Swindled

Swindled

A Concerned Citizen
True Crime Society & Culture Documentary
en
Explicit
Utilizes narrative storytelling, archival audio, and immersive soundscapes to explore true stories of white-collar criminals, con artists, and corporate evil. From corruption and fraud to Ponzi schemes and environmental disasters, these financially motivated crimes have shaped our world in unimaginable ways. All in the name of greed.
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Episodes (152)

Rerun: The Crusader (Nicholas Alahverdian)

Rerun: The Crusader (Nicholas Alahverdian)

August 24, 2025 1h 21m
Originally published June 5, 2022.

The untimely death of an outspoken advocate for foster children reveals his despicable double life. Prelude: A tragedy occurs after a woman in Rhode Island adopts...
130. The Wunderkind (Ephren Taylor II)

130. The Wunderkind (Ephren Taylor II)

August 14, 2025 1h 10m S9E130
A self-proclaimed “socially conscious” entrepreneur uses church seminars and motivational speeches to lure investors into a nationwide Ponzi scheme.

Prelude: "King" Perry Santillo and Chris Parris...
129. The Death Trap (Ride the Ducks Intl.)

129. The Death Trap (Ride the Ducks Intl.)

July 27, 2025 1h 11m S9E129
A tourism industry's ugly past is revealed after a "duck boat" sinks on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, during a storm.

Prelude: The sinking of Miss Majestic in Hot Springs,...
128. The Charade (Scott W. Rothstein)

128. The Charade (Scott W. Rothstein)

July 08, 2025 1h 28m S9E128
A Fort Lauderdale lawyer's ostentatious lifestyle is supported by the largest Ponzi scheme in Florida history.

Prelude: The body of attorney Melissa Britt Lewis is found in a Florida...
Rerun: The Inferno (The Station nightclub fire)

Rerun: The Inferno (The Station nightclub fire)

June 22, 2025 1h 18m
Originally published September 27, 2021.

Incompetence and negligence lead to a devastating loss of life at a concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Prelude: A fight in the E2 nightclub in Chicago...
127. The White Knight (eBay)

127. The White Knight (eBay)

June 11, 2025 1h 19m S9E127
A bizarre and sinister harassment campaign targeting a married couple in Massachusetts is linked to executives at one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies.

Prelude: A content creator...
126. The Baby Heaven (Camp Lejeune)

126. The Baby Heaven (Camp Lejeune)

May 26, 2025 1h 19m S9E126
An estimated one million people are exposed to decades of toxic water contamination at a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, leading to serious health issues, cover-ups, and endless legal...
125. The Reporter (Jeff German)

125. The Reporter (Jeff German)

May 07, 2025 1h 14m S9E125
An investigative journalist is murdered in an act of retaliation by a Clark County elected official accused of misconduct.

Prelude: The mysterious death of Las Vegas casino heir, Ted...
Rerun: The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

Rerun: The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

May 01, 2025 1h 26m
Originally published April 30, 2023.

A series of infomercials lands a TV pitchman in federal prison. Prelude: The founder of Hooked on Phonics is criticized over dubious advertising claims before he...
124. The Pinto (Ford Motor Company)

124. The Pinto (Ford Motor Company)

April 20, 2025 1h 12m S9E124
An American automotive company is charged with reckless homicide related to the defective design of a popular car.

Prelude: Toyota is held responsible for the ghastly deaths of three...
123. The Acquisition (Charlie Javice)

123. The Acquisition (Charlie Javice)

April 06, 2025 1h 17m S9E123
The founder of a fintech company is accused of defrauding JPMorgan Chase by falsifying customer data to secure a $175 million acquisition deal.

Prelude: Joanna Smith-Griffin's rising startup is built...
122. The Warlord (Kony 2012)

122. The Warlord (Kony 2012)

March 19, 2025 1h 32m S9E122
A viral video sparks accusations of charity fraud and other improprieties while exposing a potentially much darker truth.

Prelude: Efforts to neutralize a brutal warlord in central Africa are...
121. The Derailment (East Palestine, OH)

121. The Derailment (East Palestine, OH)

March 02, 2025 1h 18m S9E121
A train derailment in Ohio caused by corporate greed leads to widespread environmental contamination, conspiracy, and political mudslinging.

Prelude: A train derailment in Paulsboro, New Jersey,...
Bonus: The Fund (Darren Berg)

Bonus: The Fund (Darren Berg)

December 19, 2024 23m
The Pacific Northwest's "mini Madoff" escapes prison after being convicted of operating a $140 million Ponzi scheme.
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120. The Descent (OceanGate)

120. The Descent (OceanGate)

November 25, 2024 1h 31m S8E120
An experimental deep-sea submersible disappears during an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck. Prelude: Legendary explorer Steve Fossett disappears during a casual plane...
119. The Magic Pill (Fen-Phen)

119. The Magic Pill (Fen-Phen)

October 31, 2024 1h 7m S8E119
A trendy new diet drug combination subjects millions of users to serious health effects, resulting in a monumental legal battle. Prelude: Cancer concerns force Belviq, a popular diet drug, to be...
118. The Prince (Joel Morehu-Barlow)

118. The Prince (Joel Morehu-Barlow)

October 09, 2024 51m S8E118
A government employee posing as a Tahitian prince commits the largest public sector fraud in Queensland history. Prelude: The catastrophic implementation of Queensland Health's new payroll...
117. The Airliner (ValuJet)

