In February 1980, the nation learned that the FBI had been conducting a sophisticated sting operation called Abscam in an effort to combat white-collar crimes such as art theft, securities Forgery, and counterfeiting. Led by Mel Weinberg, international con man par excellence, the investigation soon revealed that there was a bigger game afoot. Abscam eventually led to the convictions of a U.S. Senator, several members of the House of Representatives, a gaggle of state and city officials, and a small army of lawyers and influence brokers who specialized in government favors.áIn The Sting Man, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Robert W. Greene presents not only an exposé of the operation itself, but also a thrilling account of Weinberg´s genesis as a small-time street hustler in the Bronx and his rise as the FBI´s international con mastermind. A rogue´s story, as well as an unsettling lesson in civics, The Sting Man offers a vivid and fascinating look at the underbelly of the American Dream and poses the question: Can you really con an honest man?
