What do Fats Waller and Jimi Hendrix have in common –– other than both being brilliant musicians who changed the course of American music? The answer is: they were both kidnapped... by the mafia! But it's cool, it's cool... who would ever wanna hurt them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ridiculous crews, both History and Crime, join forces to play everyone’s favorite guessing game: 20 Questions. There were questions. There were answers. There were half court shots at the buzzer. Join the gang for some puzzling good fun!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like MLK and Biggie Smalls, Marianne Andle also had a dream. Her dream? That one day she could become Irish. After that plan failed and Marianne had to flee Northern Ireland with the cops hot on her trail, and after a quick name change and return to the US, she found a new dream. That new dream? Conning the semi-rich and gullible of Los Angeles, California, by posing as an Irish heiress. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president’s wife. Hers is an interesting position, Really just window dressing. Or not. Almost criminal in nature, Trusting the stars to Guide foreign policy is Overly woo-woo. Astrology ran the White House in the 80s and This is the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money (or the appearance of it) attracts money. Lord Edward Ormus Sharrington Davenport knew this and capitalized on it. With posh mansions, lavish parties, and celebrity pals, Edward Davenport used the appearance of wealth to gain actual wealth by amassing other people's money. Welcome to the lifestyles of the rich and famous...and felonious.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like Lenny Kravitz, sometimes you want to get away. That was Agatha Christie in 1926. Why did the most famous mystery novelist in the world want to disappear? Hint: her husband. But there's so much more. And it all gets... ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Competition is human nature. And sometimes crime is, too. And sometimes these two come together to give us total ridiculousness. Fat bear ballot box stuffing, cheating Irish dancers, crooked fishermen — this episode has it all. And then some!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say a person's wedding day is one of the most magical and memorable days of one's life. Now imagine if you used that extra-special day to pull off... an epic crime. Get ready for tales of wedding bandits!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A crack team of seasoned bank burglars strikes in a tony enclave in Southern California. A tale as old as time. Only they are from Ohio. And the money in the vault might belong to Richard Nixon. And that money may have been extorted from Jimmy Hoffa. And Jimmy Hoffa may have hired this crack team of seasoned bank burglars to steal his money back. There's a lot to get your head around on this one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the car from Back to the Future. But John DeLorean was so much more than his stainless steel car. He was also the father of the "Muscle Car Era." He was a maverick, an egotist, and very much a man of his times. DeLorean risked it all to build his eponymous car, and he did so powered by shady coke deals and briefcases of cash. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A burglar hits fancy estates and steals just one thing: silver. Silver salt and pepper shakers. Silver serving spoons. Silver everything. Blane Nordahl was sneaky, he was bold, and eventually, he was caught. And all that silver? Who knows and, frankly, who cares.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you just need to get away. For a Chinese dissident that meant making a daring escape on a jet ski. For a former cyclist turned "ocean jogger," it meant building himself a human-powered hamster wheel so he could run across the sea. In both cases, these men's choices were crimes, but their methods were... ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, the late 1990s. Gritty realism ruled the day in film, music, and literature. And wunderkind JT Leroy took the book world by storm. A kid who survived the streets and HIV, he became the literary darling of the indie set. JT Leroy touched hearts and minds across the globe. Except JT Leroy wasn't all that he seemed. In fact, he wasn't anything he seemed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was 2009, a different time to say the least. The stars of the era known as Young Hollywood were the targets of a ring of break-in burglars, working the Hollywood Hills. Guns, jewelry, designer handbags, artwork, and "jeans made to fit my body" were stolen from the stars. What band of professional thieves had set up shop in LA? Turns out, it was local teens, AKA the Bling Ring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's award season, Rude Dudes! We gather now for the 2nd year of the Perpies, a chance to recognize the best capers, heists, and cons from the last year. And listen, sister, they do not disappoint. With categories like Best Drug Crime, Best Rivalry, and Best Song, you know you are in for a real thrill ride. See you on the red carpet!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Elizabeth and Zaron as they enjoy a sampler plate of some of the most ridiculous crimes to go down over the last calendar year. 2023 certainly offered up a full buffet of ridiculous crimes. Enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You sell the Eiffel Tower for scrap. You con Al Capone. You destabilize the American dollar. You get a sheriff arrested for counterfeiting. You end up at Alcatraz. You are Victor Lustig and you are one smooth criminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was a small town martial arts instructor and local musician. Kevin Curtis was living the dream. Then everything went sideways. One day, he woke up, he had an arch-rival, he was furiously fighting to expose an alleged organ harvesting scandal, and someone had framed him as a presidential assassin. It was a lot to deal with for a simple Elvis impersonator from Tupelo, Mississippi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 80s, 90s, and early aughts, Anthony Pellicano was the go-to guy in Hollywood if you had any kind of problem. He didn't have an issue with operating outside the law, loved to allude to mafia ties, and always got the job done -- quick. But as always, things fall apart. This flashy private eye wound up in prison. But even being an ex-felon couldn't stop him from making deals and "eating the sin" of his clients.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for the tale of two men who soaked the streamers for projects that just didn't exist. But hey, the movie business is built on dreams, hype, and money. Con artists thrive on dreams, hype, and money. A match made in Hollywood!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it's not enough to cheat people out of money, spend the ill-gotten gains, and try to kidnap one's own son. If a fella really wants to be the "best hated" guy in the US, he's gotta bankrupt an American hero. And that's exactly what Ferd Ward did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth has long had a fantasy that one day she would win the lottery, but in this episode, Zaron offers up evidence that she may want to find a new dream. You see, he bigger the lottery win, the more likely the winner's life is ruined by their good fortune. And often in ridiculous ways!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode has it all: internet scammers, Instagram, Gucci, North Korea, ATMs, Zaron getting Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" stuck in your head. You're welcome, thanks for asking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For nearly a year to the day, the FBI chased this elusive bank robber all around the country. And for that year, the Flying Bank Robber embarrassed J. Edgar's G-Men on the front pages of the nation's newpapers. Over the course of criminal escapades this all-American midcentury blue collar James Bond wannabe visited countless states, used 35 aliases, stole 29 cars, and crashed three planes. Until one day, his luck went sour, when he crossed paths with an ornery Mexican cow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Al Taubman was a good guy, until he wasn't. Captain of industry, supporter of civil rights, mega-developer, art world magnate…crime breaker. This is the story of how one man went from doing deals to doing time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in the heart of Texas, in the summer of 2023, a band of rebel nuns had "gone to the mattresses" in an ecclesiastical war against the Bishop of Fort Worth. The leader of this cloistered convent of rebellious Carmelite Nuns, Mother Gerlach, never intended to lead a resistance movement against Rome's representative. But, you see, the trouble all started