Ridiculous Crime

A diamond heist for the ages! An Italian heist crew pulled off an impeccably prepared raid on a vault full of diamonds. Well, almost pulled off. A lesson in the importance of patience, this crime shows us that everything can hinge on a salami sandwich. With special guest appearances by noisy interns!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back with more tales from the anti-psychic sleuthing of super detective Bob Nygaard. Bob and his fedora get justice for a lovelorn gent who spent a king's ransom trying to win back his dream girl. As you can probably guess, hundreds of thousands of dollars and diamonds later, the guy was still alone. But he (and we) will always have Nygaard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it so bad to want to run? And is it so bad to want to do it in high school? Well, it sure is if you're 25 years old and faking your identity. James Hogue did just that. And then did it again under another identity in college. Baby, he was born to run. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Nygaard, a former NYPD detective turned private investigator is a real gumshoe's gumshoe. Like he stepped off the pages of a noir detective novel, the snap-brim fedora-wearing P.I. is the man folks call when a phony psychic fleeces them out of a fortune. And Bob Nygaard, psychic detective, gets them justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was a vegan restauranteur looking for meaning in her expanding empire. He was a man who said he could make dogs live forever. Together, they made for one of the most toxic relationships we've ever seen. And along the way, they managed to drain her business coffers and stiff some workers. They put the "well, that sucks" in wellness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was not an engineer, nor was he an inventor, instead he was a failed car mechanic. But Jeff Carpoff didn't let that stop him from creating a billion dollar business based on his invention: a portable solar generator. It worked, kinda... and that was all he needed to run his solar-powered con that roped in a really powerful sucker named President Obama. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's face it, counterfeiting is an art. It takes serious talent and skill. So it should come as no surprise that the best counterfeiter in the land is also a fantastic artist. To say Art Williams, Jr. has lived a surprising and ridiculous life is an understatement. Print yourself a five dollar bill, buy some popcorn, and settle in!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say it's never good to meet your heroes in real life. It's even worse if you meet your hero in real life and it's not really them. This week, E and Z examine tales of the many folks who want to be the original funkateer, Bootsy Collins. Antics and mayhem ensue. But there is only one true Bootsy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AC/DC told us it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Sage advice. But that was before the age of AI. Now it's a short way to the top if you want to create hundreds of thousands of fake songs to make millions from streaming services. Mike Smith did just that, courtesy of Artificial Intelligence. Gaming the system like that is all well and good, but can AI create a masterpiece like AC/DC's "Big Balls"? Doubtful. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Train robberies are so 19th century. Air Jordans are so 20th century. Yet, combine them and you get the hottest new crime of the 21st century: train robberies of boxcars of Jordans. Come aboard as E and Z ride the rails of crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a dark fantasyland of excess and glamor. We speak not of your local Applebee's. No, we mean Studio 54, the ne plus ultra of 70s discotheques. It was the place to see and be seen, to do drugs and get glitter in your cracks. To just dance, baby! Until the IRS came calling. And with the evidence the owners left behind, they couldn't blame it on the boogie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The late '90s were such a different time... kinda. But the last real decade still had plenty of fakers, grifters, and scam artists, all offering up questionable spirituality and easy answers... just like now! Enter Miss Cleo, the legendarily scammy fakin' Jamaican phony phone-based psychic and the face of a highly profitable long con, the Psychic Readers Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Southern Gothic thriller for the ages, this is the tale of a Coen Brothers-esque kidnapping gone sideways. A bumbling couple take a magazine subscription heir prisoner to fund the purchase of their dream home, and the whole saga is later chronicled by the inventor of a game in which one hunts humans. Listener Lane Price tipped us off to this epic, delivering a Southern fried wild ride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1977 was the year punk broke. It was also the Silver Jubilee year, which was a special celebration to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Never one to miss publicity, the princes of punk rock, the Sex Pistols, released their new single, God Save the Queen, and chartered a boat tour just to mock the monarch, which resulted in a police beatdown. It was truly anarchy in the UK.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen, we all love art. But this dude LOVES art. So much so that he steals it and never lets go. His mom, though, isn't afraid of turning some loose. It's like they say: if you love something, set it free…into a canal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of 2024, a conservative mayor of a small charming French seaside nudist resort town was accused of embezzlement and illegal use of city funds. Allegedly, he was secretly paying a fortune-telling ventriloquist, a woman who claimed she could speak with the dead, so that the mayor could hear from his dear departed daddy. The result? Le scandal! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you need to fly the friendly skies, but you don't have a ticket. There was a time when the solution was to just sneak onto a plane and act like ya know. Follow a handful of young and young-ish scofflaws as they sneak aboard, confound security, and have unforgettable adventures that, of course, end in cuffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early '80s, America faced a dire existential threat...in the form of "Pac-Man Fever." A moral panic feared that a generation of kids would be lost to the insidious new video game craze. Inspired by First Lady Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No," America's moral scolds fought back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zany! That's how people described Robert Baudin, aerial photographer and counterfeiter extraordinaire. But he was more than zany. He was bold. He was crafty. And like Exclamation Perfume, the popular scent of the early 90s, he made a statement without saying a word. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when the Supreme Leader of North Korea has a sports crush on Michael Jordan but can't get the NBA great to come see him? Well, you settle for Jordan teammate, Dennis Rodman. And before you know it that one choice leads to international hijinks, political intrigue, denuclearization talks, and the revelation that Dennis Rodman may be a real life superspy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's one thing to bilk the gullible who are looking to make a quick buck, it's quite another to con those who are looking for healing and salvation. It's terrible. Sickening. Despite the valiant efforts of a skeptic magician, it looks like Peter Popoff is still selling holy water and phony debt relief. This episode sounds like a bummer, but somehow it isn't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holy moley! A fake nun, a fake bishop, a con man priest, and the belle of the ball... a pair of hard gambling nuns who embezzle a million dollars from a Catholic school in Los Angeles to fund their secret lifestyle as Vegas whales AKA high roller gamblers who just love the action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second part of this tale about Pietro La Greca Sr., the one-time gigolo, turned arsonist, turned money launderer for the Mexican cartels and who later graduated to running tax scams with the head of the Mexican IRS, his son recounts the effects on his family from having a ridiculous criminal for a father. (Warning: there's frank discussion about terminal cancer in this episode)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine your father is a charming international one-time gigolo turned clothing boutique owner turned arsonist turned money launderer for the Mexican cartels and Mexican presidents. Well, turns out you don't have to imagine it because that's the life of Pietro La Greca Jr. and he told Elizabeth and Zaron all about it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get away from it all? Start your own country? Fight some Dutchmen? Go up against the British crown? That's what Paddy Roy Bates did when he founded Sealand, an island nation off the coast of England. Come for the pirate radio, stay for the dodgy passports! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get away from it all? What if you could climb aboard a homemade raft, and join a group of young and sexy strangers, and together you all drift across the Atlantic, as a Svengaliesque professor stirs up sexual chaos and documents it all for his study of human beings. Sound fun? Or does it sound... ridiculous?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look back at the time someone stole Judy Garland's ruby slippers from the movie The Wizard of Oz. With a special update about the fate of the slippers since the episode originally aired!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look back at the woman who embezzled $53 million dollars from her small hometown in the American heartland, all so that she could pay for her pony obsession. Now she wasn't hitting the track, no, Rita Crundwell lusted to become a celebrity in the world of horse breeders and trainers. And now, we have an update!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The actress Tippi Hedren and her whole family once made a certifiably ridiculous movie. A little joint called ROAR. With a cast of more than 100 untrained lions and a very loose script, it took years and millions to make. Was the set safe? Not on your life. And the biggest shame is that almost no one got to see it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While leafing through 75 years of local newspapers, Zaron Burnett uncovers an American Christmas tradition as ingrained in our culture as the red-and-white Santa: sneaking up to a nativity scene and stealing the Baby Jesus. And, in many cases, immediately regretting it. Note: Please do not steal Baby Jesus. * VERY SPECIAL CREDITSHosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Zaron BurnettProduced by Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Chris ChildsVoice Actors: Jonathan Washington, Chris Childs, Elizabeth Dutton, Katie Mattie, Josh Fisher, and Zaron BurnettOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Thanks for listening! We'll have one more episode in 2024 next Monday. If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach the show at [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Christmas night, four proud brave Scots break into Westminster Abbey to steal back the Stone of Scone AKA the Stone of Destiny for the glory and pride of Scotland. It was a Christmas miracle... of crime!