‘Gay Grifters’ Series ‘American Hustlers’ in Development at Hulu, WBTV
Warner Bros. Television is currently developing a new series for Hulu based on the intriguing true crime story of the downfall of the “Gay Grifters” crime ring, led by Kaushal Niroula and Danny Garcia. The duo engaged in various financial scams, posing as art dealers, real estate developers, and even Nepalese royalty. However, their schemes took a darker turn when they targeted Palm Springs art dealer Cliff Lambert, ultimately leading to his tragic murder in December 2008.
The upcoming series, titled “American Hustlers,” draws inspiration from the popular true crime podcast and book titled “Until Someone Gets Hurt” by Sherrie Lueder. The show will delve into the exploits of Niroula and Garcia, along with a group of eccentric con artists, as they swindle unsuspecting victims out of millions in cash and property over a span of more than a decade. Despite escalating to murder, they appeared unstoppable until a determined individual, Tyson Wrensch, made it his mission to bring them to justice.
The adaptation is being helmed by Jim Campolongo, known for his work on “The Blacklist” and “The Sandman,” and is based on the Frequency Machine podcast “American Hustlers” and Lueder’s book. Rachel Kaplan and Alex Beattie are on board as executive producers, with Stacey Book serving as an executive consultant on the project.
Wrensch, who was a victim of Garcia’s scams, transformed into a citizen detective, tirelessly working to shed light on the story for years. His efforts were recently highlighted in an October 2025 episode of “Dateline,” and he shared his harrowing experiences at a panel during SXSW’s True Crime Summit presented by Investigation Discovery. Reflecting on his journey, Wrensch admitted, “I realized I had to release that shame and tell the story. And it’s a really crazy story.”
The aftermath of Lambert’s murder saw a lengthy legal battle to bring the co-conspirators to justice, with the convictions of Niroula and Garcia being overturned in 2020, leading to a retrial in 2023.
The talented team behind the series includes Kaplan, who previously served as the head of scripted at Keshet Studios, and Beattie, director Ken Kwapis’ producing partner. Campolongo is represented by Evoke Entertainment, CAA, and other agencies, while Kaplan and Beattie are represented by their respective legal representatives.
Stay tuned for more updates on “American Hustlers” as it continues to unfold the captivating story of the notorious “Gay Grifters” crime ring.
