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BLIND GREED: From Ivy League to International Fugitive
What happens when ambition becomes addiction, and success becomes a death sentence?
Blind Greed explodes off the page like a classic Greek tragedy colliding with a Jason Bourne thriller —except every shocking twist and detail actually happened.
Lawrence Hartman had it Columbia Law School degree, unlimited potential, a golden ticket to the American Dream. But one taste of easy money transforms him from promising attorney into the puppet master of a global criminal empire that would make Gordon Gekko blush.
Imagine The Wolf of Wall Street meets Catch Me if you Can
Watch Hartman's meteoric rise and catastrophic fall as he transforms from internet entrepreneur to online gambling impresario, ultimately orchestrating one of the world's most sophisticated offshore boiler room operations. From the neon-drenched excess of Las Vegas high-roller suites to the hidden fortresses of Costa Rica, from Monaco's glittering casinos where fortunes are won and lost in a single hand, to Barcelona's ancient streets where modern crimes play out against medieval backdrops, and top it all off with clandestine Swiss banking.
The stakes? Everything.
When you're raising hundreds of millions from investors across the globe, it's only a question of time before you have a target on your back, or worse. Hartman survives a terrifying kidnapping, only to discover that Interpol has issued a Red Notice with his name on it. Now he's not just a criminal, he's prey, a fugitive on the run.
Escape?
Living under a false identity, Hartman becomes a ghost, moving through international airports and five-star hotels like a Mossad operative, always one step ahead of capture, one mistake away from prison, or a bullet. Every phone call could be his last. Every border crossing might be a trap. Every relationship becomes a weapon that could destroy him.
The price? His soul.
Torn between the family he desperately loves and the criminal empire he can't abandon, Hartman walks a razor's edge between salvation and damnation. His wife doesn't know. His children don't suspect. But he's living a double life and the walls are closing in, and his hubris—that fatal flaw of every tragic hero—is about to bring everything crashing down.
The ending? Unthinkable.
When Hartman finally falls, he falls hard—straight into Nicaragua's El Chipote prison, a rat-infested hellhole where survival is measured in hours, not years. Bound, shackled, and facing extradition to face justice for crimes that involve over a dozen law enforcement agencies, he has one final card to play.
But will anyone come to save a man so driven by his greed?
You think you know how this story ends. You're wrong.
Blind Greed is The Wolf of Wall Street meets Catch Me If You Can—a pulse-pounding true story of spectacular greed, international intrigue, and ultimate justice that reads like fiction but will haunt you like the True Crime it is. This is the book you'll finish in one sitting, then immediately hand to everyone you know.
Because some stories are too incredible to be anything but true.
See www.LawrenceHartman.com for more details!
Blind Greed explodes off the page like a classic Greek tragedy colliding with a Jason Bourne thriller —except every shocking twist and detail actually happened.
Lawrence Hartman had it Columbia Law School degree, unlimited potential, a golden ticket to the American Dream. But one taste of easy money transforms him from promising attorney into the puppet master of a global criminal empire that would make Gordon Gekko blush.
Imagine The Wolf of Wall Street meets Catch Me if you Can
Watch Hartman's meteoric rise and catastrophic fall as he transforms from internet entrepreneur to online gambling impresario, ultimately orchestrating one of the world's most sophisticated offshore boiler room operations. From the neon-drenched excess of Las Vegas high-roller suites to the hidden fortresses of Costa Rica, from Monaco's glittering casinos where fortunes are won and lost in a single hand, to Barcelona's ancient streets where modern crimes play out against medieval backdrops, and top it all off with clandestine Swiss banking.
The stakes? Everything.
When you're raising hundreds of millions from investors across the globe, it's only a question of time before you have a target on your back, or worse. Hartman survives a terrifying kidnapping, only to discover that Interpol has issued a Red Notice with his name on it. Now he's not just a criminal, he's prey, a fugitive on the run.
Escape?
Living under a false identity, Hartman becomes a ghost, moving through international airports and five-star hotels like a Mossad operative, always one step ahead of capture, one mistake away from prison, or a bullet. Every phone call could be his last. Every border crossing might be a trap. Every relationship becomes a weapon that could destroy him.
