Podcaster Who Claimed Redemption Now Accused of $7 Million Fraud by FBI

Steven Comisar, a 64-year-old Ohio man who gained notoriety for decades of fraud and served over 22 years in prison across five federal convictions, is once again facing serious legal trouble. The FBI has accused Comisar of orchestrating a new fraud scheme totaling $7 million against an Ohio couple.

Comisar, who branded himself as the 'Don of Con' and claimed to have reformed after his release from prison, started a podcast in 2023 called "Scam Junkie." On the podcast, he presented himself as a reformed con man who now helps others avoid scams and offers advice on making money legally. However, federal prosecutors in Cleveland have charged him with perpetrating yet another fraud.

According to court documents, Comisar allegedly used various personas, including CEOs, wealth directors, and a prominent wealthy individual, to convince the couple to invest in projects he promised would yield significant returns. He reportedly instructed the man to send cashier's checks for fees, taxes, or government fines, claiming these were necessary before the promised large sums could be transferred. These checks, ranging from $7,000 to $300,000, were sent to Comisar at a hotel in California over several years, with the total amount exceeding $7 million.

FBI agents traced Comisar to the scheme through phone and email records, as well as packages delivered to his hotel. Bank records indicate that Comisar also profited around $1.2 million from a thoroughbred racetrack in California, where he reportedly wagered approximately $4 million between January and May 2026.

Comisar's past convictions include a telemarketing scam related to horse racing, fraudulent oil well investments, and defrauding an Iowa man of $125,000. In 2003, he was sentenced to eight years for defrauding an 84-year-old Minnesota man of $480,000. While awaiting sentencing in that case, he also attempted to extort an attorney by threatening her family.

Comisar was arrested in California. No attorney has yet been listed in his court records, and an initial court date is pending. The funds from the alleged fraud were reportedly used for gambling, hotels, food, and other personal expenses.