Dante Reyes, also known as "El Cuentero de Muisne," led an astonishing life filled with deception and elaborate frauds. One of his most notorious cons involved selling Guayaquil's municipal Clock Tower to a couple from Europe using forged documents. He pocketed a tidy sum from this audacious scam, showcasing a knack for deception.
Reyes's life of crime began early. At just twenty-two, he pretended to be a Venezuelan businessman, securing funds from influential locals. His deceitful journey continued as he adopted various identities, even posing as the son of a president and a Japanese businessman to gain favorable positions and profits.
His chameleon-like ability to escape law enforcement was equally impressive. Reports suggest he managed to break out of prison numerous times, often donning disguises such as a priest or a nun. One of his most famous escapes occurred in 1993 when he fled from a Quito prison disguised as a priest, though he was recaptured shortly after.
Reyes spent around twenty-four years behind bars for his various fraudulent activities and thefts. Reportedly, he was arrested in 2005 and accused of stealing a vehicle from César Segovia, and of Segovia's death, for which he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. During his imprisonment, he claimed an exaggerated age to have his sentence reduced, further exemplifying his life built on deception.
Although he wrote about his experiences while incarcerated, no published memoir surfaced during his lifetime. Reyes died in 2013, leaving behind a legacy defined by audacious frauds and escapes. His life story is a bizarre testament to the lengths some will go to in pursuit of deception.
