The Knife: Off Record – 126

Podcast Hosts: Hannah Smith & Patia Eaton
Release Date: September 25, 2025
Network: Exactly Right & iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this episode of “The Knife: Off Record,” hosts Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton dive into the ripple effects of crime as revealed through two captivating, listener-driven true crime stories. The first investigates an elaborate long-running financial scam led by a West Texas conman, while the second revisits the real-life nightmares faced by lottery winners – focusing on the infamous case of Tonda Dickerson. The duo brings empathy, humor, and a touch of skepticism as they deconstruct the human stories behind shocking crimes, followed by their recommendations for other podcast series.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Greenlight Scam: Tommy Lee Buckley’s Fraud ([02:18]–[48:43])

• Story Origins and Listener Contribution

  • The segment originates from a listener named Nick, who wanted answers about the scam his late father was caught in.
  • Nick shares memories: his father’s investment, the promise of a massive “payday,” and Nick’s near-involvement as a beneficiary ([03:08]–[05:02]).

• Who Was Tommy Lee Buckley?

  • West Texas native, college drop-out, small business owner, and eventually involved in the oil boom ([07:01]–[09:15]).
  • Partnered with Lou Driver to start “International Gas Recovery"; business ventures repeatedly failed, leading to financial desperation.

• Genesis of the Scam

  • Buckley and Driver meet “Mr. Edison Damenek,” an Indonesian lawyer claiming to possess “certificates” (supposedly U.S. government-issued) worth unfathomable sums ([10:43]–[13:21]).
  • They advertise “low interest business loans” in Amarillo; require a $500 pledge from locally hopeful business owners, morphing into a quasi-cultic group called “Greenlight” ([13:41]–[16:01]).

• Expansion and Manipulation

  • Monthly newsletters are sent nationwide; the language is cryptic, full of promises, conspiracy hints, and calls for secrecy.
  • Buckley quickly shifts to monthly fees ($50 initially, then $17), citing mounting “costs” ([18:40]–[19:37], [32:04]–[32:23]).
  • "There’s a dream that you're in on something." – Hannah Smith ([32:32])

• Cult-Like Dynamics

  • Newsletters amp up suspense and paranoia, blaming “enemies” (even the FBI) for project delays ([18:07]–[18:41]).
  • Greenlighters craved their monthly updates, with an almost social/entertainment fix.

• Authorities & Exposure

  • Buckley and associates try to authenticate the certificates at the Dallas Federal Reserve using fakes, including one apparently issued to Saddam Hussein. They’re arrested, but Buckley is undeterred. He spins the arrest as further proof of high-level conspiracy ([23:24]–[25:32]).
  • Expert testimony at trial exposes the certificates as “poor quality offset printing, stamp pads, and rub-on letters”—not government documents ([28:00]–[28:46]).
    • Notable Quote: “There’s one for $76 trillion payable to Gandhi, dated 1958, even though Gandhi died in 1948.” – Hannah Smith ([29:35])

• Scale and Profits

  • At its peak, Greenlight had over 3,000 paying members, generating over $50K/month ([39:11]).
  • Buckley used funds to buy luxury items and properties; listed assets soared to $3.1 million ([42:51]).

• Ethics, Victims & Community

  • Many Greenlighters, including Nick’s father, were elderly, isolated, or seeking belonging ([42:20]–[42:51]).
    • Notable Quote: “Being part of this green light group sort of gave him this feeling of connection and community and probably excitement every month when that newsletter came…” – Hannah Smith ([42:20])

• Downfall & Legal Consequences

  • Despite earlier arrests, it takes over a decade for authorities to act meaningfully.
  • In 2010, Buckley is indicted on 39 counts of fraud. By 2011, he’s found guilty on 24 counts—but dies by suicide before sentencing ([45:23]–[47:04]).
    • Memorable Moment: “He’s found guilty... and then... he had died by suicide.” – Hannah Smith ([47:03])

2. The Curse of Lottery Luck: The Tonda Dickerson Story ([49:14]–[65:39])

• Tonda’s Unexpected Fortune

  • In 1999, single mother/waitress Tonda Dickerson gets a Florida lottery ticket as a tip and wins half of a $10M jackpot ([49:53]–[51:17]).

• Legal Vultures Circle

  • Co-workers claim there was a verbal lottery pool to split winnings; a jury briefly sides with them.
  • Alabama Supreme Court reverses: such gambling-based “contracts” aren’t enforceable ([54:46]).

