In this explosive episode of The Connect, Johnny sits down with Danesa White, better known as Bella Barcode — a former Oakland hustler who built a multi-million-dollar fraud and jewelry embezzlement operation before the age of 21. Raised in the heart of the Bay Area hustle, Danesa breaks down how she went from boosting clothes as a teenager to running sophisticated bank fraud, credit card approval schemes, and high-end jewelry thefts across all 50 states. At her peak, she was clearing hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, selling stolen diamonds, watches, and luxury goods to NFL players and major drug dealers — all while living a jet-set lifestyle that included Dubai, Miami, New York, and beyond. -In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Bella Barcode explains: -How early-2000s bank and credit card fraud actually worked -How jewelry stores could be forced into approving six-figure purchases -The psychology of confidence, misdirection, and playing the role -The moment everything collapsed — arrests, probation violations, and a federal case -Serving 7 years in federal prison and what women’s prison is really like -Why she finally chose to tell her story — and the price that came with it Today, Danesa has turned her life around and is inspiring others through her autobiography Recidivism: Beauty Before Bars, proving that survival, accountability, and redemption are possible — even after losing everything. This is one of the most detailed breakdowns of white-collar street crime ever told on the podcast — and a powerful cautionary tale about how fast money can disappear just as quickly as it comes. Go Support Danesa! Website: https://www.itsbellabarcode.com/ Book: https://a.co/d/ajXBp6y IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsbellabarcode_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bellabarcode Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bella.barcode This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Rocket Money! Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://rocketmoney.com/connect today. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Intro & Guest Overview 01:27 Life in Oakland & Family Background 03:35 First Hustles and Growing Up 07:46 Mastering the Bank Fraud Game 13:30 Taking the Hustle Nationwide 20:36 Scaling Up: Diamonds & High-End Stores 25:00 Inside the Diamond Game 34:24 Living Large: Lifestyle & Risks 36:33 Today's Sponsors 39:26 Making Mistakes & Legal Scrapes 43:00 Jewelry Licks & Giant Scores 50:54 How the Scam Actually Worked 55:00 The Downfall: Getting Caught 01:02:08 Federal Prison & Doing Time 01:13:01 Coming Home: Reentry & Building Again 01:18:45 Personal Growth & Female Bosses 01:24:48 Redemption: New Career & Book 01:28:01 Reflections & Life Lessons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices