Michelle McPhee

Only, we never heard from McCabe again. Instead, his criminal defense lawyer, a guy out of Irvine, California, called us to say that he had advised John McCabe to not comment at this time. It was frustrating, but I wasn't ready to throw in the towel. I needed to find someone else who'd met John McCabe, someone who'd worked with him.

I needed to understand what was going on with Sarah's lending business. So I went hunting for one of the people who gave money to King Family Lending. If the story of King Family Lending sounds all over the place, yeah, you're not imagining things. Sarah told me time and time again that she was legit, that King Family Lending was legit, until John McCabe showed up.

I needed to understand what was going on with Sarah's lending business. So I went hunting for one of the people who gave money to King Family Lending. If the story of King Family Lending sounds all over the place, yeah, you're not imagining things. Sarah told me time and time again that she was legit, that King Family Lending was legit, until John McCabe showed up.

I finally got someone to talk with us, an investor of Sarah's, a man by the name of George Poulos.

I finally got someone to talk with us, an investor of Sarah's, a man by the name of George Poulos.

George wasn't pulling any punches.

George wasn't pulling any punches.

George is married, has two young kids, and used to run an IT business, but is now retired. Very comfortably, it seems. He lives in a wealthy, family-friendly neighborhood in the OC. He looks a little like Christian Bale in his wiry beard era. George first met Sarah in July 2021, around six months after the pot buildings were sold.

George is married, has two young kids, and used to run an IT business, but is now retired. Very comfortably, it seems. He lives in a wealthy, family-friendly neighborhood in the OC. He looks a little like Christian Bale in his wiry beard era. George first met Sarah in July 2021, around six months after the pot buildings were sold.

They met at a restaurant in Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean.

They met at a restaurant in Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean.

So Sarah came up with a deal for $125,000. She told George a little about the person they'd be lending money to.

So Sarah came up with a deal for $125,000. She told George a little about the person they'd be lending money to.

While they were working through the deal terms, Sarah introduced George to John McCabe. Sarah and John, that is.

While they were working through the deal terms, Sarah introduced George to John McCabe. Sarah and John, that is.

Why would Sarah have needed protection? From who? Kind of strange, right? George insisted on doing his due diligence.

Why would Sarah have needed protection? From who? Kind of strange, right? George insisted on doing his due diligence.

First, they met at Starra's office and George asked to see the collateral for the loans.

First, they met at Starra's office and George asked to see the collateral for the loans.

George took the pink slips so that they could drive around to the lots and verify that each of the signed slips corresponded to one of the cars in their possession. Honestly, I mean, a smart idea.