117. The Airliner (ValuJet)

September 25, 2024 58m S8E117
A budget airline's penny-pinching strategy is examined after one of its planes crashes in the Florida Everglades. Prelude: Allegiant Air's safety history is called into question after a rash of...
116. The Juggalos (ICP v. FBI)

116. The Juggalos (ICP v. FBI)

September 05, 2024 1h 1m S8E116
A "quintessential" civil rights battle ignites when fans of the much-maligned rap group Insane Clown Posse are officially classified as a "street gang" by the federal government. Prelude: Two Juggalos...
115. The Bling Bishop (Lamor Whitehead)

115. The Bling Bishop (Lamor Whitehead)

August 21, 2024 1h 15m S8E115
A flashy Brooklyn pastor finds himself in the media spotlight due to his current lifestyle and criminal past. Prelude: An unprovoked murder on the New York...
114. The Fungus (New England Compounding Center)

114. The Fungus (New England Compounding Center)

August 04, 2024 1h 7m S8E114
A compounding pharmacy's attempt to maximize revenue leads to a devastating public health crisis. Prelude: Pharmakon Pharmaceuticals ships overly-potent medication to hospitals, including a neonatal...
Bonus: The Predator (Nate Holzapfel)

Bonus: The Predator (Nate Holzapfel)

July 21, 2024 25m
A former Shark Tank contestant’s fraud spree leaves a trail of destruction.
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Bonus: The Studio (Carissa Carpenter)

Bonus: The Studio (Carissa Carpenter)

July 14, 2024 34m
A proposal to build a massive movie studio in Northern California signals the end of a 17-year-old scheme.
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113. The Satan Seller (Mike Warnke)

113. The Satan Seller (Mike Warnke)

June 30, 2024 1h 22m S8E113
A reformed Satanic priest becomes America's most prominent Christian comedian and authority on the occult. Prelude: Cassette recordings of John Todd's conspiratorial seminars spread through...
112. The Sugarpit (Indiana State Fair stage collapse)

112. The Sugarpit (Indiana State Fair stage collapse)

June 13, 2024 1h 10m S8E112
Dedicated fans of country band Sugarland are crushed when a stage collapses during a storm at the Indiana State Fair. Prelude: A gust of wind destroys the stage at Ottawa Bluesfest while Cheap Trick...
111. The Embattled (Jasiel Correia)

111. The Embattled (Jasiel Correia)

May 29, 2024 1h 24m S8E111
The arrest of Fall River's 23-year-old mayor ignites a political fiasco. Prelude: A popular Massachusetts State Senator is convicted of bribery.
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BECOME A...
110. The Mess (Eric C. Conn)

110. The Mess (Eric C. Conn)

May 13, 2024 1h 20m S8E110
The largest disability fraud case in United States history is linked to a flamboyant lawyer in a small Kentucky town. Prelude: The history and abuse of Social Security Disability...
109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

April 30, 2024 1h 14m S8E109
A multinational meat processing company wreaks havoc on animals and people in pursuit of profits. Prelude: Cody Easterday's $233 million "ghost cattle"...
108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

108. The Commander (Bobby C. Thompson)

April 14, 2024 1h 7m S8E108
The eccentric director of a veterans charity goes on the run after being exposed as a fraud. Prelude: The downfall of a county commissioner in...
107. The Technology (Real Water)

107. The Technology (Real Water)

March 31, 2024 1h 4m S8E107
A Nevada-based alkaline water company owned by a local politician is blamed for an outbreak of serious illnesses. Prelude: The events surrounding a Nevada state senator's...
106. The Tornado (Kim Neiman)

106. The Tornado (Kim Neiman)

March 17, 2024 1h 2m S8E106
A village clerk in Nebraska leads the charge to rebuild after a catastrophic tornado and becomes the focal point of an international mystery. Prelude: Twin tornadoes devastate Pilger,...
Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

Rerun: The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

February 12, 2024 1h 1m
A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program overseas.
Originally published July 18,...
Rerun: The Brand (Procter & Gamble)

Rerun: The Brand (Procter & Gamble)

January 22, 2024 1h 13m
A multinational consumer goods corporation finds itself mired in controversy. Prelude: The Fenholloway River is classified as an "industrial waterway."
Originally published June 20,...
Rerun: The Treatment (Bayer AG)

Rerun: The Treatment (Bayer AG)

January 07, 2024 55m
A multinational pharmaceutical company with a dark past becomes the central figure of a contaminated blood product crisis. Prelude: Ryan White is banned from school after contracting HIV.
Originally...
105. The Monopoly (Pacific Gas & Electric)

105. The Monopoly (Pacific Gas & Electric)

December 25, 2023 1h 17m S7E105
A utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history. Prelude: A natural gas leak destroys a neighborhood in San...
104. The Kepone Shakes (Life Science Products)

104. The Kepone Shakes (Life Science Products)

November 26, 2023 59m S7E104
The manufacturer of a persistent pesticide endangers the people and environment of Hopewell, Virginia. Prelude: Two islands in the French West Indies are contaminated with...
103. The Nose Doctor (Mark Weinberger)

103. The Nose Doctor (Mark Weinberger)

November 04, 2023 55m S7E103
A renowned sinus surgeon disappears after malpractice allegations surface. Prelude: Philip and Marcella Gabriele are accused of performing unnecessary eye...
102. The Other Woman (Vicki Morgan)

102. The Other Woman (Vicki Morgan)

October 17, 2023 1h 6m S7E102
A mistress' 12-year-long affair with a wealthy department store heir ends in violence and conspiracy. Prelude: The collapse of Bernie Cornfeld's financial...
Bonus: The Oven (Bumble Bee Foods)

