Episode 42 Part II Joe Conforte - The Downfall of Kemp Shiffer: When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted

Episode Description:
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the scandalous world of Joe Conforte and Mustang Ranch, we turn the spotlight on IRS agent Kemp Shiffer—the man who relentlessly pursued Conforte for over a decade. But what happens when the enforcer of the law starts breaking it himself? Join Dominique and Tom as they unravel the shocking downfall of the investigator who became too familiar with his target's world and ultimately tried to walk in his shoes.

Last episode, we explored the rise and fall of Joe Conforte, the cunning owner of Nevada's most notorious brothel. This week, the tables turn as we investigate the investigator. Kemp Shiffer’s career was defined by his pursuit of Conforte, but it seems the lines blurred between law and crime. Find out how Shiffer went from IRS agent to a criminal defendant, and how his obsession with Conforte’s empire led him to try his hand in the very business he once sought to shut down.

Key Highlights:

• Recap of Part 1: A brief look back at Joe Conforte's criminal empire, the seizure of Mustang Ranch, and his ultimate escape to Brazil.
• Kemp Shiffer’s Background: Learn about Shiffer’s career trajectory, from his start in criminal justice to his rise as an IRS agent tasked with bringing Conforte down.
• The Battle for Mustang Ranch: Shiffer's dogged determination to dismantle Conforte’s network of enablers, resulting in a 33-count indictment against the brothel boss.
• Breaking Bad: How Kemp Shiffer’s frustration with Conforte's elusiveness and a decade-long obsession led him to go rogue, making threats to local officials and eventually backing a new brothel venture.
• The Ironic Twist: Shiffer’s arrest in 2011 for transporting a woman across state lines for prostitution—the very kind of crime he had spent his career prosecuting.
• Conforte's Memoir: Insights from Conforte’s autobiography that draw parallels between his disdain for pimps and his disdain for paying taxes, with a surprising connection to Shiffer’s downfall.
• The Final Verdict: Shiffer’s guilty plea, his resignation from the IRS, and the consequences of his attempt to "join 'em if you can't beat 'em."

Quotes from the Episode:

• "Joe Conforte was a crook, but he was a brilliant crook. Kemp Shiffer knew this better than anyone, but somewhere along the line, he decided to follow Joe's playbook." — Dom
• "Shiffer went from enforcing the law to breaking it. In a twist of irony, the man who pursued Conforte for tax evasion ended up arrested for pimping." — Tom
• "If you spend long enough in someone’s shadow, maybe you start becoming a little more like them than you’d like to admit." — Dom

 

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