after the mother superior confessed she'd fallen in love with a priest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to become so rich that you’re wholly unafraid of the criminal justice system? Eventual clothing magnate Flavio Briatore found a winning combination in great hair, a distaste for hard work, a few card tricks, and the uncanny ability to sell anything to anyone. With Elizabeth out on assignment, Producer Dave explains how Briatore fixed one of the biggest sporting events in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of drug smugglers, you generally think of speedboats, small planes, kilos of coke shoved into the side panels of cars, and tummies full of balloons. But there exists another sort of drug smuggler, one more daring and more enamored of gadgets and intrigue: the submariner. Join Zaron and Producer Dave as they dive into the world of "narco subs," plumbing the depths of criminal ridiculousness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man and his wife (with more than 100 cats and a house full of booby traps) have a plan. Forge paintings, sell them, and when caught, accuse the buyer of swapping the real painting for a fake. And when questioned, double down. Again and again. And again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK town was gifted with green spaces and millions of trees, everything was cool and lovely on those shaded lanes –– that is, until the Highways Team announced its plans for mass tree removal. The locals revolted. War was inevitable. Thus began the Great Sheffield Tree War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dinos! Everybody loves them! Everybody wants them! Brazilian dinosaur fossils are particularly desirable…especially to smugglers and crooked scientists. Come with us on a journey of paleontological criminal intrigue and completely butchered Portuguese and German pronunciations. Boom-boom, acka-lacka-lacka, boom!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A father and his two sons come up with a plan to get rich –– they'll wheel an impossible-to-defuse bomb into a casino and then charge a hefty ransom to deactivate it. Of course, things go ridiculous!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Tetro wasn't the kind of artist who felt the call of inspiration. Instead, he used his talents to forge the masterpieces of great artists. But he really found his way when he started doing forgeries of the great forger, Elmyr de Hory. Come for the art crimes, stay for fact this crimer can tell one helluva story, in his inimitable Tony Tetro way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From "Houdini" Hinds to Brian Bo Larsen, we consider the works and wonders of two of the world's great escape artists. Long ignored by the art world, the prison escape artist exists in a liminal space, operating as both performance artist and mix media artist, battling against the hard iron bars of tradition and status quo, as they remind us all of the value of freedom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man loves rare books. A lot. But the man doesn't have any money and those rare books are pricey. So he steals books. A lot. There was one man, though, who couldn't let this happen. One man standing for truth, justice, and the literary way. So began a cat and mouse game that exists to this day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hippie nudist drug dealer in Hawaii. Check. Father of three who faked his death. Check. Crimes done under hypnosis. Check. Pablo Escobar. Check. The CIA and the Iran-Contra Affair. Check? Wait, what. Yes, this story has... everything, and then some!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best cat burglar in the world, a guitar player with IBS, the Genovese Crime Family, and a child bride walk into a bar. Actually, they walk into a posh dinner party. Actually, they sneak past a posh dinner party. Trust us, the punchline is ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did we get cokeheads? Who would put cocaine in wine? Why do young men feel compelled to hang Scarface posters on their walls? Thanks for asking. We can lay the blame squarely at the feet of a soda, a psychiatrist, and a fictional detective. From there, it was just a hop, skip, and a bump to mayhem and racial panic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classical music, it's so fancy! Did you know that classical and modern composers were also sort of a crimey bunch? Elizabeth gets loose sharing the antics of these highfalutin geniuses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one is a trip through midcentury America and all its paranoias, moral panics, and witchhunts. In particular, we focus on two men, Senator Joseph McCarthy and Harry J Anslinger. One was responsible for the Red Scare and the other started the War on Drugs. But also one was a daily morphine junkie and the other was his plug. Yes...this is 100% a true story! And it's guaranteed ridiculousness!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an excellent idea -- hijack a poorly-guarded mail truck. But what if it's just full of junk mail and postcards? Then it wouldn't merit a mention on Ridiculous Crime, now would it? It was full of cash, baby! In response, the police rounded up the usual suspects…and even went after their cats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A story about hundreds of rare birds, some British naturalists, one of the wealthiest families in the world, and the young American musician who planned to steal the rare collection and sell them on the black market, so he could buy himself a golden flute. It sounds like a fairy tale for felons!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard this name. You may have even used it. The name makes you think of relaxation, luxury, cheesiness, and sexy times. And if we do our job right, every time you hear this word from now on, you'll think of crime. Come with us as we follow the story of an immigrant family dead set on making a name for themselves. And oh, how they did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Milli Vanilli is now synonmous with a hoax –– but at one time, their heavily-accented pop stardom fooled the whole world. That is, until the truth won out, and when it did it wrecked their money-making illusion. But who were Milli Vanilli, which one was Milli and which one was Vanilli, why did they think they could con the world with well-produced pop songs, and why can't Zaron do a French accent? Learn the answers to all these questions and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crazy Eddie had a slew of stores selling cheap electronics, touted by infectious advertising. Like the universe itself, the Crazy Eddie empire expanded exponentially. Money flowed, celebrities orbited, good times rolled. But then, like a capitalist black hole, it all imploded. So long, Crazy Eddie. Godspeed, you crooked warrior.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Italian carmaker Ferrari is known worldwide for the the elegant look, the unique sound, and insane speed and eye-catching design of its sports cars. Some Ferraris are prized as much as works of art by renowned masters. Tom Baker was an American man, with a very curious hobby. Some people collect stamps, others trade collectibles. Tom Baker liked to steal Ferraris from luxury automobile dealerships. And he was surprisingly good at it –– until Det. Joe Hess was put on the trail of elusive Ferrari thief.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Angeles, the bank robbery capital of the world. When bank robberies are commonplace, it takes an inventive heist team to stand out. That's exactly what the Hole in the Ground Gang did. They lifted their profile by lowering their operations. Right down into the sewers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before he was one of America's most beloved TV dads, TIm Allen was an inmate in federal prison. He was busted on major cocaine charges. Forget Jay Z, Tim Allen was pushing real weight in those days before he found fame. And he kinda paid a price for it; but it definitely made him the man and superstar he is today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan Lewan was a man with a dream. He wanted to bring Poland to America, whether it was through music, travel, or delightful merchandise. He also had a dream that selling unregistered securities was a solid road to riches. Turns out, it was a solid road to the clink. Who cares. Everybody polka!