He’s evaded the world’s most impressive law enforcement officers, bank officials, airline employees, medical professionals and prison guards. The CAC Speaker series, however, has been swift enough to catch Frank Abagnale Jr. as a speaker tonight in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Abagnale spent his young adulthood utilizing an incredible, if less-than-desirable, set of skills to become a master of check fraud.

At 17, he began writing checks for an overdrawn personal account. But this young man had more impressive dreams and continued with grander financial schemes, eventually swindling $2.6 million dollars in 26 countries.

Before he was 21 years old, Abagnale had escaped federal custody twice. Like many young men, it was a female lover that eventually led to his ultimate downfall. A former romantic interest reported his whereabouts to authorities, and he was eventually captured in France.

After many extraditions, he was sentenced to 12 years in a U.S. prison.

The criminal man eventually legitimized himself, agreeing to assist the FBI for no financial compensation concerning monetary fraud detection. He also began his own consulting firm and currently assists businesses in fighting financial fraud. He is married with three sons.

Abagnale is most recognized from the 2002 film “Catch Me If You Can,” in which Leonardo DiCaprio depicts Abagnale’s infamous fraudulent escapades.

Regardless of his countless life experiences, there is no doubt that learning such an attractive leading man would be depicting him in his biography was a high point for Abagnale.

You can meet him at 7:30 tonight in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom at the Oklahoma Memorial Union. No payment required.