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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 6, 2013 21:04:46 GMT -5
 www.hulu.com/watch/394089ABOVE: Link to American Greed: The Fugitives episode on Hammes (1st part of episode)
Fugitive Profile Statistics as of August 7th, 2014 (based on FBI.gov profile) Date(s) of Birth Used: April 30, 1962 Place of Birth: Wisconsin Height: 5'8" Weight: 195 pounds Occupation: Accountant Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Sex: Male Race: White Nationality: American Remarks: Hammes is an avid scuba diver and a licensed pilot. He has previously traveled to the Caribbean and Curacao. Who to call if you've seen him: Local FBI field office or embassy or submit a web tip to tips.fbi.govJames Hammes was one of the most unique white collar fugitives AMW ever profiled, and also one of the most bizarre cases. Between 1998 and 2009, Hammes allegedly embezzled nearly 9 million dollars from Pepsi's offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to his airings on AMW, and American Greed: The Fugitives (the rerun of the episode was on tonight which inspired me to post this), Hammes was controller for Pepsi, where funds were said to be deposited into an unauthorized National City Bank account in the name of C.W. Zumbiel company, a supplier of labels to Pepsi. According to American Greed, the account was just called "The Zumbiel Company", so with a similar name, no one suspected anything when they deposited funds into it. When Hammes was confronted by FBI agents at his workplace when the discrepancies were finally uncovered he denied everything. After that, no one heard from him again. However, the story doesn't stop, or rather begin there. Hammes was married to Joy Johnson in 1984. Johnson died in a house fire in 2003. Hammes was not home. There were two conflicted causes listed by the insurance company and fire department although neither was arson. One blamed a coiled electrical cord under the dresser which overheated from my quick glimpse tonight. Making things seem even more suspicious, fire seemed to follow Hammes wherever he went. As at least four other fires happened in places him and his wife lived or on property they owned. According to one interviewee on American Greed, he said the reaction from some people was "I've never even been in one fire, let alone five." Although the investigation was closed and according to American Greed, the family really has no way of proving Hammes intentionally set the blaze (in other words and/or in my opinion the odds are likely slim to none he could ever be tried in relation to it), they'd still like to have answers, especially considering the double life Hammes seemed to have lived. Part of the double life according to American Greed was a mistress Hammes met and got pregnant. Despite denying everything, it turned out Hammes was indeed supporting another child for years. When Hammes disappeared, a room supposedly for his new wife's presents turned out to be a room filled with books about how to create a new identity, how to disappear and never be found, and social security documents. The last thing authorities know is that Hammes visited a high-crime area of Cincinnati before disappearing completely, leaving his wallet and cell phone behind. It seems Hammes was trying to make it look like something bad happened to him to throw police off his tracks. The FBI says Hammes could have assumed two identities: Robert Randall Gulley or Michael Clay Bowers. According to both tv shows, Hammes was a thrill-seeker and world traveler, and frequented the Caribbean, so he could be anywhere in the world. Thoughts? My guess is he fled overseas to a Caribbean Island but who knows. As bizarre as this case is, Hammes unfortunately seems like a very savvy fugitive. www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=80591www.cnbc.com/id/48743874www.fbi.gov/wanted/wcc/james-t.-hammes/www.sj-r.com/x417565978/New-light-shed-on-Waverly-natives-death-husbands-disappearanceAdmin Note: If you have any updated information on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 6, 2013 21:06:54 GMT -5
Also, sort of off-topic but one thing I found interesting was unlike American Greed, AMW apparently not seeming to want to participate in product placement. In their re-enactment, they constantly said "he's accused of embezzling from the bottling company where he worked" and kept referring to the "bottling company" rather than referencing Pepsi by name. Which is understandable, since AMW usually only mentioned a specific store or brand if they felt it was vital to the story.