Bonus: The Oven (Bumble Bee Foods)

October 06, 2023 26m
A worker (Jose Melena) at a canned tuna factory becomes trapped in an industrial oven and burns to death. A worker (Alan Catterall) at a plastic kayak company becomes trapped in an industrial oven and...
101. The Missing (Melissa Caddick)

101. The Missing (Melissa Caddick)

September 22, 2023 1h 21m S7E101
A Sydney-based financial advisor disappears hours after federal agents raided her house. Prelude: $60 million is lost as a result of Brad Sherwin's Ponzi...
100. The Side Door (Operation Varsity Blues)

100. The Side Door (Operation Varsity Blues)

August 31, 2023 1h 23m S7E100
Rick Singer is exposed as the leader of a widespread college admissions bribery conspiracy. Prelude: A digital bank and Swiss asset manager work together to conceal dozens of illegal pump-and-dump...
99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

99. The Skywalks (Hyatt Regency disaster)

August 02, 2023 1h 6m S7E99
More than one hundred people are killed when two overhead walkways collapse in the lobby of a Kansas City hotel. Prelude: The failure of a much-needed pedestrian bridge at Florida International...
98. The Lottery Lawyer (Jason Kurland)

98. The Lottery Lawyer (Jason Kurland)

July 10, 2023 56m S7E98
A nationally-known attorney specializing in lottery winnings rips off those who entrusted him. Prelude: Winning the lottery ruins Billie Bob Harrell Jr.'s...
97. The Jeweler (Nicolas Shaughnessy)

97. The Jeweler (Nicolas Shaughnessy)

June 25, 2023 58m S7E97
A popular Austin, Texas, jeweler is murdered in his home on the same day a serial bomber begins terrorizing the city. Prelude: Erik Charles Maund reacts to an extortion...
96. The Islanders (John Spano)

96. The Islanders (John Spano)

June 06, 2023 1h 1m S7E96
A fledgling Long Island professional hockey team is revived when sold to a Texas-based con artist. Prelude: William "Boots" Del Biaggio III purchases a minority stake in the Nashville...
95. The Captive (SeaWorld)

95. The Captive (SeaWorld)

May 21, 2023 1h 15m S7E95
Tragedy at a marine animal amusement park illuminates the issues surrounding keeping killer whales in captivity. Prelude: A campaign to save Keiko, the orca whale star of 'Free...
94. The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

94. The Messenger (Kevin Trudeau)

May 01, 2023 1h 22m S7E94
A series of infomercials lands a TV pitchman in federal prison. Prelude: The founder of Hooked on Phonics is criticized over dubious advertising claims before he settles a sexual assault lawsuit with...
93. The Teenager (Malachi Love-Robinson)

93. The Teenager (Malachi Love-Robinson)

April 16, 2023 55m S7E93
An 18-year-old boy in Florida is caught masquerading as a medical doctor. Prelude: A 17-year-old boy in Florida is caught masquerading as a physician...
92. The Phantom (Imperial Food Products)

92. The Phantom (Imperial Food Products)

April 02, 2023 1h 0m S7E92
Workers at a chicken processing plant in North Carolina become trapped inside a burning building. Prelude: Tragedy at the Triangle Waist Company in Manhattan leads to worker safety...
91. The Balloon Boy (Richard Heene)

91. The Balloon Boy (Richard Heene)

March 19, 2023 1h 20m S7E91
A botched backyard science experiment sends a 6-year-old boy soaring through the Colorado sky on a balloon. Prelude: Lawn Chair Larry fulfills a lifelong...
Rerun: The Switch (Flint Water Crisis)

Rerun: The Switch (Flint Water Crisis)

February 08, 2023 1h 14m
A cost-cutting decision to switch municipal water sources leads to a public health crisis in Flint, Michigan. Prelude: The discovery and response to the lead contamination of Washington, D.C. drinking...
Rerun: The Vigilante (Pat Johnson)

Rerun: The Vigilante (Pat Johnson)

January 21, 2023 56m
A towing industry watchdog patrols the streets of Austin, Texas in search of a serial rock thrower. Prelude: Joe Stack exacts revenge against the Internal Revenue...
Rerun: The Mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick)

Rerun: The Mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick)

January 08, 2023 57m
A young politician ruins a promising career with numerous financial and sexual scandals. Prelude: The unsolved murder of Tamara Greene.
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BECOME A...
Rerun: The GPO Girl (Samantha Azzopardi)

Rerun: The GPO Girl (Samantha Azzopardi)

December 23, 2022 59m
Australia's "most notorious con woman" adopts multiple aliases to commit crimes around the world. Prelude: Jerry Joseph leaves Haiti to become a high school basketball star in a small, west Texas...
90. The Relief (Hurricane Katrina)

90. The Relief (Hurricane Katrina)

December 06, 2022 1h 12m S6E90
Ignored warnings and delayed disaster relief transforms a hurricane in New Orleans into a true American horror story. Prelude: Hurricane Betsy causes widespread flooding in New Orleans.
Listen to...
89. The Crocodile (Heather Morgan & Ilya Lichtenstein)

89. The Crocodile (Heather Morgan & Ilya Lichtenstein)

November 10, 2022 55m S6E89
An aspiring rapper ("Razzlekhan") and her Russian-born husband are accused of attempting to launder billions of dollars in stolen Bitcoin. Prelude: The rise and fall of AlphaBay, the world's largest...
88. The Liability (Johnson & Johnson)

