Ring of Deceit: Inside the Biggest Sports and Banking Scandal in History Paperback – April 2, 2014

A surprisingly compelling story about a moment in time when the con joining of boxing, federal prosecution and a master manipulator conjoin to change the course of an International sport and the banking industry in one of the largest scams of all-time. The author, Bruce Henderson spins an all-seeing and empathetic narrative, taking place in the twilight of Muhammad Ali's brilliant career, at a time when the ex-champ is trying to glean the last lucrative pay days out of his aging bodies, and the rest of the boxing world is trying to fill the void of his impending departure.Harold Smith is con man who appears literally out of nowhere to ingratiate himself to the king of boxing, under the guise of helping struggling black athletes pull themselves out of poverty through International amateur sports. Smith has a delusional plan in mind to hijack the pro boxing ranks and control boxing by controlling its champions and contenders as a master promoter.He befriends two executives of Well-Fargo bank, who become embroiled in his scheme after being starstruck after Smith introduces them to the arguably most famous and charismatic athlete of all-time (Ali). They begin manipulating the Wells-Fargo retail banking division to extract millions of dollars to fund Smith's ever wilder and reckless spending. As Smith begin promoting fights, he continues to lose ever larger sums of money, all the while promising a huge payoff, and a repayment of the widening debt to the bank.A riveting narrative of how the Prosecution puts together a case against a classic con artist, who takes down many of his associates and ruins many lives in the process.Smith comes perilously close to pulling off his fantastical dream, while living a hedonistic lifestyle. In the meantime, he overlays fighters, and changes the pay scale of the fight game.At times scary, in the sheer havoc Smith wreaks, and a tale of wonderment, that one man can manipulate so many. Henderson is able to get into the minds of the Prosecutor, and to the victims.I had trouble putting this book down. Plaudits to the author for his research and his story telling.

I really liked the strong research included here. I'm not much of a sports fan so much of this book was new information to me. The author writes very well and keeps moving on, recounting the astounding behavior of a man Muhammad Ali trusted completely. I found it an astonishing expose about a world of sports that is often in the shadows of ball games. Fascinating!

My 88 year old aunt was peripherally involved as a member of Wells Fargo's auditing team. I was aware of this case from the time I was a young adult and now at age 62, I wanted to know more about it. I was amazed at how the book was able to make the dry subject of banking quite interesting. The book exposed me to two areas of life I knew nothing about: banking, and the free spending world of boxing promotion

Well researched and very well written. I was surprised that it could hold my attention so well as it is about a banking scandal, not the most exctiing topic. Moves well and he doesn't waste words. A great read. Also great by him is "Fatal North".

To many words to tell the story of a big embezzlement.

Well written, fascinating story of an enormous bank crime, the men behind it and the criminal investigation and prosecution, as told by the Prosecutor. Highly recommended.

I was just finishing Mr. Henderson's book, Trace Evidence , when I found this work . Though Ring Of Deceit entertains a very different subject matter than his other book ( a gripping look at California's I-5 murders) it features the same well researched subject matter and tight writing . His co-author is a former FBI agent who played a key role in unearthing this almost unbelievable plundering of a bank by one man. If it was just a story about a man stealing millions from the bank that employs him it would be an interesting story. However, this tale involves a leap into the world of sports that allows the story to grow from interesting to mind boggling . You'll find yourself amazed that one middle level manager type could embezzle so much money from a bank all by himself. You will then be stunned by what he does with this money and with whom he gets involved. Without giving too much away , let me just say , you will recognize some of the biggest names of their day in sports involved one way or another in this scam. Great read. I'm going to check out other books Henderson's written now.

This is the ripping 'true' tale of brash, flamboyant boxing promoter Harold Smith who trading off a tenuous link with Muhammad Ali, embezzled money from Wells Fargo Bank with the help of bank employees, 'threw' money lavishly at an assortment of ill-conceived boxing and sporting tournaments which always lost money, and of course as a consequence came monumentally unstuck.This yarn is fast-paced and gripping to read but does expose the crass gullibility of 'get rich quick' wannabees and the lengths that they will sink to to stave off the inevitable term in prison for their misdemeanours.