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A world-famous physics professor fell in love with a world-famous bikini model. The professor obeyed the Laws of Newton, but not the laws of the land. His strange criminal escapade escaped the bounds of all logic when he was caught at an airport smuggling kilos of cocaine and he landed in an Argentinian prison. As the professor knew, every action has a reaction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Destroying the office of a children's charity. Dropping stolen jewelry. Falling out of the ceiling. Making weed candies. Starring in a hit reality tv show. On the islands of Long and Staten, things can get crazy. How crazy? Oh, just listen to the episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a woman looking for spiritual guidance met a Florida man calling himself Giovanni, she knew her life was about to change. What she didn't know was that she'd be convinced to steal the jewels of a sheikh, travel to Cannes for no reason, and be given a spell of invisibility. Not all change is good, folks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love food, don't we folks? It's delicious, it nourishes us, it brings us together. Some of it is kind of expensive. And as we all know, where there's worth, there's crime. Join us on a culinary adventure across continents and food groups as we discover sticky situations, fishy deals, tough nuts to crack, and hot cheese.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was the most famous superfan of the Kansas City Chiefs. He never missed a game –- home or away. He was famous for his rubber wolf mask, weightlifter pants and unhinged passion. But come to find out the superfan known as KC Wolfman was funding his love of football with... crime!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Factor may have been the lesser-known Factor brother, but that didn't stop him from weaving his way through history. Haircuts, Chicago mobsters, London cons, whiskey scams, Vegas casinos, and even JFK. The tale of John Factor is a wild ride through the 20th century's criminal underbelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine a jazz-voiced, reefer-smoking, nightclub comic, a man who preached love long before the Hippies, a cat who was on that cosmic trip of beauty in the decade before the Beats, and imagine this man in a top hat and tuxedo with tails. Before him, there was no one like Lord Buckley. After him, you can find his influence everywhere.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You want to make money. So you become a hypnotist. Along the way, you marry a starlet, hire a hitman, fight Johnny Carson, start a university, and teach people to make paper flowers. Ah, the life of a nightclub hypnotist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He had country music wanderlust and rock star ambition. He was a scion of wealth and privilege. Oh, and he was best friends with Keith Richards! Gram Parsons was someone who was here for a good time not a long time. When he passed, his friends and manager did as they'd promised him. They stole Gram Parsons body and drove out to Joshua Tree, where they gave him the rock n' roll funeral he desired. Including amateur cremation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wise-cracking Wilson Mizner was a legend among legends when it came to cons. Witty, creative, tough, daring, wild, and forever in the right place at the right time. From the Alaskan Gold Rush to the South Florida land boom to the early days of Hollywood, Mizner was there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one expects to hear stories of beard-loving, barn-raising, technology-avoiding Amish and Mennonites being involved in street crime. Let alone that they have secret pot-growing empires. And outlaw biker-supplied cocaine cowboys riding in black buggies. "Welcome to Amish Country, son! Watch your a$$!"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dutch are famous for a lot of things: tulips, cheese, fine art, double jump rope. They are also pretty good at both stealing and having a paintings stolen, apparently. What happens when the same painting is stolen three times? Let's just say it's pretty ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life –– but this cadre of criminal wedding parties, abducted grooms and runaway brides put that to the test. Meet the folks hosting fictitious weddings to get revenge on their exes, and the ones with cold feet who flee from police, as well as the disappearing brides and "gutless" grooms who decide married life may not be for them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcatraz. The Rock. Home to some of the most notorious criminals in modern American history. Murderers. Vicious thieves. Al Capone! And a guy who got put away for something truly heinous: shaking a woman’s hand. Oh, the humanity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2004, 23 Sri Lankan men traveled to Germany as the Sri Lankan National Handball Team to take part in an international tournament. But there was one catch, there was no Sri Lankan National Handball Team. And to make things weirder — all 23 men disappeared. A mystery was born in Germany that day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale as old as crime. Phony wealthy widow seeks dupe to front her cash until her non-existent inheritance comes through. The queen of the hill, top of the heap when it came to these cons? Bertha Heyman aka Big Bertha. Derided by newspapers, besmitten by suitors, no one ran a con like Big Bertha.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He said “no” to Oprah, but he said “yes” to Ridiculous Crime. In a rare twist, Zaron surprises Elizabeth with his own mash-up — an interview with actual international jewel thief, Gerald Blanchard, the star of a new documentary. Meet the folk hero outlaw, the criminal mastermind who later earned the nickname the “James Bond of Crime.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A thief breaks into luxury homes in tony Boca del Mar. the cops are flummoxed by this brazen burglar. Even more so when they find out it’s a lady thief! How could the Bandit of Boca del Mar be a woman? That’s unthinkable! Hey, anything is possible in Palm Beach County, baby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the great spirit of YouTube influencer extreme Logan Paul, we have Trevor Jacob, a man willing to risk his body and soul for “likes and subscribes.” But he crossed the ridiculous crime line when he crashed a plane into a national forest and then posted the video (ahem, evidence) on his channel. Oops! Don’t look now, Trevor, but it’s the Department of Justice!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the shoes are red. When the pricey and contentious ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were stolen from a museum, all hope was lost. But hope never dies. And for the slippers, there was no place like home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most college-age kids need a little excitement, they do extreme sports or snap into a Slim Jim. Shon Hopwood robbed five banks in 11 months. When he was done paying his debt to society, he built himself a totally legal and totally cool new career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behold as juggernaut hard rock band Guns n’ Roses takes on airplanes, beer, gun stores, video games, and the city of Philadelphia. You know where you are? You’re in Ridiculous Crime, baby!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Basquiat started as a graffiti artist but soon through talent and ambition he became one of the greatest painters in American history, an artist whose works regularly set records for their auction prices. And you know what that means… crime! Meet the art fraudsters pushing fake Basquiats, fraudulent Warhols and counterfeit Harings, and making millions off well-heeled buyers with more money than sense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Group think. Collective acts of violence. Humans can get each other pretty riled up. Sometimes that can be for a good cause, but not on this podcast. Aeronauts, magic tricks, seasonal beverages. You never know what will set people off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Deitsch was a business man with a big big plan — he wanted to make Big Snake. He would use science to milk Wall Street of millions by scamming biotech and pharma investors with the hype for novel new medicines his lab created based on… cobra venom! Unsurprisingly, this modern day snake oil salesman’s grift was not a successsssss…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Caped Crusader fights crime, but what happens when he IS crime? Stolen movie scripts, missing toys, and the mother of all Bat memorabilia. Tune in! Same crime time, same crime channel!