He’s synonymous with fraud today, but the most famous scheme Charles Ponzi pulled in his lifetime was surprisingly short-lived. 

Research:

• "Charles Ponzi Cheats Thousands in Investment Scheme, 1919-1920." Historic U.S. Events, Gale, 2012. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2359030095/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=2fa9c993. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.
• "Ponzi Scheme." Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, edited by Donna Batten, 3rd ed., vol. 8, Gale, 2010, pp. 32-35. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX1337703388/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=156ed9f9. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.
• "Ponzi, Charles." Encyclopedia of World Biography, edited by James Craddock, 2nd ed., vol. 34, Gale, 2014, pp. 291-294. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3788300138/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=b742c693. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.
• Baldwin, Herbert L. “Canadian ‘Ponsi’ Served Jail Term – Montreal Police, Jail Warden and Others Declare That Charles Ponzi of Boston and Charles Ponsi of Montreal Who Was Sentenced to Two and a Half years in Jail for Forgery on Italian Bank Are One And Same Man.” Boston Post. 8/11/1920. p. 1, 18.
• Boston Post. “Arrest in Ponzi Case May Be Made Today.” 8/12/1920. p.1, 22.
• Boston Post. “Boston Man Is Sued For $1,000,000.” 7/4/1920. p. 3.
• Boston Post. “Both Barron and Ponzi Give Talk.” 7/31/1920. p. 3.
• Boston Post. “Doubles Your Money in 90 days – 50 P.C. in 45.” 7/24/1920. p. 1, 4.
• Boston Post. “Entire Issue of Coupons Last Year Only $60,000.” 8/4/1920. p. 6.
• Boston Post. “Federal Officials Scout Ponzi Claim.” 7/31/2910. p. 1, 2.
• Boston Post. “Financial Editors Notes.” 7/26/1920. p. 13.
• Boston Post. “Great Run on Ponzi Continues Until Office Is Closed For Day.” 8/3/1920. p. 1, 2.
• Boston Post. “Million Is Paid Back by Ponzi.” 7/28/1920. p. 1, 24.
• Boston Post. “Officials Balked by Ponzi Puzzle.” 7/30/1920. p. 1, 11.
• Boston Post. “Ponzi Books In Hands of U.S. Auditor.” 7/31/1920. p. 1, 2.
• Boston Post. “Ponzi Closes; Not Likely to Resume.” 7/26/1920. p. 1, 7.
• Boston Post. “Ponzi Relates Story of His Life.” 8/9/1920. p. 16.
• Boston Post. “Questions the Motive Behind Ponzi Scheme.” 7/26/1920. p. 1, 6.
• Boston Post. “Seeking Source of Big Profits.” 7/28/1920.  p. 20.
• Boston Post. “Uncle Sam to Get the Facts of Ponzi’s Case.” 7/29/1920. p. 1, 24.
• Boston Sunday Post. “Ponzi Has a Rival Next Door to Him.” 7/25/1920. p. 1, 15.
• Darby, Mary. “In Ponzi We Trust.” Smithsonian. 12/1998. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-ponzi-we-trust-64016168/
• Kerr, Jessie-Lynne. “Ponzi lived here: Infamous name tied to scheme was local.” Florida Times-Union. 12/21/2008. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/business/2008/12/22/ponzi-lived-here-infamous-name-tied-to-scheme-was-local/16001631007/
• Mohamed, Alana. “The Ladies' Deposit: The 19th-Century Ponzi Scheme by Women, for Women.” Mental Floss. 5/14/2018. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/542689/ladies-deposit-19th-century-ponzi-scheme-women-women
• New England Historical Society. “Charles Ponzi, The Financial Idiot Who Drove Boston Money Mad in 1920.” https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/charles-ponzi-the-financial-idiot-who-drove-boston-money-mad-in-1920/
• Smithsonian National Postal Museum. “Ponzi Scheme.” https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-scams-and-schemes/ponzi-scheme
• Tampa Times. “Gave Up 195 Sq. Inches Cuticle.” 12/28/1912. p.6.
• Weisman, Steve. “The History of Ponzi Schemes Goes Deeper Than the Man Who Gave Them His Name.” Time. 8/12/2020. https://time.com/5877434/first-ponzi-scheme/
• Zuckoff, Mitchell. “Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend.” Random House. 2005.