88. The Liability (Johnson & Johnson)

October 23, 2022 55m S6E88
A multinational corporation discontinues the sale of its famous baby powder after thousands of users allege that the product causes cancer. Prelude: Ethicon's pelvic mesh implants feature a critical...
87. The Label (Johnson & Johnson)

87. The Label (Johnson & Johnson)

October 06, 2022 55m S6E87
A pharmaceutical company widely promotes an antipsychotic drug that causes young boys to develop female breasts. Prelude: DePuy's new metal hip implant features a critical design...
86. The Wagon (Richard Scrushy)

86. The Wagon (Richard Scrushy)

September 18, 2022 1h 5m S6E86
The charismatic CEO of HealthSouth stands trial for a $2.8 billion accounting fraud. Prelude: Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, becomes a political...
85. The Creamery (Blue Bell)

85. The Creamery (Blue Bell)

August 22, 2022 52m S6E85
A beloved ice cream brand issues a recall when its products are linked to a listeria outbreak. Prelude: Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida, continues to sell tainted ice cream while under...
84. The Body Broker (Megan Hess)

84. The Body Broker (Megan Hess)

August 09, 2022 1h 7m S6E84
A funeral director in a small town in Colorado is accused of selling human body parts. Prelude: A raid on Arthur Rathburn's body brokering business in Detroit leads to arrests in Phoenix and...
Rerun: The Revenger (Hunter Moore)

Rerun: The Revenger (Hunter Moore)

July 27, 2022 1h 0m
Swindled returns on August 7th! Until then, let's revisit a classic: A middle school dropout embraces his role as "the most hated man on the Internet" after creating a notorious "revenge porn" website...
83. The Troubadour (Mark Leonard)

83. The Troubadour (Mark Leonard)

July 05, 2022 1h 8m S6E83
A former exotic dancer and his girlfriend are questioned when a house explodes in the Richmond Hill subdivision in Indianapolis. Prelude: A massive explosion in downtown Richmond, Indiana, kills 41...
82. The Perfect Trigger (Remington Arms)

82. The Perfect Trigger (Remington Arms)

June 21, 2022 1h 9m S6E82
America's oldest gun manufacturer denies that its most popular product is defective and dangerous. Prelude: A deadly toy gun is recalled by Family...
81. The Crusader (Nicholas Alahverdian)

81. The Crusader (Nicholas Alahverdian)

June 05, 2022 1h 19m S6E81
The untimely death of an outspoken advocate for foster children reveals his despicable double life. Prelude: A tragedy occurs after a woman in Rhode Island adopts eight children with developmental...
80. The Standoff (Ed & Elaine Brown)

80. The Standoff (Ed & Elaine Brown)

May 22, 2022 1h 17m S6E80
After refusing to pay taxes, a New Hampshire couple engages in a months-long standoff with federal authorities. Prelude: The Montana Freemen perpetrate a massive fraud scheme under the guise of...
79. The Rockefeller (Christian Gerhartsreiter)

79. The Rockefeller (Christian Gerhartsreiter)

May 08, 2022 1h 0m S6E79
A lifelong impostor is accused of murdering a couple in California and kidnapping his daughter. Prelude: Chris Rockefeller is revealed to be French con artist Christophe...
Bonus: The Canal (Love Canal) [Redux]

Bonus: The Canal (Love Canal) [Redux]

May 01, 2022 42m
Once envisioned as a model community, the neighborhood of Love Canal in Niagra Falls, New York, became the victim of a massive, man-made environmental disaster. Prelude: James Denney, a Missouri...
78. The Verrückt (Schlitterbahn)

78. The Verrückt (Schlitterbahn)

April 17, 2022 1h 9m S6E78
The quest to build the world's tallest water slide ends in tragedy. Prelude: A 14-year-old boy dies after falling from an amusement ride in...
77. The Pioneer (uBiome)

77. The Pioneer (uBiome)

April 03, 2022 54m S6E77
A revolutionary microbiome testing company often described as "the 23andMe of poop" is accused of illegal billing practices. Prelude: A former music pirate transitions to a healthcare fraud...
76. The Vegan (Sarma Melngailis)

76. The Vegan (Sarma Melngailis)

March 16, 2022 1h 5m S6E76
A popular vegan restaurant is destroyed when its beloved owner falls for the wrong man. Prelude: The PlantLab culinary academy cancels classes after the CEO...
Bonus: The Hero (Candace Clark)

Bonus: The Hero (Candace Clark)

January 06, 2022 25m
The State of Illinois' newly appointed Director of Special Investigations is exposed as a lifelong con artist and notorious property squatter.
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PATREON:...
75. The Explosion (Port of Beirut disaster)

75. The Explosion (Port of Beirut disaster)

December 06, 2021 1h 5m S5E75
A massive explosion in Lebanon's capital city is revealed to be a symptom of a corrupt system. Prelude: A fertilizer plant explosion destroys the small town of West,...
74. The OB-GYN (Javaid Perwaiz)

74. The OB-GYN (Javaid Perwaiz)

November 11, 2021 59m S5E74
An anonymous tip leads to the arrest of a beloved gynecologist in Chesapeake, Virginia. Prelude: Dr. Roger Beyer is investigated for improperly reusing a rectal pressure...
73. The Salesman (William J. McCorkle)

73. The Salesman (William J. McCorkle)

October 25, 2021 48m S5E73
A charismatic real estate guru builds a fortune with infomercials. Prelude: Charles J. Givens sells financial advice to a susceptible audience.
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PATREON:...
72. The Killdozer (Marvin Heemeyer)