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than 4 decades the CIA – doing their best impression of Wile E. Coyote – tried to kill Fidel Castro. The spy agency made 634 assassination attempts on the Cuban leader. And almost all of them were ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you decide to prove to a preacher that the Bible is hokum, the most logical thing to do is craft a stone giant, right? Right? George Hull certainly thought so. He put a large man in the ground and a little birdhouse in your soul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a beloved pet goes missing, who do you call? If you’re Paris Hilton you hire a team of pet psychics, dog whisperers and pet detectives. But what about an everyday person? Luckily, for us, there’s a veteran investigator who’s never charged for her services. Bring ‘Em Back Babs:  pet detective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you mix spiritualism, bereft seekers, kids drinking wine, knuckle cracking, an Arctic explorer, and chicken bones? You get the Fox Sisters, America's original psychic con artists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1998, the rivalry between Stanford University and UC Berkeley escalated to kidnapping and hostage videos. But in the geeky tradition of both colleges, it was actually a tree-napping. Some Cal frat bros, calling themselves The Phoenix Five, stole the Stanford mascot (…but really, they stole our hearts). Hijinks ensued!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people spice up their boring lives with fun hobbies or social events. That wasn't enough for Lawrence Bader. He went and made himself a whole new life, this time as Omaha, Nebraska's hippest bachelor. Flagpole sitting, war injuries, hearses, pillow piles -- his new life had it all!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was not a real rock star but Robb TaLLLLL University played one in his fantasies. In reality, Mr. University lacked star power or musical talent. Kinda a shame, but he was one helluva bank scammer. He made millions as a pretend rock star. Too bad no one really dreams of growing up to be a bank scammer!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody loves an entertaining exiled royal. And when that royal is exposed as a fraud? Everybody still loves him! From slinging lies in Brooklyn to slinging fancy strawberry desserts for Hollywood celebrities, Prince Mike lived one ridiculous life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like Ricky Bobby, he was a pretend NASCAR driver — only this was no movie. L.W. Wright was a fake racer in real life who took on the legends of NASCAR by scamming his way onto the track at Talladega. “Shoot, this story should be a movie!”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A city as fabulous and sinister and romantic as Venice, Italy, deserves a fabulous, sinister, and romantic cat burglar. The ultra wealthy were honored to be his target, and he was happy to take their priceless works of art (and the occassional cashmere sweater). His crimes were almost as egregious as Elizabeth's butchering of the Italian language.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The song is the band’s most popular. The legends, the conspiracies, and lore that surrounds the song are incredible. But the legal struggles, inspired criminals, and cocaine antics take center stage as we focus on the Eagles and Hotel California.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you mix millions of dollars in gems, stolen cars, wigs, international crime families, a French detective, and 800 Serbians? You get a heist gang Inspector Clouseau couldn't imagine in his wildest dreams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🎶 Oh yes, he was the Great Impostor. (Woo-woooo) 🎶His government name was Fred Demara, but he rarely used that. Unlike most crimers with his particular skillset, Fred used his powers for good — he liked to heal others. For instance, that time he had to perform 19 surgeries because he was pretending to be a doctor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has to be bad mojo to steal a religious artifact, and especially bad mojo if it's a sainted body part. Ireland, it seems, has a problem with this. Will the perpetrators be caught? God only knows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murf the Surf was an all-star midcentury party boy turned criminal folk hero. Bob Dylan loved his style. Murf and his partner got famous for stealing JP Morgan’s gem collection. But a freelance-writing used car salesman was the true hero; and he’s the one who eventually saves the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries sure wouldn't help a lot. Sometimes you want to go where nobody knows your name and they're never glad you came. This is the story of a guy who did just that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was an ultra secret agent, working with the Supreme Court, a cabal of generals, and a very disagreeable Bill Clinton clone, to bring justice and a huge fortune to US farmers. At least, that’s what Roy Schwasinger told crowds at his $300 seminars, where he lightened the wallets of gullible “free men.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like Elmyr de Hory before him, Wolfgang Beltracchi loved painting other artists' works. The "lost" masterpieces were a hot commodity, generating riches for Beltracchi and the rest of the art world. He could forge the works of any genius painter, but he couldn't forge a simple label. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oasis was “the biggest band in the world.” Meanwhile, Liam and Noel Gallagher — the brothers who were the heart of the band — despised each other. This gave the band a creative tension. And it made their crimes against each other… ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raised in a criminal family, Bobby Comfort was destined for a felonious future. When he paired up with a buddy for some high-end hotel robberies, things were looking good. He planned "one last heist," but that planning failed to take into account the apex predator of the crime world: the mafia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She is America’s Greatest Living Jewel Thief. Her career criminal exploits date back to black and white movies. Only Diamond Doris never let racism get in the way of her living the high life as an international bon vivant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You put your Social Security Number all over the place: magazine ads, billboards, websites. What could go wrong? Lots. But what if you own a company that protects people from identity theft? Doesn't matter. Crimers gonna crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carlos Kaiser had it made — he was a handsome professional footballer in Brazil, and he played for all the top clubs in Rio, as well as abroad. There was only one problem: King Carlos was terrible at soccer. He was the “greatest footballer who never played football.” But that’s how he made his living, conning the world of professional soccer… for 26 years!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a charismatic preacher went missing in the ocean off Venice, California, all hope was lost for her safe return. Almost. What followed was a chaotic tale involving a non-Dave producer, TRAINS, Arizona, goggles, and a woman with no left thumb.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rude Dudes send emails. We share them. Get ready for some onions, the rainbow bridge, Spam, texts to entire cities, and one fantastic gorilla suit. Plus Talkbacks from the iHeart app!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was zee best con artiste en zee 90s, no? Frenchman Christopher Rocancourt took Los Angeles by storm, rubbing elbows with celebrities and emptying the bank accounts of the wealthy and gullible. But when he took his act on the road to the Hamptons as a phony heir to an enormous fortune, they saw right through him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you look just like the dictator of North Korea? You make it work for you as a celebrity impostor. And if you’re Howard X, you use it to free a Zelensky lookalike from the war in Ukraine, with the help of a fake Putin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill McCoy was a man of adventure, a romantic, an innovator, and a gentleman. He also ran illegal booze into the United States, flouting the law and sailing the high seas. That is, until the Coast Guard showed up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was an epic badass. She was the fastest woman alive, after she broke Amelia Earhart’s records. She also ran the Happy Bottom Riding Club for flyboys and future astronauts, that is, until J Edgar Hoover and the Air Force went to war against…Pancho Barnes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legend. A boss. A queen. Stephanie St. Claire ran Harlem's baddest numbers game, thumbing her nose at the mob. Her elegant life took a turn, though, when she married an audacious con artist. Was hooking up with Black Hitler a wise move? What do you think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1955, one man attempted to control the price of onions in America – to do that he created an illegal onion cartel and then together they cornered the market and drove the prices. It was like Trading Places for onion futures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four amateur crime bros look to make the score of a lifetime -- stealing rare books from their college library. It goes about as well as you'd imagine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You'd never believe that an 18-year old buying sandwiches and shoes with a stolen credit card would grow up to be legendary celebrity Stephen Fry. But he did! The actor, comedian, writer, and historian was an honest to goodness teen criminal, one who went on a multi-county spending spree on other people's dimes (well, quid).