon back up digester here close by.
He would take them to a shippingcontainer, obscuring the view inside with technical
jargon about mixing chambers and flow valves. Dazzled investors left pumped about the infrastructure
brewing, But both digesters existed onlyin Ray's head, where his imagination churned
(02:59):
faster than any methane conversion system.The money was propelling grander visions. A
custom built mansion paid for in cashunder his wife's name, New trucks,
and an impressive plot of land materializedas reward for his clever stories years past
the lies compounding, Ray had aknack for telling investors what they wanted to
hear. He kept them satiated withcharts showing attractive payout schedules just over the
(03:23):
horizon. He spent over a millionon advertising to attract new investors, using
their money to pay out residuals toold ones. The churning money cyclone powered
greater heights of wealth and deception.Ray purchased entire dairy farms just to keep
up the appearances of productivity. Hetook investors on tours of empty barns where
their millions were supposedly churning out energyempires. They saw what they wanted to
(03:46):
amidst the utter emptiness, But empiresbuilt on lies contained the seeds of their
own demise. Questions compounded, accusationsflew. Lawsuits landed atop Ray's desk,
imploding the paper palace he had builtas investor. Rage peaked. Ray grabbed
his wife and the funds he could, and disappeared, his castle of cards
crumbling behind him. Under an alias, The Fugitive Family Settled amongst the craggy
(04:11):
peaks of rural Montana. Ray breathedthe crisp, high mountain air, the
fading frenzy of fantasy fading like abad dream, But the urge to spin
illusions had never left him. Heturned his imagination to new tails rooted in
the same fertilizer. Amidst the sleepyMontana dairy farms, exciting chatter began swirling
about a hot shot entrepreneur named FrankMiller, here to revolutionize waste systems.
(04:36):
He spun their worn skeptical farmers yarnsof methane magic, wooing them with promises
familiar to dreams. Passed. Afew signed on lending acreage for digesters.
Soon to materialize, Frank showed earlyinvestors scenes eerily similar to Ray's old brochures,
concrete pads under construction, huge steeltanks arriving by truck, the farmer's
(04:59):
sm miiled beneath their straw hats.Perhaps this time the fantasy would prove true,
But the veterans at the energy certificationoffices were less sold. Something about
these wild digesters smelled funny, andnot just the dairy air. They noted
odd contradictions. Farms with no poweraccess slated for major gas production permits,
filed in the wrong county for theland stipulated an empire rising on shaky foundations,
(05:25):
So they turned to the FEDS.FBI agents dug into anonymity quickly tracing
illusory permits to Old Ray Brewer himself. His claims of veteran heroism were proven
as bankrupt as his methane declarations.Shadow farmers and shell companies evaporated under federal
scrutiny, exposing Brewer's schemes once moreto the light. The Feds descended on
Montana, finding Ray's names scrawled acrossthis new web of deception. Bank accounts
(05:49):
brimmed with investor money he hadn't yetperipheralized. Guilty pleas tumbled forth instead,
wire fraud, money laundering, identity, theft. Brewer had spun so freely
in his own stories that the truthhad ceased to carry weight, but its
gravity would drag him back down inthe court room all the same, the
judge's gavel fell with poetic satisfaction nearlyseven years for the methane maestro and his
(06:13):
tall tales. His voice that onceinvoked glowing vistas of energy would now regale
inmates instead. But Ray reserved hissweetest lies, those soothing self deceptions,
that his dazzling dreams might some daysomehow still twinkle to life. For not
even prison bars can fully obstruct illusion. The story spinner yet retains that special
(06:35):
power to gaze beyond the filth andstill see fields of gold.
The California sun beat down on RayBrewer as he strode across the dusty dairy
farm. Cows mooed lazily in theheat, their manure baking in the mid
day warmth. Ray breathed it allin, the pungent smells, conjuring up
rosy images of the future. Thiswas where his empire would begin. See
(00:21):
here, Ray slapped the metal frameof an empty enclosure. This is where
we'll build the first digester, afifteen thousand gallon beauty capable of converting ten
tons of manure a day into usablebiogas and electricity. At full capacity,
she'll churn out enough power for onehundred and fifty homes. The investors nodded,
(00:41):
struggling to picture the glossy technology Raydescribed amidst the mounds of cow dung.
But he had them hooked with thenumbers, the millions in annual energy
savings. The attractive rois the compoundingresiduals. If Ray said he could spin
waste into gold, who were theyto argue over succulent stakes. That night,
Ray expanded on his grand vision,a win win scenario harnessing cow emissions
(01:04):
to create clean energy. The investorswould fund the digester construction, owning the
rights to sell gas credits and fertilizerby products back to the dairy farms.
