Early Life and Background

Matthew Bevan Cox, born July 2, 1969, in Florida, struggled academically due to severe dyslexia. Teachers advised him to pursue non‑literacy‑based careers. He studied art and sculpture at the University of South Florida and showed real artistic talent, particularly in murals. Financial instability led him first into insurance sales and later into the mortgage industry—an environment that would define his criminal career.

Entry into the Mortgage Industry

As a mortgage broker in Tampa, Cox quickly raised ethical concerns. He openly shared a novel he was writing, The Associates, about a traveling mortgage fraudster whose traits closely mirrored his own. Coworkers later recalled how disturbingly realistic his descriptions of fraud were.

In 2002, Cox was convicted of mortgage fraud and placed on probation. After losing his job, he escalated his activities, selling his company stake and beginning a far more elaborate fraud operation.

Creation of Synthetic Identities

Cox created complex synthetic identities using forged credit reports, bank letters, W‑2s, and even stolen Social Security numbers—including that of a toddler. These identities allowed him to acquire dozens of properties and extract inflated mortgages through a practice known as “shotgunning.”

To legitimize his holdings, Cox painted art‑deco‑style murals in many homes. He also manipulated personal relationships, notably with Alison Arnold, whom he enticed with wealth, movies about con artists, and open discussions of his crimes disguised as fantasy.

Fraud in Tampa and Surrounding Counties

Cox inflated property appraisals—often forging them himself—to secure mortgages far above market value. He involved accomplices with modest incomes, manipulated public property sales, and executed transactions later linked to public officials who denied any knowledge of wrongdoing.

The scheme began to collapse when a suspicious title company manager verified ownership records and alerted law enforcement.

Exposure and Flight from Tampa

Journalist Jeff Testerman of the St. Petersburg Times uncovered Cox’s fraudulent dealings through Urban Equities Inc. The exposé revealed shell companies, falsified transactions, and family involvement.

When Cox learned that a federal task force and the FBI were investigating him, he fled Tampa with Rebecca Hauck, another accomplice in his schemes.

Criminal Activity Across the Southern United States

Cox continued forging identities across Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. He failed to report to probation, becoming a fugitive. Using stolen identities, including pop‑culture references, he secured loans, rented properties, and committed widespread bank fraud.

In August 2004, federal warrants were issued charging him with identity theft, conspiracy, and bank fraud. Despite being briefly detained under an alias, Cox was mistakenly released and continued evading authorities.

By May 2006, the Secret Service placed Cox on its Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Life in Nashville Under an Alias

Living in Nashville under the name Joseph Carter, Cox posed as a wealthy entrepreneur. His deception unraveled when a suspicious acquaintance traced his identity through investigative reporting.

On November 16, 2006, federal agents arrested Cox at his residence, ending an 18‑month manhunt.

Charges, Plea Deal, and Sentencing

Cox faced 42 federal charges, including bank fraud, identity theft, and passport fraud. Though he risked more than 400 years in prison, a plea deal capped his exposure at 54 years.

On November 17, 2007, he was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $6 million in restitution.

Prison Life and Writing Career

While incarcerated, Cox wrote extensively, accusing public officials of corruption and ghostwriting true‑crime manuscripts for fellow inmates, including arms dealer Efraim Diveroli.

He was released from federal custody on July 19, 2019, after serving approximately 13 years.

Post‑Release Life and Public Persona

After release, Cox rebranded himself as a true‑crime author, podcaster, and public speaker. His story has been featured on Dateline NBC, American Greed, Bloomberg Businessweek, and other major outlets.

His unpublished novel The Associates continues to attract attention for its eerie resemblance to the crimes he later committed.