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A talented artist is even more talented at forgery. He crosses paths with the rich, famous, and fabulous, and his forgeries are eventually forged themselves. Truly and wonderfully ridiculous, no?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That one time when the future leader of North Korea abducted the coolest power couple from the South Korean film industry and forced them to make a reboot of GodzillaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop quiz, hotshot: how do you have an awards show with no awards? You can't! When a shipment of Oscars went missing, the tale unfolded with twists and turns right out of a Tinseltown thriller. Would Hollywood's biggest night be saved? Probably.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Yap Lavish story has something for everyone: gold coins, private planes, contraband phones, up-and-coming Atlanta rappers. While in state prison, inmate Yap Lavish pulled off the robbery of not one but two billionaires. And he would’ve gotten away with it, if not for those meddling prison guards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to make a splash in publishing? Try ghostwriting an autobiography for a super famous man. Just make sure the famous man knows about it first.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two blonde bombshells get famous after they turn pro as…bank robbers. Heather and Ashley were just a pair of all-American girls who decided that the street crime life was for them. One problem, though: they were terrible at crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She told fortunes. She faked documents. She changed her name. She crashed the economy of a major American city. Sorry, Cleveland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1920s Chicago there was a crime wave plaguing the city — no, not Al Capone and gangland mayhem — there was an epidemic of gland piracy, testicle thieves were out there stealing balls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Organized shoplifting, streamlined fencing, prosthetic arms, hidden pockets, driving cars through shop windows, a strict code of thievery — this London gang (which may have predated the Sicilian mafia) didn't mess around. Just forty women out on the mean streets, taking care of business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time... there was a band called Fleetwood Mac, but one day someone had an affair with Mick Fleetwod's wife, and boom, suddenly there were two Fleetwood Macs. This became a big problem for everyone. Mostly because, no one knew how to answer the question: which Fleetwood Mac is the real Fleetwood Mac? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a developing news story that gripped the nation: a little boy flying high in the sky in an uncontrolled electrified experimental balloon. When it crashed to earth and he wasn't in it, panic turned to grief. Where was little Falcon Heene? Hiding at home, it turns out. Just like his publicity-loving father had arranged it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Add two astronauts, mix in one younger woman, stir in a 900-mile drive from Houston to Orlando, and garnish with an adult diaper — that’s how you make an Astronaut Love Triangle! This true story is an out-of-this-world tale of love, sex, jealousy, crime and the limits of the human bladder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Awards season is upon us and you know what that means: awards. And awards shows. Ridiculous Crime is proud to present the first annual Perpie Awards, celebrating almost a year of incredible capers, heists, and cons. Don't miss this star-studded event!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was one helluva year! As life in a pandemic returned to a semblance of normalcy, criminals also got back to work. In many cases the results were predictably ridiculous. To review the felonious year that was, here’s a rundown of the Top Ten Most Ridiculous Crimes of 2022!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many kids dream of becoming astronauts, but only a select few actually make it their profession. And even fewer manage to blow that chance. And only one threw away his dreams of space travel in a truly ridiculous way: stealing moon rocks from work in order to say he'd had sex on the moon. Literally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That one time when the Black Panthers, the militant Weather Underground and the surf mafia The Brotherhood of Eternal Love came together to free a psychedelic charlatanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strip clubs, crooked politicians, cash payoffs, FBI raids, ski school. It's a Vegas corruption story like no other!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem, chaos and international hijinks ensue after three Italian brothers, led by their super-patriotic older brother, break into the Louvre and steal the Mona Lisa for the glory of Italia. The frantic French police search high and low for the stolen masterpiece, they even drag in Picasso and JP Morgan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guy meets girl. Guy loses girl. Guy learns to rob banks. Guy robs banks. Guy likes to look fly. Guy gets arrested. Guy escapes prison. Guy gets caught again. Guy writes memoirs. Guy inspires generations of medical students to better diagnose patients? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born the son of a shepherd, inspired by highwaymen bandits of the mountains, Vassilis Palaiokostas grew up to be a criminal legend known as the Greek Robin Hood. From his daring helicopter prison escapes to his bank-robbery-funded luxurious life on the lam, he’s known for his deep love of Greek guitar music, stolen German cars, and, of course, freedom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you mix crooked cops, violent firemen, a rollicking bordello, hardboiled clowns, and sectarian violence? You get something wildly ridiculous, that's what. Zaron is still missing, so Producer Dave steps in again and saves the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who among us hasn’t daydreamed of being Steve McQueen for a day? For a 20-year-old community college student, fancy liquors and semi-exotic cars weren’t enough to scratch the dangerous cool guy itch. Only a major bank heist in tribute to McQueen’s own biggest big screen caper would do. So why are we just hearing about it now? Producer Dave Coustan takes the wheel and fills us in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only the greatest con man could take Mussolini for $2M, run a totally fake casino, fix horse races, pose as a well-known mining engineer, and then write a book about it all. Oh, and look super dapper along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron and Scott were brothers, a pair of SoCal surf kids growing up in the ‘60s. They were into the usual stuff: peace, love, catching waves, international drug smuggling, making phony films as a cover for illicit activities, hanging out with Jimi Hendrix in Hawai`i, fooling Porsche into agreeing to a fake car race. You know, just brotherly fun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When your only crime is curiosity, is it still illegal to hack into government computer systems in search of information about UFOs? Yes. Yes, it is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re young, you’re hawt, you’re used to getting paid for it as an Instagram influencer – so why not turn pro and get paid for it overseas? But suddenly you’re now an international cocaine smuggler… how did this happen?! (🎵 Life on the Coke  Boat, surely make you lose your mind 🎶)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pranks! Some are clever. Some are fun. Some are a little lame. And some manage to create an historical thread from Virginia Woolf to Silvio Berlusconi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two great tastes that taste great together: horse racing and fraternity brothers. What happens when three frat bros attempt to rig the biggest horse race in America? They all win a free yet priceless education in how not to commit a crime. And it’s all thanks to a long shot horse named Volponi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regional delicacies are a hot market and a point of pride. Tucson's Sonoran Hot Dogs are a prime example. But are they worthy of extortion and death threats? One guy sure thought so.