Ray's company, Agrigreen, would manageeverything in between, with attractive administration fees
flowing back to him in perpetuity.His eyes danced as he described a future
of digesters blanketing California's sprawling dairy industry. The investors envisioned it too, clouds
(01:30):
of cash raining upon them from themanure filled skies. Over dessert, they
pulled out their checks, investing overfive hundred thousand dollars into the sparkle of
Rai's dreams. But months passed withoutprogress. Ray waved away concerns with practiced
nonchalants, supply chain delays, andpermitting paperwork that was taking longer than expected.
(01:52):
The stories and excuses flowed freely,but the digesters did not materialize.
Suspicions moldered as investors demanded proof ofconstruction progress. In response, a slick
brochure arrived in their mailboxes. Glossyphotos showed concrete slabs and digester parts at
various stages of completion. Ray walkedthem proudly through each image over the phone
(02:15):
see the rebar sticking out ready forconcrete pouring. And there's the fifteen thousand
gallon tank arriving on site. Appeasedwith scenes consistent with raised tails, the
investors rested easier, but some stilldrove out periodically to see the digester's first
hand. Ray would meet them bythe empty slab and point far across the
dairy fields. Over there is wherethe big one is going up. But
(02:38):
let me show you the eight thousandgallon back up digester here close by.
He would take them to a shippingcontainer, obscuring the view inside with technical
jargon about mixing chambers and flow valves. Dazzled investors left pumped about the infrastructure
brewing, But both digesters existed onlyin Ray's head, where his imagination churned
(02:59):
faster than any methane conversion system.The money was propelling grander visions. A
custom built mansion paid for in cashunder his wife's name, New trucks,
and an impressive plot of land materializedas reward for his clever stories years past
the lies compounding, Ray had aknack for telling investors what they wanted to
hear. He kept them satiated withcharts showing attractive payout schedules just over the
(03:23):
horizon. He spent over a millionon advertising to attract new investors, using
their money to pay out residuals toold ones. The churning money cyclone powered
greater heights of wealth and deception.Ray purchased entire dairy farms just to keep
up the appearances of productivity. Hetook investors on tours of empty barns where
their millions were supposedly churning out energyempires. They saw what they wanted to
(03:46):
amidst the utter emptiness, But empiresbuilt on lies contained the seeds of their
own demise. Questions compounded, accusationsflew. Lawsuits landed atop Ray's desk,
imploding the paper palace he had builtas investor. Rage peaked. Ray grabbed
his wife and the funds he could, and disappeared, his castle of cards
crumbling behind him. Under an alias, The Fugitive Family Settled amongst the craggy
(04:11):
peaks of rural Montana. Ray breathedthe crisp, high mountain air, the
fading frenzy of fantasy fading like abad dream, But the urge to spin
illusions had never left him. Heturned his imagination to new tails rooted in
the same fertilizer. Amidst the sleepyMontana dairy farms, exciting chatter began swirling
about a hot shot entrepreneur named FrankMiller, here to revolutionize waste systems.
(04:36):
He spun their worn skeptical farmers yarnsof methane magic, wooing them with promises
familiar to dreams. Passed. Afew signed on lending acreage for digesters.
Soon to materialize, Frank showed earlyinvestors scenes eerily similar to Ray's old brochures,
concrete pads under construction, huge steeltanks arriving by truck, the farmer's
(04:59):
sm miiled beneath their straw hats.Perhaps this time the fantasy would prove true,
But the veterans at the energy certificationoffices were less sold. Something about
these wild digesters smelled funny, andnot just the dairy air. They noted
odd contradictions. Farms with no poweraccess slated for major gas production permits,
filed in the wrong county for theland stipulated an empire rising on shaky foundations,
(05:25):
So they turned to the FEDS.FBI agents dug into anonymity quickly tracing
illusory permits to Old Ray Brewer himself. His claims of veteran heroism were proven
as bankrupt as his methane declarations.Shadow farmers and shell companies evaporated under federal
scrutiny, exposing Brewer's schemes once moreto the light. The Feds descended on
Montana, finding Ray's names scrawled acrossthis new web of deception. Bank accounts
(05:49):
brimmed with investor money he hadn't yetperipheralized. Guilty pleas tumbled forth instead,
wire fraud, money laundering, identity, theft. Brewer had spun so freely
in his own stories that the truthhad ceased to carry weight, but its
gravity would drag him back down inthe court room all the same, the
judge's gavel fell with poetic satisfaction nearlyseven years for the methane maestro and his
(06:13):
tall tales. His voice that onceinvoked glowing vistas of energy would now regale
inmates instead. But Ray reserved hissweetest lies, those soothing self deceptions,
that his dazzling dreams might some daysomehow still twinkle to life. For not
even prison bars can fully obstruct illusion. The story spinner yet retains that special
(06:35):
power to gaze beyond the filth andstill see fields of gold.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!