The Binge Crimes: Lady Mafia – Episode 3: "Sell Fire to the Devil"

Host: Michelle McPhee
Production: Sony Music Entertainment / Campside Media
Release Date: November 15, 2024

Introduction: Sara King's Illusory Success

Timestamp: [01:04 – 05:57]

Michelle McPhee introduces Sara King, a multifaceted individual known by various monikers such as the “Female Bernie Madoff” and the “Anna Delvey of the OC.” Sara's ascent in Orange County's high-stakes financial and social circles is depicted as glamorous yet fraught with deception. McPhee sets the stage by highlighting Sara's transition from a respectable lawyer to a figure entangled in shady financial dealings.

Sara and Cameron: A Passionate Yet Troubled Relationship

Timestamp: [01:53 – 04:18]

Sara King's romantic involvement with Cameron Pahlavi, a nephew of the last Shah of Iran, is explored in depth. Their meeting is portrayed as a fairy-tale romance where Sara finds in Cameron the qualities she lacked in her previous marriage.

• Sara King: “When the food came to the table, he would serve me first... It felt like I was watching a rom com because it was that intense.”
  [02:02]

However, Cameron's revelation about his lack of financial stability and personal baggage introduces tension into their relationship.

• Sara King: “He told me... I have no money... I want to make something of myself. And I said, well, let's try and do that.”
  [02:34]

Despite initial challenges, Sara becomes deeply invested both emotionally and financially in Cameron's entrepreneurial dreams.

Entanglement with Brian Quinn and SEC Investigation

Timestamp: [06:42 – 10:07]

Sara's association with Brian Quinn, her brother, becomes a pivotal point as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigates Quinn for involvement in a pump and dump scheme. This fraudulent activity involved manipulating stock prices of shell companies like Pharmaceuticals to enrich themselves at the expense of investors.

• Michelle McPhee: “Brian Quinn decided to cooperate with the Feds, too. He walked free, but would be kept on a short leash, especially near Wall Street.”
  [04:48 – 05:09]

Sara remains loyal to Quinn despite his legal troubles, even as she faces the repercussions of their financial misdeeds.

Noble One: The Marijuana Venture that Crumbled

Timestamp: [11:06 – 19:32]

Sara and Cameron embark on a marijuana business named Noble One, aiming to market premium boutique strains and edible products. Initially promising, the venture falters due to Sara's overextension and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Sara King: “Cannabis is something that when it was coming legal, I was like, okay, well, Cameron wanted to do vapes... I wanted Cameron to love me so badly that I was like, okay, I'll get the building for you.”
  [11:47 – 12:00]

The business failure leaves Sara entangled in two million-dollar mortgages, forcing her to seek risky financial solutions to salvage her standing and protect her family's home.

Descent into Hard Money Lending

Timestamp: [19:39 – 33:36]

Faced with mounting debts from Noble One, Sara turns to hard money lending, leveraging her connections and engaging with loan sharks to secure additional funds. Her transformation into "Lady Mafia" is marked by deceptive practices and unethical lending strategies.

• Sara King: “I can sell anything. I can sell fire to the devil. I promise you that.”
  [26:14 – 26:20]

Sara's establishment of King Family Lending signals her shift from a legitimate professional to a predatory lender, exploiting relationships and trust to fund her ventures.

The Manna Kadar Lawsuit: A Clear Warning

Timestamp: [23:07 – 29:43]

A significant turning point occurs when Sara borrows $25,000 from Manna Kadar, a fellow entrepreneur, using a counterfeit luxury watch as collateral. When the loan defaults, Sara's deceit is exposed, leading to a lawsuit that underscores her manipulative tendencies.

• Sara King: “I borrowed $25,000 from her, and I had an AP watch that was worth it, so it wasn't a problem.”
  [25:39 – 25:46]

Despite her assurances of repayment, the reality of a fake asset surfaces, revealing Sara's willingness to fabricate and manipulate to maintain her financial schemes.

Conclusion: The Making of Lady Mafia

Timestamp: [32:40 – 33:36]

Michelle McPhee concludes the episode by illustrating Sara King's complete transformation from a respected lawyer to Lady Mafia, a figure synonymous with financial deceit and manipulation. Sara's charismatic yet unscrupulous nature allows her to navigate and exploit high society's financial landscapes, setting the stage for further unraveling in subsequent episodes.

• Sara King: “Love that whole thing because I'm totally all about the mafia.”
  [33:21 – 33:36]

Key Takeaways

• Sara King's Dual Facade: Balancing her public persona as a successful lawyer and realtor with her hidden financial manipulations.
• Relationship Dynamics: Sara's relationship with Cameron Pahlavi is both a source of personal fulfillment and financial downfall.
• Financial Deception: Her involvement in fraudulent schemes, from pump and dump schemes to hard money lending.
• Legal Consequences: The lawsuit with Manna Kadar serves as a critical indicator of Sara's unethical practices.
• Transformation into Lady Mafia: Sara's evolution into a deceptive and manipulative figure within Orange County's elite circles.

Notable Quotes

• Sara King: “I can sell anything. I can sell fire to the devil.”
  [26:14 – 26:20]

• Michelle McPhee: “The lawsuit laid out her M.O. the strategy she'd used to swindle other people after she'd go on a charm offensive...”
  [29:43]

• Sara King: “I always intended on paying her. So it wasn't like the biggest deal.”
  [29:18]

Final Notes

"Sell Fire to the Devil" delves into the intricate web of Sara King's rise and fall, illustrating how ambition and deceit can intertwine to create a compelling yet cautionary tale. Michelle McPhee masterfully unpacks Sara's motivations, relationships, and the consequences of her actions, providing listeners with a riveting glimpse into the life of Lady Mafia.

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