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They can barely see over the steering wheel, they can’t reach the pedals, many can’t even read, but they don’t let that stop them. Kids will steal the dardenest things — like Mom’s SUV. These criming kids all went big, they each tried to drive cross-country!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trains. It was an outrageous caper to end all capers: stealing millions from a train (and maybe a little of the train, too). What could go wrong? Well, a lot. But a fair bit also went right. Trains. And thanks to all that, we have a dope television theme song. Makes sense, don't it? And trains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Texas colleges. 1 two-hundred pound owl. Mix in 1200 cadets and their bull sergeants versus a team of football players and tracks stars, stir in as many trains, trucks, and cars as can be found, and garnish with two private dicks, one named Snowball. That’s called a TAMU over Rice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the true story of five strangers picked to target a mark, work together, and have their lives taped to find out what happens when people stop criming in secret...and start getting loot for the sake of entertainment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Friedland was a corrupt, mob-connected, LSD-munching, undercover FBI informant and New Jersey state lawmaker, until one day he faked his death and became a scuba diving instructor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choose a job. Choose Australia. Choose a gross hostel. Choose some friends. Choose a crate. Choose a pee bottle. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got trains?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it kidnapping if you’re the kid who naps himself? Do FBI informants have a bring your kid to work day? It’s David Hampton Butler Jr. vs David Hampton Butler Sr. in a Florida Man battle of the ages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a pastor went missing after giving a series of talks about the devil, everyone who knew him was certain Satanists were to blame. But what if the devil in this story was actually the little devil on that pastor's shoulder urging him to find a new life? Guess what...it was.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sen. Estes Kefauver was outraged by a crime: the poisoning of the minds of American children. He spied a vile new threat introduced by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman –– to him, the superheroes were secretly agents of fascism. The lawmaker knew the best way to fight back and save America's children was to call the press and form... a Senate Subcommittee! (Cue the moral panic in 3, 2, 1..)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antarctica is cold. Very cold. And there's not much to do other than research and maintenance. Or listen to Metallica. What happens when you mix a limited library, a bully, and a whole lot of booze? Something ridiculous, for sure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an idea so crazy it just might work: what if a middle-aged scientist invited 10 young, sexy strangers to live aboard a raft with him for 3 – 6 months and together they’d solve the question of world peace. Who knows? (Every one knows.)  Warning: adult themesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diamonds and gems scattered about the dry earth just waiting to be gathered and sold. Little to no work involved. Easy money. Sounds to good to be true, right? Not for the titans of industry, experts, and investors who fell for this ridiculous con.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrett Brock Trapnell was a criminal Swiss Army knife; he ran guns for Fidel Castro, he rented dogs to Hollywood stars, later he became a skyjacker –– and he became so famous from it that a mother and daughter tried to free him from prison.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you put a fearless woman behind the wheel of a truck filled with illicit booze on a winding country road with the feds in hot pursuit? You get the brazen capers of Willie Carter Sharpe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One was a man of action, an incredible athlete who was always ready with an outsized proposition bet, like wagering if he could throw a peanut across Times Square; the other man was a walking calculator of odds and angles, a master gambler, but one who preferred it when the game was rigged — they called themselves Titanic and The Brain. One of them is still remembered as the man who fixed the World Series, at least that’s the rumor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edgar Laplante tried it all: pretending to be a Native American chief, pretending to be a famous athlete, pretending to be a war hero, pretending to be in love with a noblewoman. While not always a very convincing imposter, he was weirdly successful in his relentless career of cons and fraud.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It hits every American 80s movie trope: parents go out of town, teen boy throws party, party gets out of control. Except this time it became a global sensation and wound up inspiring its own movie. And in the tradition of Succulent Chinese Meal Man, this Australian teen is unapologetically larger than life and, well, ridiculous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You run for mayor of a large American city. You get elected. You commit a felony. You resign. You run again for mayor of that same large American city. You get elected. You commit another felony. You resign again. But none of that will stop you from remaining a lasting part of the fabric of the city or from participating in a parade. This is the Buddy Cianci story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubbed the “Bank Robbery of the Century,” the daring break-in at a castle-style bank in the French Riviera town of Nice shocked the world — but it was the fact that the burglars from the heist team kept writing novels about it that was far more shocking! Guys, you got away with it… Ssshhh!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian "The Guv'nor" Reader met his criminal downfall with the Hatton Garden Heist. But that wasn't his first attempt at breaking into a vault. Decades before, he and a crack crew dug a tunnel in search of riches, but were foiled by a guy who just wanted to listen to Radio Luxembourg in peace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He spent the majority of his life behind bars, but when he was free he made his time count, robbing stage coaches and trains and traveling the world on stolen booty — meet Billy Miner, outlaw folk hero of the disappearing Wild West.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started as a spot for a pirate radio station blossomed into a whole country. At least to the people who lived there. But the founding of any nation is full of strife, crime, and ridiculousness. Why should Sealand be any different?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two country legends, good time friends and partners in crime, Willie and Waylon shared a love of staying one step ahead of the law; except sometimes when you fight the law…the law wins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being named Bum Farto is ridiculous. Selling drugs is a crime. Being named Bum Farto and selling drugs in front of a fire station? Now THAT'S a ridiculous crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Milwaukee Brewers were scheduled to face the Kansas City Royals, but the night before thieves broke in and stole the Royals’ uniforms. The game that went down the next day became baseball history; yet another legend from the ‘70s era of baseball and its disco riot, short shorts and afro’d funkiness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you take one part hardscrabble Eastern Bloc kid, three parts lousy ice hockey skills, twelve parts booze, six parts non-violence, and infinite amounts of determination? You get one whole Attila Ambrus, the Hungarian Whiskey Robber. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientific minds of all time. So of course people wanted to study his brain after he died. One man, though, wanted the brain more than anyone else. His career-ruining obsession with the genius noggin drove him to commit a ridiculous crime and culminated in a bizarre cross-country road-trip with an exasperated journalist. Intent on delivering the pilfered body part to Einstein’s granddaughter, the duo proved that everything is indeed relative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sports-loving jokester with a desire to be seen by the masses, Barry Bremen fraudulently made his way into some of the biggest sporting and entertainment events of the 70s and 80s. It's one thing to dress up as a ref at a game, quite another to accept an award on stage meant for someone else. Will Barry's lust for the limelight take him a little too far?