James Strauss, The Fake TV Writer, Revealed as Convicted Swindler

James-R-Straus_mugshot.400x800My public outing of fake TV writer James Strauss aka James R. Straus on my blog yesterday prompted several of my enterprising Facebook followers, especially John Hendricks, Barbara Early and Mary Batchellor, to dig into him… and discover his sleazy, criminal past as a conman who was sent to prison for his swindles in the late 90s.

Strauss plead guilty in 1998 to defrauding a teachers’ retirement fund out of $400,000 in an international swindle…but even before stepping into federal prison to serve his two year term for that crime, he was charged with another con, embezzeling $20,000 from a Santa Fe company.

You can see his mugshot and booking info here.

UPDATE JAN 28. 2015
Fake TV writer and convicted conman James Strauss is back…this time expressing on Facebook his happiness that his author page is finally creeping up to top of Google search results for his name as opposed to all the posts on the web about his swindles. What amuses me about this bizarre post is how he casts himself as a victim…as opposed to the many people that he deceived and defrauded.

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14 thoughts on “James Strauss, The Fake TV Writer, Revealed as Convicted Swindler”

  1. You know this is the same with everything in life.
    You’d think history teaches us anything, but no.
    Disagree if you will but the world changes, and we have no control over it.
    For instance, If only Obama had enough balls to put Vladimir to his place, but it seems like it’s never happening, welcome world war.
    A very deep post, thanks!
    Sarah http://phyto-renew350i.com/

    Reply
  2. Did this all happen before or after he was in the CIA, taken prisoner and wrote a novel on scraps of paper which were smuggled out…

    I was on a library panel with him. Aside from the House credits, and the veiled references to the people who all have the same name and control Hollywood so he can’t get work, he talked a lot about his time in the CIA.

    It was a night to remember.

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  3. I was the chairman for the Puerto Vallarta Writers Group’s 7th annual Writers Conference in 2012.
    I had hired James Strauss as a presenter on the basis of endorsements from other writers. It wasn’t too long before we were all scratching our heads about this guy.
    Suffice it to say, that we were not convinced about his bona fides about anything, and his presentations were less than satisfactory.
    This comes as no surprise, as we have received other notifications about him as well..
    Theodore P, Druch

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    • looking for an email addr for ted (theodore p) druch. i knew him at millbrook and the arizona ashram. just finished his millbrook
      book and love his writing. just ordered “footprints”, looking forward to another good read.
      ted, remember “richie”? worked for ibm by day, lived at the big house by nite. friend of charlie hitchings, frank mastropasqua (i’m still in touch, just sent frank a copy of millbrook. after millbrook, bought a house in topanga canyon (still here!). if you get this,
      let me know: ricardo777@netscape.com. i’m about to turn 80, still vertical! your picture is like looking in a mirror!
      hope you’re well, god bless, richard lucinio 2/14/ 17 happy v-day!

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  4. 2017 UPDATE. It wont surprise anyone reading this I am sure, but James Strauss is back at his thievery again. He presently owes us over $5200 for a vacation rental he stayed at in a trip to Hawaii last year(2016). He paid the first portion and left us hanging for $5200 with an invalid credit card. He has been non responsive to all emails, texts, and phone calls(to both of his numbers). I did get some guy on the phone one time who claimed to be “his assistant”. Hmmm. We are debating whether or not to sue him as I am guessing he already probably has a few liens and judgements against himself, and I doubt he owns any property. Does anyone know if he has any assets? I wonder if he is even worth pursuing?

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    • He is living in Lake Geneva WI He has a store front business called Geneva Shore report and house there Don’t know if he owns there You could check wtth Lake Geneva public records or Walworth County WI His called assistant is Edwin J Korczynski who is also a felon and tax evader Currently living at N N1970 Linn Road Lake Geneva He is a tax evader. He claims he lives in Chicago but hasn’t lived there in at least 20 years. Has been fired from City of Chicago for npt living there He has an address at 788 English Oaks Road Cary IL Also address in Chicago n Sheridan Road Chicago Previious address on Kedzie ave Which is where his mail was sent Will be reporting him to IRS Hope this helps. They are now using fake business as a front Wlll be reporting him to IG in Chicago Korczynski Has also fake businesses EJK GOLD CONNECTION EJK MILITARY connection and many more

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  5. Excuse me, Nice hack job, I served in Nam, 1970-71-72 …….. I flew support for Marines in the A Shau, I am retired, service combat connected US Army, I know Jim through Tomah VA, He has the proper the proper documents to support his history to be eligible for treatment at VA Tomah……….. I am tired of no nothing hacks still finding ways to denigrate those from Vietnam, those who served, and did the nasty shit that is required of defending the Nation, So take your hack job report of James and just shove it where the sun doesn’t shine…………………..

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