The Guggenheim of Ocean Parkway

Diamonds, oil, Coke, and an attempt at business with both former Presidents Bush. All this was involved in a twisted tale of con-artists who relied on the legendary name Guggenheim to swindle investors, and it has roots in our area.

David Birnbaum of Ocean Parkway, along with Catarina Pietra Toumei and Vladimir Zuravel, was accused of fraud for masquerading as a member of the famous wealthy family, and according to the New York Times, all it took was a little internet matchmaking:

Exactly how David Birnbaum of Brooklyn became David B. Guggenheim, scion of the Guggenheims, is unclear. His tale, like so many others, seems to have taken life on the Internet. Mr. Zuravel apparently met Mr. Birnbaum at a Brooklyn synagogue and was convinced that Mr. Birnbaum was for real. After Mr. Zuravel later connected on Facebook with Ms. Toumei, the three went to work.