Investigative Reporting

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LA Weekly January 23, 2006 "Navahoax" When Nasdijj first appeared in the pages of Esquire magazine in 1999, he was heralded as a shining star in the dwindling constellation of Native American writers. The Navajo wordsmith went on to publish three critically acclaimed memoirs, drawing raves from the New York Times Book Review and others for his poignant descriptions of father-son dynamics in Indian Country. But as Fleischer revealed, real Navajos had long been suspicious of Nasdijj. And they proved to be the savvier critics. Rather than the Great Red Hope, Fleischer revealed, Nasdijj was instead a middle-aged white man who had pulled off one of the greatest hoaxes in publishing history. The story was named a national finalist in the 2006 Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) contest. By Matthew Fleischer

The Pitch October 14, 2005 "Walking on Water" When a man's wife and kids were swept away during a flash flood on a Kansas highway, the mainstream media hailed him as a heroic figure. Pitch staff writer Kendrick Blackwood dug deeper and found a murkier, more disturbing truth. By Kendrick Blackwood

Cleveland Scene October 12, 2005 "Platinum Tony" A Cleveland businessman found one of America's last great scams--and milked it for all it was worth. By Jared Klaus

Broward-Palm Beach New Times September 29, 2005 "Vested Interests" Staff writer Trevor Aaronson reported on how a Florida company got its own piece of the most privatized war in American history: selling military body armor, much of which its own employees claim is defective. By Trevor Aaronson

East Bay Express September 21, 2005 "War Pornography" You've heard of blood for oil? How about pornography for gore? Express columnist Chris Thompson revealed that American soldiers have been posting grisly photos of Iraqi war victims--in exchange for free access to a porn site. By Chris Thompson

East Bay Express August 24, 2005 "Welcome to Pombo Country" Staff writer Robert Gammon probed the real-estate dealings of a California congressman with a history of using the power of government to enrich his own family. By Robert Gammon

Phoenix New Times July 7, 2005 "Altar Ego" Which is worse: the Catholic priest who allegedly has been allowed to get away with murder? Or the stubborn small-town DA who refuses to prosecute him? In a page-turning special report, Robert Nelson drags a dark tale of unrepentant evil out into the light. By Robert Nelson

Broward-Palm Beach New Times May 30, 2005 "Hollywood's Finest" Welcome to every citizen's worst nightmare: A police force largely populated by criminals with badges. By Trevor Aaronson

Phoenix New Times May 26, 2005 "The Rancher's Revenge" A national environmental group out to prove a point picked on the wrong Arizona cowboy--and the wrong jury. By Sarah Fenske

Miami New Times April 14, 2005 "Caught on Tape" A slice of Miami's pay-to-play politics, captured for all the world to hear. By Rebecca Wakefield and Francisco Alvarado

SF Weekly April 13, 2005 "The 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Public Relations" A staff publicist for an environmental advocacy group helped a newspaper win a Pulitzer--and got none of the credit. Our columnist decided to set the record straight. By Matt Smith

Miami New Times March 24, 2005 "How to Get Away with Murder" The incredible story of how a woman witnessed her husband's brutal murder, was raped, and then got arrested for her trouble. By Tristram Korten

Broward-Palm Beach New Times March 24, 2005 "Cash Cow" When a group of political opportunists decided to take over a rural Florida town, they went all the way. By Bob Norman

Phoenix New Times February 24, 2005 "Cross to Bare" Dale Fushek was the rock star of the Catholic Church in America, founding the country's largest program for Catholic teens. But a growing number of "Dale's boys" say there was a dark purpose behind his efforts to revitalize the church. By Robert Nelson

Riverfront Times December 15, 2004 "Uncomfortably Numb" Thanks to medical science, doctors know a lot more today than they did even a few years ago about how to kill someone in a relatively painless fashion. But as staff writer Malcolm Gay of the Riverfront Times revealed, those doctors haven't been talking to state prison officials, who are still killing condemned criminals with a controversial chemical cocktail straight out of the disco age. By Malcolm Gay

Phoenix New Times August 12, 2004 "Catch Him If You Can" and "Lord of the Lies" Con artist extraordinaire Robert Owens stole from the dying elderly and from his own family. He sweet-talked gullible cops, prosecutors and judges. And when he suckered a top criminal defense attorney, the brilliant sociopath may have rendered himself untouchable. In a two-part series(August 12, 2004 and November 11, 2004), Phoenix New Times staff writer Paul Rubin untangled Owens' fascinating web of deceit. By Paul Rubin

Broward-Palm Beach New Times December 31, 1969 "Lobbyists or Leaders?" The rules of engagement for politicians and lobbyists are usually pretty simple: You're either one or the other, never both. After all, who wants an elected official carrying water for private interests rather than serving the public interest? In Broward County, Florida, however, a different set of standards seems to apply. As columnist Bob Norman revealed in a special investigative series, the county mayor and one county commissioner have made an art form of double-dipping on the public dime. By Bob Norman

Miami New Times December 31, 1969 "Kilo," Parts I and II Step behind the crime-scene tape for a fascinating look at how Miami became Cocaine City, U.S.A. A special project featuring news stories, memoirs, drug maps and more. By Jim Mullin

Broward-Palm Beach New Times December 31, 1969 "Finding Gary" In this riveting four-part series, columnist Bob Norman told a tale of rogue FBI agents and daredevil smugglers--and how the first official battle in Ronald Reagan's "War on Drugs" turned into a cocaine- and corpse-strewn debacle.

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