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Clifford Irving
In 1970, American writer Clifford Irving hatched a scheme to create an "authorized autobiography" of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes—without his knowledge. Irving believed the reclusive Hughes would never draw attention to himself by denouncing the book. After producing forged letters, Irving obtained a contract and an advance from his publisher. He delivered a manuscript in 1971, but Hughes finally contacted the outside world in 1972 and revealed the book as a hoax.

Clifford Irving
In 1970, American writer Clifford Irving hatched a scheme to create an "authorized autobiography" of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes—without his knowledge. Irving believed the reclusive Hughes would never draw attention to himself by denouncing the book. After producing forged letters, Irving obtained a contract and an advance from his publisher. He delivered a manuscript in 1971, but Hughes finally contacted the outside world in 1972 and revealed the book as a hoax. What happened to Irving?

Never one to let the truth spoil a good story, Clifford Irving masterminded the great Howard Hughes hoax autobiography in the 1970s, went to jail for fraud, and now spends his days living peacefully in Aspen, Colorado. As a film based on the hoax is released, Mick Brown finds Irving unrepentant

In June 1972 Irving was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment on charges of conspiracy to defraud, forgery, using the federal mail to defraud and perjury. His wife, Edith, received a two-year jail sentence in Switzerland, although most of the sentence was suspended and she served only two months. Dick Suskind was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
The scam left Irving penniless. He had returned most of the money to McGraw-Hill, retrieved from its hiding places in the farmhouse. But a fair measure had been spent on expenses - and lawyer's' fees. Cruelly, he also faced a tax demand from the IRS.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3666824/You-couldnt-make-it-up.html