72. The Killdozer (Marvin Heemeyer)

October 12, 2021 57m S5E72
A muffler shop owner exacts revenge over a zoning dispute in the mountain town of Granby, Colorado. Prelude: Tom Leask makes a violent statement against a small-town...
71. The Inferno (The Station nightclub fire)

71. The Inferno (The Station nightclub fire)

September 28, 2021 1h 18m S5E71
Incompetence and negligence lead to a devastating loss of life at a concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Prelude: A fight in the E2 nightclub in Chicago triggers a deadly...
70. The Outbreak (Peanut Corporation of America)

70. The Outbreak (Peanut Corporation of America)

September 12, 2021 56m S5E70
A Virginia-based peanut processing company unleashes one of the most massive and lethal food-borne contamination events in United States history. Prelude: The Jensen brothers are charged with crimes...
69. The Scheme (Bernie Madoff)

69. The Scheme (Bernie Madoff)

August 29, 2021 1h 20m S5E69
A Wall Street tycoon's money management firm is revealed to be the world's largest Ponzi scheme. Prelude: Samuel Israel III disappears after his hedge fund...
Bonus: The Beach House Sheriff (Todd Entrekin)

Bonus: The Beach House Sheriff (Todd Entrekin)

August 01, 2021 31m
A sheriff in Alabama uses the inmate food budget to purchase personal property.
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PATREON: Patreon.com/Swindled
DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support
CONSUME:...
68. The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

68. The Ghost Writer (Anthony Godby Johnson)

July 18, 2021 59m S5E68
A critically ill teenager writes a best-selling book about his abusive childhood. Prelude: New Horizons Youth Ministry opens a child reform program...
67. The Patriarch (Anthony Todt)

67. The Patriarch (Anthony Todt)

July 04, 2021 47m S5E67
In Celebration, Florida, a family disappears in the wake of the father's physical therapy insurance scam. Prelude: John Chairmonte attempts to burn down his own...
66. The Brand (Procter & Gamble)

66. The Brand (Procter & Gamble)

June 20, 2021 1h 13m S5E66
A multinational consumer goods corporation finds itself mired in controversy. Prelude: The Fenholloway River is classified as an "industrial...
65. The Bakery (Sandy Jenkins)

65. The Bakery (Sandy Jenkins)

June 06, 2021 47m S5E65
A corporate accountant lives luxuriously by embezzling millions from a family-owned bakery. Prelude: Alvin Kennard is sentenced to life in prison on a non-violent robbery...
64. The Ivy Leaguer (Esther Reed)

64. The Ivy Leaguer (Esther Reed)

May 23, 2021 50m S5E64
An intelligent imposter steals the identity of a missing woman to con her way into Columbia University. Prelude: James Arthur Hogue's compulsion leads to a life of...
63. The Bishop (John P. Tomkins)

63. The Bishop (John P. Tomkins)

May 09, 2021 50m S5E63
An unknown entity attempts to manipulate the stock prices of two companies by mailing threats to investment firms. Prelude: Luke Helder places pipe bombs in mailboxes across the Midwest.

Special...
62. The Well (Walkerton E. coli outbreak)

62. The Well (Walkerton E. coli outbreak)

April 25, 2021 57m S5E62
Unprecedented rainfall in a small Ontario township leads to a public health disaster. Prelude: Thousands fall ill after attending the Washington County Fair in New York.

Special thanks to Mike Alfano...
61. The Atheist (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)

61. The Atheist (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)

April 11, 2021 1h 12m S5E61
An infamous First Amendment activist becomes the "most hated woman in America" then mysteriously disappears. Prelude: The constitutionality of state-sponsored prayer in public schools is challenged in...
Bonus: The Sweepstakes (Pepsi Number Fever)

Bonus: The Sweepstakes (Pepsi Number Fever)

December 06, 2020 22m
A soda company's botched promotional game leads to unrest in the Philippines.
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DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support
CONSUME:...
60. The Spill (Deepwater Horizon)

60. The Spill (Deepwater Horizon)

November 22, 2020 59m S4E60
An explosion on a deepwater drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico leads to the largest oil spill in United States history. Prelude: More than 3.4 million barrels of crude oil leak into the ocean after an...
59. The Downfall (Marcus Schrenker)

59. The Downfall (Marcus Schrenker)

November 08, 2020 48m S4E59
The president and chief executive of an Indianapolis wealth management company takes drastic measures to avoid prosecution. Prelude: A Long Island man's plan to escape his debts...
58. The Pitchman (Don Lapre)

58. The Pitchman (Don Lapre)

October 25, 2020 52m S4E58
A multi-level marketing salesman advertises his get-rich-quick schemes on television and becomes the "King of Infomercials." Prelude: The founder of a nutrition company is suspected of his wife's...
57. The Saint (Mother Teresa)

57. The Saint (Mother Teresa)

October 11, 2020 55m S4E57
Critics and former volunteers reveal the disturbing details of a Catholic nun's international mission to help the "poorest of the poor." Prelude: A six-year-old boy's journey to Heaven becomes a...
56. The Space Program (Challenger Disaster)

56. The Space Program (Challenger Disaster)

September 27, 2020 55m S4E56
The organizational culture of the United States space program leads to one of the deadliest disasters in aeronautics history. Prelude: Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov embarks on a doomed mission to...
55. The I.M.O.M. (Peter Foster)

55. The I.M.O.M. (Peter Foster)

September 12, 2020 48m S4E55
An Australian con artist is arrested on multiple continents while indulging in "millions, models, and mayhem". Prelude: Novy Chardon disappears amid a divorce dispute with her millionaire...
54. The Barefoot Bandit (Colton Harris Moore)

