American Crimes

In a life full of restrictions, we've seen inmates take control of whatever they can, despite the consequences; we've seen frustrated inmates reach their breaking point; in the battle of wills, some will take actions that can never be reversed.

Three unforgettable inmates, each one about to cross the threshold to freedom; witness their joys, their fears, their triumphs and discover that sometimes the only thing tougher than being in prison, is staying out.

As the oldest prison in California, San Quentin is steeped in a violent history, so it has a set of regulations and procedures to maintain order; inmates often operate under a different code of conduct; gangs control "prison politics.".

Leaders of a polygamous religious sect demand perfect obedience from followers, luring them into welfare fraud and stealing more than $2 million from American taxpayers.

The story of Milwaukee crime boss Michael Lock who leaves a murder trail on his way to bilking borrowers and lenders out of $2 million.

Authorities charge a nurse with murder after an illegal silicone injection leads to death and knock-off cosmetic injections paralyze four others.

A wife finds out her insurance agent husband has been stealing money from their friends by selling bogus annuities.

Aspiring Hollywood mogul Carissa Carpenter concocts a plan to construct a major movie studio in northern California.

The body of a Chicago woman is found stuffed in a suitcase at a luxury resort in Bali; the murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack is a tragedy years in the making, featuring a wild-child daughter, a history of violence, and a shocking motive.

When a Manhattan heiress vanishes from her mansion, friends, staff and investigators are mystified; the investigation leads to a mysterious tenant who moved into the mansion weeks earlier and a transcontinental story of deceit, arson and murder.

Horror strikes the wealthy enclave of Aspen, Colo. when heiress Nancy Pfister is found brutally murdered in her mountain home; as police work to untangle a twisted web of suspects, a shocking confession puts a sudden end to the investigation.

Flashy former Michigan cop and corrupt real estate dealer John Bravata uses his company, nicknamed the Billionaire Boys Club, to steal $50 million from 440 middle-class investors.

Trusted adviser and a philanthropist Bob McLean runs a successful investment firm and donates millions to his favorite causes, but he carries with him a dark, devastating secret.

Leaders of a polygamous religious sect demand perfect obedience from followers, luring them into welfare fraud and stealing more than $2 million from American taxpayers.

The story of Milwaukee crime boss Michael Lock who leaves a murder trail on his way to bilking borrowers and lenders out of $2 million.

Authorities charge a nurse with murder after an illegal silicone injection leads to death and knock-off cosmetic injections paralyze four others.

A wife finds out her insurance agent husband has been stealing money from their friends by selling bogus annuities.

Aspiring Hollywood mogul Carissa Carpenter concocts a plan to construct a major movie studio in northern California.

The body of a Chicago woman is found stuffed in a suitcase at a luxury resort in Bali; the murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack is a tragedy years in the making, featuring a wild-child daughter, a history of violence, and a shocking motive.

When a Manhattan heiress vanishes from her mansion, friends, staff and investigators are mystified; the investigation leads to a mysterious tenant who moved into the mansion weeks earlier and a transcontinental story of deceit, arson and murder.

Horror strikes the wealthy enclave of Aspen, Colo. when heiress Nancy Pfister is found brutally murdered in her mountain home; as police work to untangle a twisted web of suspects, a shocking confession puts a sudden end to the investigation.

Flashy former Michigan cop and corrupt real estate dealer John Bravata uses his company, nicknamed the Billionaire Boys Club, to steal $50 million from 440 middle-class investors.

Trusted adviser and a philanthropist Bob McLean runs a successful investment firm and donates millions to his favorite causes, but he carries with him a dark, devastating secret.

Leaders of a polygamous religious sect demand perfect obedience from followers, luring them into welfare fraud and stealing more than $2 million from American taxpayers.

The story of Milwaukee crime boss Michael Lock who leaves a murder trail on his way to bilking borrowers and lenders out of $2 million.

Authorities charge a nurse with murder after an illegal silicone injection leads to death and knock-off cosmetic injections paralyze four others.

A wife finds out her insurance agent husband has been stealing money from their friends by selling bogus annuities.

Aspiring Hollywood mogul Carissa Carpenter concocts a plan to construct a major movie studio in northern California.