How Did Elizabeth Holmes Build Her Fraudulent Biomedical Empire?

The trial of Elizabeth Holmes — the founder of fraudulent medical startup Theranos — is now underway.

Along with former boyfriend Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, the young entrepreneur has been indicted on nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Holmes deceived investors into thinking her company’s portable blood analyzer could “conduct comprehensive blood tests” from no more than “finger drops of blood.” As a result, she may now face up to twenty years in federal prison.