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Vu captivated late night audiences with his outrageous infomercials touting his real estate seminars. He was rich, sitting on a yacht, carousing with bodacious bikini babes. Yes, he was rich and wanted you to be rich, too! But you weren't going to be rich. Not by a long shot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Chappelle and his show made Rick James into a catchphrase. Charlie Murphy told the stories that made Rick James into a legendary figure in the culture. But it was Rick James who made the stories and the catchphrase real. "I'm Rick James, bitch!" And these criminals were inspired to be the Rick James they wanted to see in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a young age, Anthony Gignac dreamed of being wealthy and living a lavish lifestyle. That simply wasn't in the cards for him, so he made his own deck. Posing as a Saudi prince, Anthony scammed his way into a life of luxury cars, jewels, and real estate deals. But like the fake diamonds glued to his Rolex, the title of a Roots album, and a line from Yeats' "The Second Coming," things fall apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do ya get when you strap 42 weather balloons to a lawn chair? The homemade flying machine of one Lawn Chair Larry. In the early '80s, the amateur aviator took to the skies of Southern California, where he reached such heights that planes taking off from LAX had to dodge Lawn Chair Larry!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent theft of a shipment of Santo Tequila, the brand owned by rocker Sammy Hagar and diner lover Guy Fieri, really shook America to its core. We take a look at Sammy's bumpy road to establishing his tequila empire, one Waborita at a time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magic: the Gathering is a tabletop card game for dueling wizards. Magic mushrooms are a psilocybin-based psychedelic that distorts reality. Combine them both and you get this story: a man travels to Portland, Oregon to compete on 'shrooms at a Magic: the Gathering Pro Tour event. ...And Elizabeth questions this whole reality!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lifelong criminal fixes a horse race with the help of Australian organized crime. In what would make an excellent Guy Ritchie movie, the crimers bumble their way to a disastrous finish worthy of no photos. But just like a good Guy Ritchie movie, not everything is as it seems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a dead body is left in a SUV in a wealthy LA enclave, it launches an out-of-this-world mystery. Was the strange dead man really a half-alien human hybrid superspy working for a super-secret government agency? Or was it all just... a ridiculous crime?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A upright citizen living in "genteel poverty" loses everything — except his dog — and instead of going broke decides to go for broke. When life gives you lemons, make dollar bills, dagnabbit! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1971, Muhammad Ali fights Smokin' Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century. The huge media event is the perfect distraction for a group of Catholic hippie antiwar activists to stage a break-in at an FBI field office in Media, Pennsylvania. This story has everything –– J. Edgar Hoover, Deep Throat, and the Washington Post, all show up in this tale that predates Watergate. Not bad for some amateur break-in artists!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conning your way into ownership of a professional sports team is one thing, but playing two countries off each other for phony mineral rights is the pinnacle of scamming. Russell King did them both! Hooray! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Bosnian boy with a poet's soul grows up to a pioneer of parkour in Paris. Up there on the rooftops of the City of Lights, he turns to crime. He has a taste for jewels and fine art... and suction cups. That's why they call him: The Spiderman of Paris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who's up for some silliness? We got us a crazy, high-end, hard boiled casino Down Under that just can't seem to avoid trouble. But when a dude takes the place for multiple millions, they aren't so tough after all. With a special appearance by Ridiculous Crime barkeep Rascal Jack! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's world famous Russborough House belonged to Lord Alfred and Lady Clementine –– two 'violently wealthy' British aristocrats with the families to match. Their palatial manor home seemed to attract crime and intrigue. There was the British heiress turned IRA radical who busted in for a robbery. And her success inspired two IRA-adjacent gangsters –– The General and the Viper –– to see what they could pull in art heists of their own. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owing people millions is a big deal, unless you have hundreds of millions and can pay it off. And if you don't and can't, then you just have to act like you can and will. But you can't. And won't. So you don't and…well, you get it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope are the Insane Clown Posse. Their fans call themselves the Juggalos and Juggalettes. Each year they hold their annual Gathering of the Juggalos. It is a bazar of fairground games, hip-hop, horrorcore rap, oil wrestling, fight clubs... but also family. Get comfortable, crack open a Faygo and... "Whoop Whoop!"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was the GOAT of early mass communication. And he was also the GOAT of medical quackery. John R. Brinkley duped thousands and made millions, but nothing gold can stay. Especially when it involves goat testicles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was a man with a dream –– and that dream was to fly. His brother shared this dream. Trouble was they weren't the Wright Brothers, they were Crazy Mike and High Flyin' Ryan. The brothers challenged gravity, the law and common sense... until the FBI stepped in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know what they say, all dogs go to heaven. And apparently some dogs go to jail. Elizabeth lets the dogs out with tails (get it?) of mischief, larceny, and dogfoolery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.