The price? His soul.
Torn between the family he desperately loves and the criminal empire he can't abandon, Hartman walks a razor's edge between salvation and damnation. His wife doesn't know. His children don't suspect. But he's living a double life and the walls are closing in, and his hubris—that fatal flaw of every tragic hero—is about to bring everything crashing down.
The ending? Unthinkable.
When Hartman finally falls, he falls hard—straight into Nicaragua's El Chipote prison, a rat-infested hellhole where survival is measured in hours, not years. Bound, shackled, and facing extradition to face justice for crimes that involve over a dozen law enforcement agencies, he has one final card to play.
But will anyone come to save a man so driven by his greed?
You think you know how this story ends. You're wrong.
Blind Greed is The Wolf of Wall Street meets Catch Me If You Can—a pulse-pounding true story of spectacular greed, international intrigue, and ultimate justice that reads like fiction but will haunt you like the True Crime it is. This is the book you'll finish in one sitting, then immediately hand to everyone you know.
Because some stories are too incredible to be anything but true.
See www.LawrenceHartman.com for more details!
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2025
About the author
Lawrence Hartman
5 books1 followerLawrence Hartman is the author of (i) BLIND GREED: From Ivy League to International Fugitive, (ii) BLIND JUSTICE: The Consequences of Greed, (iii) THE HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE: Your Key to Happiness, and (iv) GUILTY TILL PROVEN INNOCENT: A Shocking Inside View Into America’s Failing Justice System. He has also been featured in articles on Forbes.com, including “The Life of a White-Collar Fugitive Not All That It's Cracked Up To Be” and “A Voice From Prison Weighs In On Drug Addiction And A Solution.”
Mr. Hartman was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He graduated from the prestigious Columbia University School of Law where he wrote and served as an editor for the Columbia Business Law Review. From there he rose up the ranks at a couple of major Wall Street law firms while writing and producing an off-Broadway play entitled "Seeing Double,” starring former New York Giants’ star running back Tiki Barber and the Double Down Twins from the smash hit indie movie "Swingers.” Those dreams, however, got sidetracked when he landed a coveted position as Vice President and General Counsel of a publicly traded real estate company, during which time he published two technical articles in the Real Estate Finance Review. That, in turn, led to founding an offshore hedge fund where he developed business plans and websites for over a dozen public companies. This successful new venture unfortunately also led to a massive 36 count indictment and a week’s worth of coverage as the lead news story throughout Central America. Mr. Hartman spent his time reading, writing and reflecting while playing jailhouse lawyer during his 10-year sentence, in search of redemption. During this time he helped dozens of hard-luck inmates in need of a break, much like Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption and made valuable use of his time creating Blind Greed, Blind Justice, The Happiness Principle and Guilty Till Proven Innocent among other projects.
Mr. Hartman was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He graduated from the prestigious Columbia University School of Law where he wrote and served as an editor for the Columbia Business Law Review. From there he rose up the ranks at a couple of major Wall Street law firms while writing and producing an off-Broadway play entitled "Seeing Double,” starring former New York Giants’ star running back Tiki Barber and the Double Down Twins from the smash hit indie movie "Swingers.” Those dreams, however, got sidetracked when he landed a coveted position as Vice President and General Counsel of a publicly traded real estate company, during which time he published two technical articles in the Real Estate Finance Review. That, in turn, led to founding an offshore hedge fund where he developed business plans and websites for over a dozen public companies. This successful new venture unfortunately also led to a massive 36 count indictment and a week’s worth of coverage as the lead news story throughout Central America. Mr. Hartman spent his time reading, writing and reflecting while playing jailhouse lawyer during his 10-year sentence, in search of redemption. During this time he helped dozens of hard-luck inmates in need of a break, much like Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption and made valuable use of his time creating Blind Greed, Blind Justice, The Happiness Principle and Guilty Till Proven Innocent among other projects.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2026
A compelling dive into the high-stakes world of finance, where ambition clashes with morality. Hartman crafts a narrative that's both informative and thrilling, making complex financial concepts accessible to the average reader. The characters are well-developed, each driven by their desires and flaws, adding layers of depth to the story.