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody loved Nick Perry. The host of “Bowling for Dollars” was Pittsburgh famous for his loud suits and friendly demeanor. But that wasn’t enough. Nick Perry made a big money move — he rigged the Pennsylvania lottery. Only problem was that he also crossed the mob. That never ends well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have an interesting accent and know how to act fancy, you can get away with a lot. Margaret Lydia Burton used that fact to her advantage, moving from town to town, conning people and living well. She thought she'd settled down to begin a life of skimming enormous amounts of money from a medical clinic and spending it on...show dogs. But people got wise, so Burton got moving.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rita Crundwell seemed like a simple woman. As a kid, she liked 4H, horses, and country living. She grew up to work in City Hall in her small hometown of Dixon, Illinois. For decades, though, this all-American product of the heartland had a secret. She was cooking the town's books, embezzling millions, and lying to everyone she knew to pay for her lavish, pony-loving lifestyle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two major league baseball stars walk into a bar. Well, a nightclub. Either way, chaos ensues. But since it's Jose and Ozzie Canseco, that chaos is awesome. And they didn't stop there. Special guest Travis Dutton, a major Oakland A's/Canseco fan, joins the RC crew for this one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Joseph was a lot of things: accountant, school teacher, author, US Marine, postal worker, private investigator, music manager, health food purveyor, mayor, pirate, polygamist, cult leader. He loved living just outside the law, amassing wives (some of questionable age) and squatting on government land. And unlike many of the ridiculous criminals profiled, he managed to stay one step ahead of the law until his last breath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aspiring artist Arno Funke, aka Dagobert, just wanted to make a living doing what he loved. And he did, for a time, because in addition to art he loved bombs and extortion plots, and weird contraptions. His antics captivated a nation and made for great headlines, but those kind of capers just can't last. Luckily, the artist in him prevailed and he was able to delight and captivate the public in a legal way after all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Christmas in July! Start drafting those letters to Santa — that's just how John Duval Gluck would have wanted it. He scammed the wealthy of New York society into doing good for poor kids, sending the kids gifts from Santa himself. Until one man asked to see the receipts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, an erstwhile Baron smuggled glass eyes into Hoboken, until he was busted by customs. He later petitioned to officially change his name to reflect his status as the illegitimate son of a Viscount. When he told the romantic and rather dubious tale of his parentage in court? Not a dry eye in the house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criminals decide to steal the body of beloved film star Charlie Chaplin. They call his widow and ask for a ransom. His widow isn't interested. What becomes of The Tramp's remains? Guess you'll have to listen and find out. Come for the crime, stay for Zaron's absurd reenactment of the ransom calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout the ages, con artists have successfully convinced people to buy into fake businesses, fake social or political movements, even fake identities. But it took a truly confident trickster, a brazen Scotsman, to fool people into sinking their life savings into a completely fake country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fed up with local politics, a UFO investigator and his band of misfits conspire to take down their enemies. And expose government plots to conceal alien activity. And equip a school bus with state of the art paranormal detecting gadgets. And threaten the President. And hang out at his mom's house. You know, normal stuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get drunk? Check. Steal a plane? Check. Fly it back to the bar you'd been partying in earlier? Check. Tommy "Fitz" Fitzpatrick had only a few steps in his plan to become a legend. How he executed that plan and took it to new heights makes him the posterboy for mid-century ridiculousness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1876, a small time gang plotted to kidnap Abraham Lincoln. He'd been dead eleven years, but they didn't let that stop them. They planned to trade the late leader's body for their imprisoned counterfeiter comrade's freedom. Guess what -- it didn't work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016, the artist Maurizio Cattelan created a masterpiece: a solid goild toilet. After a successful exhibition in New York, the commode was shown in the UK. It was there that the loo went adieu. Who took it? Why? The police had suspects, but will they be able to flush them out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you mix an obsession with cryptids, money to burn, Buddhist monks, geopolitics, relic theft, lingerie, and Jimmy Stewart? You get this ridiculous tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Sabo was a classic con man. He posed as a respectable doctor, he wrote phony checks, he stole coins, and he misled trusting people. And what does a classic con man do after getting caught? Turn that grifter knowledge into another con: consulting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An amateur art thief conspires with a barber/part-time “Tupperware consultant” named Universal Knowledge Allah to steal a multimillion dollar Stradivarius violin; it’s step one of the thief’s Robin Hood-style plan to, uh…renovate and fix Milwaukee?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get a LOT of correspondence here at RC HQ, and the time has come to share it with the world. Suggestions! Confessions! Campfire Tales! Requests! Guitars! Turkeys! Manhunts! Duct Tape! Y'all are a fascinating and hilarious bunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was the ‘90s, just before the internet went big, the perfect moment for two gals to turn outlaw, robbing men from Texas to Vegas. While on the run they were spotted hiding as nurses, strippers and refrigerator customers. Novelty shirts and tv shows followed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A dame. A real looker. A minx with a gun demanding all the cash in the register. This was a woman straight out of a film noir. Except this gal's m.o. was a little unusual: your money or your pants, mister!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mimes and police: two great tastes that don't taste great together. In the time between the Beat Generation and the Summer of Love, a band of misfit mimes joined forces with a future super-promoter to fight for the rights of performace artists and freedom of expression (also the freedom to get freaky while miming). Clashes with cops ensued, but no invisible box could hold the mimes back. This is the true story of how mime culture changed history...and gave us hippies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even the worst singers think they're magnificent crooners in the shower or alone in the car. But what of the terrible singers who take their warbling public? Can singing be criminally bad? Turns out the answer is YES.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one likes medical exams that get a little, uh, personal. And it's only made worse if the doctor administering the test is actually a teen con artist posing as an MD. This teen terror just wouldn't give up his medical dreams until he faced the most tenacious opponent of all: a local investigative news team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, the 80s. Back when MTV ruled the airwaves, shoulder pads were mandatory, Coca Cola was going through some identity issues, and television signal jacking was still possible. It was a magical time when someone in Chicago could turn on the tv and get an unintended eyeful of weirdness, thanks to a rascally criminal in a Max Headroom mask.