“Bright boy that’s what my teachers always called me. When I graduated high school Principal Miller made a point of shaking my parents’ hands. Miller said I was a bright boy and really going places. I’ve always been a go getter, a visionary.

“At Mountain State when my frat brothers were doing keggers and chasing skanks, I launched a carpet cleaning business my sophomore year. I was never young. I never played. I worked to provide for my family.

“Okay, so my business had a rocky second quarter. There were some unexpected expenses. Maybe I reallocated some funds from the fraternity coffers to my personal account. But that fraternity advisor was completely out of pocket.

“In front of everyone, Rick confronted me about missing deposits. Dead in his eye, I calmly explained he was mistaken and perhaps he was untutored in basic accounting. I walked away from Delta Kau house and Mountain State that night. A temporary shortfall doesn’t make me a criminal. I will not be insulted. Rick tried to embarrass me in front of everyone.”

“Mr. Landis can we focus on the present?how did you get here in prison awaiting trial for fraud? Was this a Ponzi scheme from the beginning?” Reporter Rebecca Stein asked.

The reporter drummed her fingers trying to figure out a way to staunch the crook’s soliloquy. State prisons were seventh rings of hell. Federal prisons were more like rundown YMCAs. Morgan Federal Prison was puke yellow cinder blocks and desperation. David seemed above and apart from his surroundings. Rebecca rolled her neck as David nattered on. David banged his fist hard against the plexiglass. Rebecca jumped back.

“Sorry, miss, there was no scam. Never was!7Misunderstandings of course some pretty standard creative bookkeeping yes. The economy bought me down. With a little time I will right Wide Awake Coffee. I can make us profitable like that,” David said snapping.

Rebecca looked through her notes. Millions of dollars were missing, employees made jobless, pensioners left penniless scrawled across her pages of legal pads.

Landis convinced investors to buy worthless stocks for what was hyped as the next Starbucks. But there were no contracts with coffee growers. There were no property deals in new markets. All of the investors’ money went on shopping sprees for David and his family.

Landis’ promises were as hollow his empty as his abandoned storefronts that dotted the Northwest. She stared at the mastermind behind so much damage.

“A bright boy, I’ve always been ahead of the curve. After I left college I worked hospitality. I was successful but I needed to be an entrepreneur. My coworkers sabotaged me. I was never a kid. Instead I sold lemonade and mowed lawns. So of course I bought a few toys, a few cars, a nice house for the wife and kids. That’s to be expected,” David said.

“Naturally, everyone wants to let off steam. Tell me your success story. What was your dream for Wake Up Coffee?” Rebecca asked.