• Series of Lawsuits & Threats

  • Even the tipper sues for a share; his claim is dismissed.
  • The IRS later sues for unpaid taxes, claiming Tonda should have reported the ticket as a gift.

• Kidnapping and Survival

  • Tonda’s abusive ex kidnaps her in 2002, tells her he intends to kill her for the money.
  • She shoots him in self-defense, then drives him to the hospital; shockingly, he is not charged ([56:09]–[58:20]).
    • Quote: “He tells her this... to kill her and take the money. How he planned to do that after killing her, I have no idea.” – Patia Eaton ([56:45])

• Aftermath

  • Tonda survives the ordeal but, like many lottery winners, finds the experience isolating and perilous. She keeps her winnings but faces a neverending barrage of claims.

• Lottery Winner Misfortunes: Other Cases

  • Jack Whitaker: Won $315 million (2002), lost it all, family died, victim of lawsuits, wished he’d torn up the ticket ([59:51]).
  • Evelyn Adams: Won twice in 1980s NJ, gambled everything away.
  • Jeffrey Dampier: Won $20M, kidnapped and murdered by his sister-in-law’s boyfriend ([61:01]).
  • Abraham Shakespeare: Won jackpot, murdered by a woman claiming she’d write his biography ([61:23]–[63:32]).
    • Quote: “I’d have been better off broke. I thought these people were my friends. I realized all they want is money.” – Abraham Shakespeare ([65:11])

3. Analysis & Reflection

• Community, Vulnerability, and the Lure of Easy Wealth

  • Both stories reveal a longing for community (Greenlight) or security (lottery), exploited by charismatic cons or by fate.
  • Elderly or isolated individuals are especially at risk for becoming vulnerable to scams and criminal predation.

• Why Victims Stay Invested

  • Greenlight members paid for hope, entertainment, and a sense of secret knowledge.
  • Lottery winners often find their wealth a magnet for lawsuits, betrayal, and sometimes deadly violence.

• Hosts' Reactions

  • The hosts bring both empathy (“Maybe it was worth it for him to pay $17/month... connection and community" – Hannah, [42:20])
    and humor (“I’d be fine with $1 billion, trust me!” – Patia, [66:08]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Con Techniques:
  “He creates this intrigue... some of it will be sanitized... he’s blocking out, like, redacted.” – Hannah Smith ([32:54])

• On Loneliness and Scams:
  “Being part of this green light group sort of gave him this feeling of connection and community...” – Hannah Smith ([42:20])

• On Victim Blaming & Justice:
  “If you give someone a lottery ticket as a tip, you gotta just be okay that if they win, it's theirs.” – Patia Eaton ([53:14])

• On the Irony and Tragedy:
  “There’s one for $76 trillion payable to Gandhi, dated 1958, even though Gandhi died in 1948.” – Hannah Smith ([29:35])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:08] – Listener Nick’s account of his father and Tommy Buckley scam
• [07:01] – Buckley’s life story and transition to scam
• [13:41] – Launch of the “Greenlight” group and newsletter
• [23:24] – Attempt to authenticate certificates at Dallas Federal Reserve; arrest follows
• [28:00] – Expert debunking and trial evidence
• [42:20] – Discussion on loneliness, hope, and scam victims
• [45:23] – Buckley’s indictment, trial, and suicide aftermath
• [49:53] – Introduction of Tonda Dickerson’s lottery story
• [56:09] – Kidnapping attempt and self-defense shooting
• [61:23] – The story of Abraham Shakespeare
• [66:55] – Podcast recommendations segment

Podcast Recommendations

• Patia recommends:
  “The Lodge” – An investigative series about a wellness cult and the blurred lines between influence and responsibility.

  • "Would you put your health in the hands of a cult?" ([66:55])

• Hannah recommends:
  “Blink” – The story of Jake Handle, addiction, a rare paralyzing disease, and being a locked-in witness to crime events.

  • “He’s completely aware of what’s going on... and this is where the true crime comes in.” ([70:18])

Final Thoughts

This episode explores how hope, desperation, and loneliness can open doors for both conmen and calamity. Whether it’s believing in secret billion-dollar certificates or being blindsided by fortune’s dark side, the stories highlight the complexity of victimization – sometimes, the search for connection or happiness leaves people vulnerable to disastrous outcomes.

For more untold stories and to connect, email the hosts at theknifexactlyrightmedia.com or follow @theknifepodcast on Instagram and Bluesky.