54. The Barefoot Bandit (Colton Harris Moore)

August 30, 2020 55m S4E54
A teenager from the Pacific Northwest embarks on an international burglary spree. Prelude: Joshua Paul Calhoun becomes the East Texas...
53. The Treatment (Bayer AG)

53. The Treatment (Bayer AG)

August 16, 2020 53m S4E53
A multinational pharmaceutical company with a dark past becomes the central figure of a contaminated blood product crisis. Prelude: Ryan White is banned from school after contracting...
52. The Referee (Tim Donaghy)

52. The Referee (Tim Donaghy)

August 03, 2020 56m S4E52
A professional basketball referee uses his knowledge of the inner workings of the league to place bets on the games. Prelude: Joe Gagliano recruits Arizona State University's star basketball player to...
51. The Vigilante (Pat Johnson)

51. The Vigilante (Pat Johnson)

July 19, 2020 54m S4E51
A towing industry watchdog patrols the streets of Austin, Texas in search of a serial rock thrower. Prelude: Joe Stack exacts revenge against the Internal Revenue...
50. The Octopus (United Fruit Company)

50. The Octopus (United Fruit Company)

July 06, 2020 1h 3m S4E50
One of the largest and most recognizable banana companies in the world has an exploitative and bloody history in Central America. Prelude: An American banana company continues to use a pesticide in...
49. The Genius (Martin Frankel)

49. The Genius (Martin Frankel)

June 21, 2020 1h 2m S4E49
A sex-obsessed stockbroker uses astrology when conducting a series of investment frauds. Prelude: Tommy Quinn's life of crime.
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PATREON:...
48. The Grant (Scott Westerhuis)

48. The Grant (Scott Westerhuis)

June 07, 2020 1h 2m S4E48
The suspect administration of an education grant in South Dakota leads to tragedy. Prelude: Steven Sueppel discovers an easy way out after being charged for...
47. The Pope (Dan Johnson)

47. The Pope (Dan Johnson)

May 24, 2020 1h 20m S4E47
The lies and crimes of a Kentucky pastor turned politician are revealed in an investigative report. Prelude: A Louisville city councilman's career in politics ends following multiple accusations of...
46. The Gamechanger (Belle Gibson)

46. The Gamechanger (Belle Gibson)

May 10, 2020 1h 18m S4E46
A young Australian woman becomes a health and wellness guru after defeating terminal brain cancer through diet, exercise, and alternative therapies. Prelude: Jess Ainscough transforms into 'The...
Bonus: The Boner King (Enzyte)

Bonus: The Boner King (Enzyte)

April 01, 2020 20m
Led by an effective advertising campaign (Smilin' Bob), an herbal supplement company's popular male enhancement pill is revealed to be a $500 million...
45. The Switch (Flint Water Crisis)

45. The Switch (Flint Water Crisis)

January 26, 2020 1h 14m S3E45
A cost-cutting decision to switch municipal water sources leads to a public health crisis in Flint, Michigan. Prelude: The discovery and response to the lead contamination of Washington, D.C. drinking...
44. The Raid (Agriprocessors)

44. The Raid (Agriprocessors)

January 12, 2020 57m S3E44
An immigration raid at a kosher slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa uncovers financial crimes committed by the company's CEO, Sholom Rubashkin. Prelude: Thirteen hundred undocumented workers are...
Bonus: The Promotion (McDonald's Monopoly)

Bonus: The Promotion (McDonald's Monopoly)

January 05, 2020 24m
In a scheme that lasted over a decade, Jerome "Uncle Jerry" Jacobson defrauded fast-food giant McDonald's for over $20 million by rigging the promotional Monopoly...
43. The Sultan (Anthony Gignac)

43. The Sultan (Anthony Gignac)

December 22, 2019 53m S3E43
A lifelong con artist impersonates a Saudi Arabian prince to live a life of luxury. Prelude: Thomas Noe manages the State of Ohio's $50 million rare coin...
42. The Revenger (Hunter Moore)

42. The Revenger (Hunter Moore)

December 08, 2019 1h 0m S3E42
A middle school dropout embraces his role as "the most hated man on the Internet" after creating a notorious "revenge porn" website called Is Anyone Up. Prelude: Kevin Bollaert becomes the first...
41. The GPO Girl (Samantha Azzopardi)

41. The GPO Girl (Samantha Azzopardi)

November 24, 2019 57m S3E41
Australia's "most notorious con-woman" adopts multiple aliases to commit crimes around the world. Prelude: Jerry Joseph leaves Haiti to become a high school basketball star in a small, west Texas...
40. The Mine (Crandall Canyon Mine)

40. The Mine (Crandall Canyon Mine)

November 10, 2019 1h 3m S3E40
A coal mining disaster in Utah places the mine's owner in the media spotlight. Prelude: The Sago Mine disaster leads to renewed scrutiny on mine...
39. The Madam (Deborah Jeane Palfrey)

39. The Madam (Deborah Jeane Palfrey)

October 27, 2019 57m S3E39
The owner of a Washington D.C. escort agency loses everything after becoming the subject of a federal investigation. Prelude: Kristin M. Davis, the Manhattan Madam, runs for office after spending time...
38. The Family Business (Doug Pielsticker)

38. The Family Business (Doug Pielsticker)

October 13, 2019 53m S3E38
A successful trucking company is destroyed after it is inherited by the boss' greedy son. Prelude: Hundreds of Falcon Transport employees are blindsided by the company's sudden...
37. The Survivor (Tania Head)

37. The Survivor (Tania Head)

September 29, 2019 56m S3E37
A Spanish woman becomes the president of a survivors group in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. Prelude: Fred Parisi, a New York City police officer, creates a...
36. The Fundraiser (Johnny Bobbitt Jr.)

