 Cox left his job as an insurance agent to work as a mortgage broker for a local company . While there he developed a reputation for unscrupulousness , which was heightened by his authorship of an unpublished 317 @-@ page manuscript entitled The Associates . The novel 's protagonist , written as a similar copy of himself , travels the country committing mortgage fraud . Cox told co @-@ workers about the book , and elaborated its details to them . " He sent it to a lot of people to see if they thought it worked " said a former co @-@ worker . After being fired from the company when he was convicted of mortgage fraud in 2002 , Cox faked a good credit history , and used that to buy dozens of homes and properties . In one instance he used the social security number of a toddler , and all of his documents — references , bank letters , rent receipts , W @-@ 2s from nonexistent employees — were counterfeit . He used his skills as an artist to decorate the properties with elaborate art deco @-@ style murals . Several of his future girlfriends said that his painting talents were part of his allure , though St. Petersburg Times said that his works were merely copies of murals by Tamara de Lempicka . Cox charmed Alison Arnold , a young local married woman , into believing he could give her a wealthy and luxurious life . While courting Arnold she said he took her to crime films such as The Italian Job and Catch Me if You Can — which he reportedly adored and watched several times — and began to detail his criminal plans to her . 
