Sam Mullins

And then it was real. The story goes that Albert Walker, real estate agent extraordinaire, had managed to drum up something of a bidding war on the Staley's property. The wildest expectation pre-sale was that he would fetch something in the ballpark of two and a half or $3 million. And keep in mind, we're talking about 1989 dollars here.

But Walker didn't get them two and a half or three like they hoped. Out he goes and sells the farm for more than it's worth. He got them over five million. Like, wow, how much? Really? And holy moly. Eddie's Uncle Bill was so impressed with the sum Walker managed for the Staley's, he got Walker to sell his hundred acres. So Walker sold that for over five. And he became a god in that family.

But Walker didn't get them two and a half or three like they hoped. Out he goes and sells the farm for more than it's worth. He got them over five million. Like, wow, how much? Really? And holy moly. Eddie's Uncle Bill was so impressed with the sum Walker managed for the Staley's, he got Walker to sell his hundred acres. So Walker sold that for over five. And he became a god in that family.

This is always how it began. When he offered Elaine the career of her dreams. When he bought Ron his own business. When he gifted them tickets to move to Canada. It was just like this. The magic money man who turns water into wine. In a short period of time, Andy's family turned their 200 acres into over $10 million. It was a very, very comfortable time when it happened.

This is always how it began. When he offered Elaine the career of her dreams. When he bought Ron his own business. When he gifted them tickets to move to Canada. It was just like this. The magic money man who turns water into wine. In a short period of time, Andy's family turned their 200 acres into over $10 million. It was a very, very comfortable time when it happened.

That niggling economic anxiety that rode shotgun with them for their whole lives was gone. There was no mistaking it. They were looked after. They could breathe easy. They had arrived. Andy remembers the money changing his dad in a good way. He moved through the world differently now. He was more grounded, confident, taller. He was like a country squire.

That niggling economic anxiety that rode shotgun with them for their whole lives was gone. There was no mistaking it. They were looked after. They could breathe easy. They had arrived. Andy remembers the money changing his dad in a good way. He moved through the world differently now. He was more grounded, confident, taller. He was like a country squire.

In our interview, Andy's expression gets heavy as we get to this part. In 1989, the Staley's found themselves in the unfamiliar position of not just having money, but more than they knew what to do with. Luckily for them, though, they knew a guy.

In our interview, Andy's expression gets heavy as we get to this part. In 1989, the Staley's found themselves in the unfamiliar position of not just having money, but more than they knew what to do with. Luckily for them, though, they knew a guy.

They had every reason to believe that to be the case. He was 15 years deep into a well-to-do business. He managed the portfolios of many people they knew, and every time he turned around, there was another location opening up. His reputation was immaculate. So they handed their best friend their millions.

They had every reason to believe that to be the case. He was 15 years deep into a well-to-do business. He managed the portfolios of many people they knew, and every time he turned around, there was another location opening up. His reputation was immaculate. So they handed their best friend their millions.

Albert Walker had spent the entire 1980s portraying himself as a stock savant. He just had a knack for spotting an up-and-coming company at the right moment, he'd say. He sought opportunities that others missed. So what was his favorite company to convince folks to buy shares in?

Albert Walker had spent the entire 1980s portraying himself as a stock savant. He just had a knack for spotting an up-and-coming company at the right moment, he'd say. He sought opportunities that others missed. So what was his favorite company to convince folks to buy shares in?

Well, there was this exciting young company in southwestern Ontario, with locations in Brantford, Hagersville, Woodstock, and even London and Paris. The Canadian ones, but still impressive. A little one-stop financial shop called Walker Financial.

Well, there was this exciting young company in southwestern Ontario, with locations in Brantford, Hagersville, Woodstock, and even London and Paris. The Canadian ones, but still impressive. A little one-stop financial shop called Walker Financial.

When the Staley's millions arrived, Walker invested the money immediately in Walker Guaranteed Investment Certificates, Walker's Capital Corporation, Walker's Financial Services, and the United Canvest Corporation, which is four fancy ways of saying Albert Walker's pocket. The vast majority of the documents Andy gave me meticulously detail exactly how Walker was scamming people.

When the Staley's millions arrived, Walker invested the money immediately in Walker Guaranteed Investment Certificates, Walker's Capital Corporation, Walker's Financial Services, and the United Canvest Corporation, which is four fancy ways of saying Albert Walker's pocket. The vast majority of the documents Andy gave me meticulously detail exactly how Walker was scamming people.

And having gone through it all, I can assure you he wasn't stealing in an exciting or innovative way. Attract new investors by promising bigger returns than you can get anywhere else. If you bought a Walker promissory note, TM, he promised 15% returns annually. These promissory notes were his Ponzi scheme, his crypto coin. Please don't email me about that.

And having gone through it all, I can assure you he wasn't stealing in an exciting or innovative way. Attract new investors by promising bigger returns than you can get anywhere else. If you bought a Walker promissory note, TM, he promised 15% returns annually. These promissory notes were his Ponzi scheme, his crypto coin. Please don't email me about that.

As long as investors kept receiving their 15% annual returns without him bouncing a check, Walker was free to do whatever he wanted. Lavish vacations, Michelin meals, buying a Jaguar, all investments went directly toward the Albert Walker just having the nicest time fund.