36. The Fundraiser (Johnny Bobbitt Jr.)

September 15, 2019 43m S3E36
A New Jersey couple raises money on GoFundMe to repay a homeless man for his act of kindness. Prelude: Ginny Irovando Long organizes a fundraiser for her terminally ill...
35. The Whistleblower (Karen Silkwood)

35. The Whistleblower (Karen Silkwood)

September 01, 2019 50m S3E35
A chemical technician risks her life to expose corporate misdeeds at a nuclear facility in Oklahoma. Prelude: Energy mogul Robert S. Kerr becomes the "uncrowned king of the...
34. The Tour (Jered Threatin)

34. The Tour (Jered Threatin)

August 18, 2019 58m S3E34
A disastrous European tour reveals that an American rock band manufactured an entire fan base. Prelude: German R&B duo, Milli Vanilli, is exposed for...
33. The Implants (Poly Implant Prothèse)

33. The Implants (Poly Implant Prothèse)

August 04, 2019 53m S3E33
A French breast implant manufacturing company's method of cutting costs incites a global health scare. Prelude: Concerns over safety issues related to silicone breast implants lead to a moratorium on...
32. The Match (Simon Leviev)

32. The Match (Simon Leviev)

July 21, 2019 49m S3E32
An international fraudster posing as a wealthy CEO utilizes a popular dating app to scam women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prelude: Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, an Australian grandmother,...
31. The Socialite (Anna Delvey)

31. The Socialite (Anna Delvey)

July 07, 2019 1h 3m S3E31
A Russian-born con artist posing as a wealthy German heiress scams businesses and acquaintances in an attempt to develop her own art foundation in New York. Prelude: Kari Ferrell's Brooklyn exploits...
Bonus: The Refugee (Wyclef Jean)

Bonus: The Refugee (Wyclef Jean)

May 15, 2019 18m
A between-season bonus episode in which a hip-hop superstar establishes a charitable foundation to benefit his homeland, the Republic of Haiti.
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PATREON:...
30. The Producer (Joe Francis)

30. The Producer (Joe Francis)

April 01, 2019 1h 8m S2E30
A young entrepreneur’s Girls Gone Wild franchise leads to a litany of legal issues related to tax evasion, bribery, and false imprisonment as well as accusations of sexual assault. Prelude: A group of...
29. The Downline (Herbalife)

29. The Downline (Herbalife)

March 17, 2019 54m S2E29
A multi-level marketing company becomes a global success despite accusations of dangerous products and exploitation. Prelude: Glenn W. Turner’s lifetime of pyramid...
28. The Sting (Abscam)

28. The Sting (Abscam)

March 03, 2019 46m S2E28
The FBI turns to a career con artist to assist with an undercover sting operation that ensnares multiple members of the United States Congress. Prelude: Mel Weinberg’s lifetime of scams finally...
27. The Mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick)

27. The Mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick)

February 17, 2019 55m S2E27
A young politician ruins a promising career with numerous financial and sexual scandals. Prelude: The unsolved murder of Tamara Greene.
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PATREON:...
26. The Body Snatcher (Michael Mastromarino)

26. The Body Snatcher (Michael Mastromarino)

February 03, 2019 44m S2E26
A prominent oral surgeon embarks on a new career path after an addiction to painkillers leads to the loss of his dental license. Prelude: A horrifying discovery is made at the Tri-State Crematory in...
25. The Formula (Nestlé Boycott of 1977)

25. The Formula (Nestlé Boycott of 1977)

January 20, 2019 47m S2E25
An international boycott ensues after a multinational corporation is accused of contributing to the deaths of millions of infants around the world. Prelude: Baby milk tainted with an industrial...
24. The Mogul (Lou Pearlman)

24. The Mogul (Lou Pearlman)

January 06, 2019 57m S2E24
An aviation entrepreneur creates the boyband craze of the nineties and one of the longest-running Ponzi schemes in American history. Prelude: In Australia, Alan Bond is remembered as both a national...
23. The Deputy (Frankie Bybee)

23. The Deputy (Frankie Bybee)

December 16, 2018 46m S2E23
A law enforcement officer goes beyond the call of duty in order to steal money from an elderly woman. Prelude: A fallen hero's criminal nature is exposed after he is killed in the line of...
22. The Psychic (Sylvia Browne)

22. The Psychic (Sylvia Browne)

December 02, 2018 53m S2E22
A self-proclaimed psychic makes a fortune by using her supernatural powers to help solve missing person cases. Prelude: The rise-and-fall of Miss Cleo and the Psychic Readers Network telephone...
21. The Contestant (Charles Ingram)

21. The Contestant (Charles Ingram)

November 18, 2018 53m S2E21
A British Army major and his wife devise a plan to cheat the popular television game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Prelude: Michael Larson's record-breaking performance on Press Your...
20. The Hostage (Tony Kiritsis)

20. The Hostage (Tony Kiritsis)

November 04, 2018 1h 1m S2E20
The president of a mortgage company is taken hostage by a paranoid loan customer after allegations of mistreatment. Prelude: Clay Allen Duke seeks vengeance on a superintendent of a Florida school...
19. The Fyre Festival (Billy McFarland)

19. The Fyre Festival (Billy McFarland)

October 21, 2018 50m S2E19
A technology entrepreneur defrauds investors in order to build a luxury music festival in the Bahamas. Prelude: The Lapland New Forest Christmas Festival delivers an underwhelming...
18. The Tycoon (Allen Stanford)

