NEVER SAW ME COMING

The remarkable adventures of an expert grifter.

Growing up in Minneapolis in the 1970s, Smith became aware of stark economic inequality. Her family was middle class, but her father, who owned a music venue, interacted with the superrich. “As a child,” she recalls, “I was dazzled by their wondrous shows of glamour and seemingly carefree living.” By the time she was a teenager, though, she was also dismayed by poverty in her community. In her debut memoir, Smith recounts her astounding career in crime, which began with her desire to help the needy. Honing computer skills, she became adept at fraudulent bank transfers. “Between the ages of fifteen and sixteen,” she writes, “I managed to void people’s utility bills, at least temporarily, around three hundred times. I also handled a few overdue mortgages.” Soon, she began to covet money for herself, “caught up in the thrill of transactions, by what money could do and the men it could attract.” Over one summer and fall, she made more than $2 million. She showered men with gifts, including designer clothes, cars, jewelry, and cash. One after another, she discovered they were cheating on her and stealing from her. With a cadre of accomplices, it was only a matter of time until someone slipped up, and soon the police and FBI got wind of her scams. They were sure, though, that she worked for a white mastermind. As one racist detective said, “Neeee-grroes murder, steal, and rob, but they don’t have the brains to commit sophisticated crimes like this.” Smith was convicted of bank and wire fraud, incurring a longer sentence than some famous white-collar criminals. “You know they’re hassling you because you’re Black and a genius,” her lawyer told her, a conclusion that Smith does not dispute.

An action-packed chronicle of deceit, betrayal, and greed.