`See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gaston Means managed to insert himself into some significant crimes in American history. J. Edgar Hoover himself referred to Means as "the most amazing figure in contemporary criminal history" for his ability to successfully lie to suit whichever situation in which he found himself. But he met his match when he tried to swindle Washington socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean in a fake investigation into the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping. Means ran out of luck when he ran out of lies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It used to be gauche to wear white after labor day, or to board a plane in your pajamas. What once would get you stern looks or eye rolls are now widely tolerated sartorial choices. There was once one choice, though, that wasn't tolerated at all. In fact, it got you a beat down. Woe be the men who wore straw hats after the summer season in New York City.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the quiet spring and summer of the early COVID-19 pandemic, one creature's reign of terror paralyzed a neighborhood. What was once an idyllic municipal rose garden, prized for its bountiful blooms and serene atmosphere, became a bloody stomping ground for a pissed off turkey. It just so happens that animals can be criminals, too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a company go from selling craft supplies and tchotchkes to importing stolen and counterfeit curios? This is the story of how Hobby Lobby got into the business of looted goods and managed to embroil the Museum of the Bible along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The author of the Sherlock Holmes series of books, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also an ardent believer in spiritualism. While his most famous character was known for laughingly revealing the deceptions of charlatans and con men, Doyle himself was more easily duped. Harry Houdini was disgusted to see his friend conned like that. As an escape artist and magician, Houdini was familiar with spectacle and games of deception. So he put on a show just for Conan Doyle and tried to convince his friend that spiritualism was a fraud. Could Houdini make the creator of Sherlock Holmes finally see the truth? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it's hard to retire. Like they say, do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life. For a group of older English gentlemen thieves, this was especially true. There comes a time when the body can't keep up with the mind, though, and simple plans run into complex worlds. It turns out mega jewel heists just aren't what they used to be. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, “Hearing nuns’ confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.” That’s not true in Belgium. In 1990, nuns in the Diocese of Bruge threw off their habits and embraced the criminal life. So much for vows of poverty. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mysterious woman washes ashore in 1800s England. She speaks an unknown language, yet still manages to share tales of her pirate-filled high sea adventures and noble lineage. Her story captivates the nation...until a figure from her past comes and ruins everything. Or does she? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that Pablo Escobar exported cocaine out of Colombia in record amounts. What a lot of people don't know is that he had some problematic imports into the vibrant nation, as well. Meet Pablo Escobar's hippos. The cocaine cowboy brought what turned out to be an invasive species into one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Antics ensued. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grandson of a Georgia plantation owner, “Soapy” Smith turned to crime when his family’s morally-criminal fortunes vanished at the end of the Civil War. Travelling from Texas to Colorado to Alaska, Smith was a natural leader who couldn’t help but expand his short con mini-gangs into full-fledged political and criminal empires. But how on earth did he get the name “Soapy”? A very clever flimflam and a cop gave him the moniker that made him famous. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the historian who spent his whole career studying the life and exploits of Sir Francis Drake was presented with what appeared to be the Englishman's most important relic, he should have thought it too good to be true. Instead, he bought into it with his whole heart and career. A nerdy band of history buffs believed they pulled off the greatest of pranks, but the historian's reputation and sway were too strong to be brought down by a phony artifact. Too bad for one of the pranksters, who had counted on the whole affair as a means to exact revenge. This is how one fake metal plate became part of the California educational curriculum. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup, an incredible honor and landmark moment for English football. Just one problem: someone made off with the cup itself just weeks before the start of play. How can you have a global tournament with no prize? How can England save face? Enter Pickles, the pooch with a nose for sirloin and purloined goods. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prolific French bank robber Redoine Faid repeatedly evaded capture then repeatedly escaped imprisonment, entertaining all who heard of his exploits. His Hollywood-style capers were larger than life, just like his audacious public image. But can the authorities ever truly capture the man who has captured a nation's imagination? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listeners Charlotte and Phil suggested this ridiculous crime (and viral sensation) from Down Under. This is the tale of a legendary Australian video that tickled an entire continent and created a folk hero. But who, exactly, was this folk hero? The plot thickens! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a woman, back home for a family funeral, was kidnapped by the hitman her husband hired to kill her, things looked pretty bleak. But lucky for the woman, hers was a hitman with a heart of gold. Together, they plotted to surprise the husband and get her (legal) revenge. The venue: her own funeral. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the California Gold Rush, arriving sailors pretty much abandoned ship immediately and headed for the hills in search of gold. Criminals (called “crimps”) solved the sailor shortage by drugging men and tossing them on outgoing ships – if the captain paid enough. The most prolific crimp? Shanghai Kelly, the San Francisco ne’er-do-well who once threw the most epic booze cruise/kidnapping of all time. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People love their pets. English people are especially fond of our four-legged friends. So when a dastardly criminal was on the loose, kidnapping innocent felines and shaving tufts of fur from their soft bodies, the people of Plymouth were understandably outraged. Ridiculousness, of course, ensued. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three weeks. Three hotels. Three vices (booze, drugs, and purchased sex). In 1989, rock icon Billy Idol got wild in Bangkok, seeking total oblivion and taking it to a whole new level. Enter the Thai Army and their tranquilizer guns. Was that rock bottom for Idol? Not even close. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There you are, enjoying a family barbecue. Sure, the macaroni salad left much to be desired, but why is everyone suddenly vomiting? And why are you now certain it's up to you to save the world? This is the story of one man's descent into Tom Clancy-esque delusions, complete with carjackings and imaginary skydiving. He was sure he was working for the FBI and the CIA, when in fact he was just full of PCP. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are flights from hell and then there’s United Flight 976 from Buenos Aires to New York City. With all the drinking, outbursts, violence, and other unmentionable deeds in this story, flying first class never looked so horrible. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You need money. You know the Sinatra family. Obviously, the only thing to do is kidnap the adult son of Old Blue Eyes and ask for a ransom. But not too much, just enough. You don’t want to seem greedy. Learn about one man’s bumbling crusade to raise money for his family and raise the ire of America’s most mobbed-up crooner. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An animatronic character was stolen bit by bit from a pavilion at Disneyworld's Epcot, right under the noses of security at the beloved attraction. Who stripped Buzzy naked? Who sold his clothes? Who bought his clothes? Who is Buzzy in the first place? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man, a plan, a Lamborghini. It was pretty bold to steal the luxury sports car of Guy Fieri, Mayor of Flavor Town. It was even bolder to drive the bright yellow performance vehicle around for months, evading capture and enjoying the ride right out in the open. But just like bold flavors, bold behavior fades over time. The clever thief was eventually apprehended, and his identity was about as surprising as a Guy Fieri dinner without Donkey Sauce. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.