18. The Tycoon (Allen Stanford)

October 07, 2018 1h 1m S2E18
The financial empire built by Allen Stanford, a mysterious man from Texas, is revealed to be a massive Ponzi scheme. Prelude: The highs-and-lows of American financier, Michael...
17. The Lawsuit (McDonald's Hot Coffee)

17. The Lawsuit (McDonald's Hot Coffee)

September 23, 2018 41m S2E17
An elderly woman suffers severe burns after spilling McDonald's coffee into her lap. Prelude: A California janitor's case against the owners of a phone booth is labeled as a "frivolous" lawsuit by...
16. The Canoe Man (John Darwin)

16. The Canoe Man (John Darwin)

September 09, 2018 48m S2E16
An English man is presumed dead after he disappears while canoeing in the North Sea. Prelude: A New Jersey State Senator starts a new life on the Maldives...
15. The Gigolo (Richard Bailey)

15. The Gigolo (Richard Bailey)

July 01, 2018 56m S1E15
A smooth-talking con man becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of Helen Brach, a multimillionaire candy heiress. Prelude: Horse owners summon "The Sandman" to assist in recovering a portion...
14. The Association (FIFA)

14. The Association (FIFA)

June 14, 2018 57m S1E14
A culture of corruption at the international governing body of soccer has plagued the world's most popular sport for decades. Prelude: Colin Fowles, a local football star, is remembered by his...
13. The Pharma Bro (Martin Shkreli)

13. The Pharma Bro (Martin Shkreli)

May 28, 2018 59m S1E13
A young pharmaceutical company CEO raises the price of a drug for a rare disease and becomes the "most hated man in America". Prelude: Valeant Pharmaceuticals pioneers a new business model for the...
12. The Televangelist (Jim Bakker)

12. The Televangelist (Jim Bakker)

May 13, 2018 1h 0m S1E12
A popular evangelical preacher's financial and sexual scandals topple his Christian entertainment empire. Prelude: The secrets of faith healer Peter Popoff are...
11. The Hitman (Frank Howard)

11. The Hitman (Frank Howard)

April 29, 2018 45m S1E11
A quintessential family man embezzles millions of dollars from his employer to fund a love affair and the attempted murder of his wife. Prelude: A multi-millionaire motivational speaker solicits help...
10. The Judges (Kids for Cash)

10. The Judges (Kids for Cash)

April 15, 2018 50m S1E10
Two Luzerne County judges are accused of accepting over $2 million in kickbacks in exchange for imposing harsh sentences on juveniles to increase occupancy at for-profit detention centers. Prelude:...
09. The Leak (Bhopal Gas Disaster)

09. The Leak (Bhopal Gas Disaster)

April 01, 2018 44m S1E9
An American company avoids accountability for its role in an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. The effects of the tragedy have lasted decades, accounting for over 20,000 deaths and half...
08. The Impostor (Jimmy Sabatino)

08. The Impostor (Jimmy Sabatino)

March 18, 2018 40m S1E8
A serial con man uses multiple aliases and his gift of gab to bilk victims out of millions of dollars worth of hotel rooms, jewelry, clothes, and electronics. Prelude: William Douglas Street Jr....
07. The Treasurer (Budd Dwyer)

07. The Treasurer (Budd Dwyer)

March 04, 2018 40m S1E7
An honest, hardworking politician reaches his breaking point after becoming entangled in a bribery scandal. Prelude: A shocking discovery is made after the death of Illinois Secretary of State, Paul...
06. The Contraceptive (Dalkon Shield)

06. The Contraceptive (Dalkon Shield)

February 18, 2018 44m S1E6
A pharmaceutical company looks the other way as its promising new birth control product, the Dalkon Shield intrauterine device (IUD), endangers the lives of more than 2 million women around the world....
05. The Delivery Man (Brian Wells)

05. The Delivery Man (Brian Wells)

February 04, 2018 42m S1E5
A bizarre bank robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania involving a pizza delivery man and an improvised collar bomb leads to a scavenger hunt full of explosions, bodies, and double-crosses. Prelude: The teenage...
04. The Canal (Love Canal)

04. The Canal (Love Canal)

January 21, 2018 43m S1E4
Once envisioned as a model community, the neighborhood of Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York, became the victim of a massive, man-made environmental disaster. Prelude: James Denney, a Missouri...
03. The Treasure Hunter (Tommy Thompson)

03. The Treasure Hunter (Tommy Thompson)

January 07, 2018 33m S1E3
An incredible discovery of sunken treasure leads to a manhunt for the person who investigators have called "one of the smartest fugitives ever". Prelude: A millionaire art dealer named Forrest Fenn...
02. The Horse Queen (Rita Crundwell)

02. The Horse Queen (Rita Crundwell)

January 07, 2018 33m S1E2
A municipal employee embezzles over $50 million from the city of Dixon, Illinois, to support her extravagant lifestyle and expensive hobby. Prelude: History of Ronald Reagan's oft-repeated maxim,...
01. The Lucky Winner (Eddie Tipton)

01. The Lucky Winner (Eddie Tipton)

January 07, 2018 33m S1E1
An unclaimed, jackpot-winning lottery ticket purchased in Iowa leads to a cross-continent search for the winner. Prelude: Nick Perry, a local TV celebrity in Pittsburgh, rigs the Pennsylvania lottery...

About this Podcast

Copyright
© 2025 Swindled. All Rights Reserved.
Language
en
Categories
True Crime, Society & Culture, Documentary, History