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 6, 2013 21:07:40 GMT -5
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Post by HeadMarshal on Dec 7, 2013 9:46:39 GMT -5
Also, sort of off-topic but one thing I found interesting was unlike American Greed, AMW apparently not seeming to want to participate in product placement. In their re-enactment, they constantly said "he's accused of embezzling from the bottling company where he worked" and kept referring to the "bottling company" rather than referencing Pepsi by name. Which is understandable, since AMW usually only mentioned a specific store or brand if they felt it was vital to the story. Keep in mind that American Greed airs on CNBC which is an international business channel, so they would have more reason to mention Pepsico by name, unlike AMW on Lifetime. The official name of the company is Pepsico (I only know this because I'm a business student). Talking about the case now, it certainly is very bizarre. I can only guess that he's in the Caribbean or somewhere near there. |
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Post by HeadMarshal on May 18, 2015 15:39:14 GMT -5
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Post by 912thamwuser on May 18, 2015 16:15:27 GMT -5
I seem to recall his AMW profile. About 5 places where he lived blew up, and his wife suspiciously died in the last explosion. Someone else mentioned how a man's body was found near Joy's. Is it possible that investigators will soon figure out what role he played in those 2 deaths?
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Post by Scumhunter on May 18, 2015 17:05:14 GMT -5
I think on the old forums of amw.com I got confused and mentioned that about the second body when we were discussing the AMW episode he was in. I thought there was one near the ID Hammes left behind in the bad neighborhood in Cincinnati. The CNBC episode never mentioned it and in retrospect I'm not confident about AMW mentioning that either So I think that was likely my embarrassing gaffe lol. (I don't know what's worse- misremembering that or if it turns out I was right and I misremember misremebering lol)
As far as his wife, I think they said they wouldn't be able to charge Hammes since the fire department closed the investigation, but Joy's family still wanted him caught to get solid answers from him.
In any case, this is an AMAZING capture. Simply because Hammes had supposedly read all these books about disguising his identity and I figured he was way away from the U.S.!
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Post by Scumhunter on May 18, 2015 17:07:37 GMT -5
P.S. It seems this is a direct result of American Greed!
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Post by Scumhunter on May 18, 2015 17:09:25 GMT -5
P.P.S thanks readers for letting me know he was captured on our new website contact form! (sarcasm). Seriously, I know you lurkers won't let me down next time.  |
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Post by danwind on May 18, 2015 18:24:30 GMT -5
I hoped they charged him of murder, Because I believe he's murder his wife
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Post by Scumhunter on May 18, 2015 18:47:08 GMT -5
I hoped they charged him of murder, Because I believe he's murder his wife It's probably unlikely because the fire department closed the investigation, as much as it would be nice if he had anything to do with it. But hopefully now Joy's family can confront him in court and ask him what really happened that night. If there is any sliver of hope somehow there can be a way to charge him I'd be all for it though! |
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Post by danwind on May 18, 2015 21:38:17 GMT -5
Well, I hoped he's rot in jail
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Post by Scumhunter on May 19, 2015 14:31:46 GMT -5
It appears it might not have been just American Greed, and the FBI knew Hammes might be in Damascus for the annual "Trail Days" festival- a yearly hiking festival along the Appalachian trial. Hammes was staying at a bed-and-breakfast. Many used hiker names instead of real names and Hammes went by "Bismarck." Also, when Hammes was arrested, he exclaimed "all I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi.".. Ok, just kidding about the last part. But the first paragraph is true. www.kentucky.com/2015/05/19/3858844/lexington-fugitive-had-been-a.html |
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Post by Scumhunter on May 20, 2015 15:36:21 GMT -5
Ok, we seem to have confirmation it was American Greed now. A Mississippi hiker was watching a repeat of the show a few months ago and recognized Hammes as the man named "Bismarck" who he hiked the trail with. He also said he was the "nicest guy ever." As did the innkeeper. Hammes seemed to have everybody fooled- which makes this capture even more unexpected but great news. (Not to sound like a broken record or a bragger but I usually have a pretty good batting record with my predictions. My thought before he was caught was "this guy's in the Cayman Islands somewhere looking nothing like his photo and I'm not sure he'll ever be caught. Thankfully, I was way off. :)I was right he looked nothing like his photo at least. www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42131 |
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Post by Scumhunter on Jun 22, 2016 13:14:16 GMT -5
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