What sets this book apart is its meticulous attention to detail. Hartman doesn't just tell a story; he educates, offering insights into the mechanisms of corporate greed and its far-reaching consequences. The plot is intricately woven, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. It’s a stark reminder of the ethical challenges present in the pursuit of wealth.
A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dark side of corporate finance. It’s a cautionary tale that resonates with current events, prompting reflection on the values that drive our society. Hartman’s engaging writing style and thought-provoking narrative make this book both an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
What sets this book apart is its meticulous attention to detail. Hartman doesn't just tell a story; he educates, offering insights into the mechanisms of corporate greed and its far-reaching consequences. The plot is intricately woven, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. It’s a stark reminder of the ethical challenges present in the pursuit of wealth.
A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dark side of corporate finance. It’s a cautionary tale that resonates with current events, prompting reflection on the values that drive our society. Hartman’s engaging writing style and thought-provoking narrative make this book both an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
May 9, 2026
greed
Larry is a law school graduate from a University. He decided he does not like working as a lawyer and he has another idea. The idea of easy money selling stocks really appeals to him. He comes up with his own scam and he’s riding high until he doesn’t.
This book is written in the first person of Larry and you feel all his emotions both good and bad. He makes millions of dollars but he’s not satisfied with that so he keeps getting that deeper and deeper. He marries a woman from Costa Rica and has children. Larry keeps on scamming and finally the law is on to him and he has to go into hiding and Costa Rica. However, Larry is trying to get out of trouble and hire his lawyers from the United States without much success. At the same time, he changes his name and gets a new passport from Nicaragua and is caught by immigration.
This book has many trigger warnings such as deaf, torture, and the seat I would recommend this book only for those who do not mind such triggers
Larry is a law school graduate from a University. He decided he does not like working as a lawyer and he has another idea. The idea of easy money selling stocks really appeals to him. He comes up with his own scam and he’s riding high until he doesn’t.
This book is written in the first person of Larry and you feel all his emotions both good and bad. He makes millions of dollars but he’s not satisfied with that so he keeps getting that deeper and deeper. He marries a woman from Costa Rica and has children. Larry keeps on scamming and finally the law is on to him and he has to go into hiding and Costa Rica. However, Larry is trying to get out of trouble and hire his lawyers from the United States without much success. At the same time, he changes his name and gets a new passport from Nicaragua and is caught by immigration.
This book has many trigger warnings such as deaf, torture, and the seat I would recommend this book only for those who do not mind such triggers
May 11, 2026
This true-crime thriller is absolutely captivating. Hartman writes with a cinematic quality that makes you feel like a bystander watching a train wreck in slow motion. It is staggering to watch an Ivy League-educated attorney transform into the mastermind of a global criminal enterprise, all while desperately trying to keep his family as his moral north star. It’s an exhilarating yet heartbreaking "rise and fall" story about a man who achieved everything he dreamed of, only to lose it to the gravity of his own greed.
May 14, 2026
The beginning of this book is jam packed with detailed financial wording and situations that were a little over my head, but once I got through those pages, I couldn't read fast enough! This book is full of suspenseful moments and shocking revelations! I thought that I knew how it would end, but I was mistaken!
May 4, 2026
An intriguing book on crime and greed by Lawrence Hartman. The story was not what I was expecting, but it did capture my attention. The book started out really slow and didn't really pick up until almost a third of the way in. The story doesn't condone crime necessarily, but it does show how a person who is polished and privileged can can come undone under the weight of ego and privilege and just become greedy and out for his or her own gain. The international chase scenes, the changing identities, and constant paranoia builds to an intense momentum. There are many ups and downs and twists and turns in this book. The book is about consequences and Hartman clearly describes the emotional wreckage that can be left behind. Hartman writes his story with a clear view of the consequences of what can happen with life choices. I absolutely enjoyed all the quips from different people written at the beginning of every chapter!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews