Kingpins

LA County Sheriff’s Gangs Pt. 5: The East LA Banditos Dec 24, 2020

In East LA, a group of deputies named the Banditos stand accused of running the sheriff’s substation like a gang, institutionalizing a culture of fear and retaliation. And while they’re intimidating civilians and colleagues alike, they may be protected by the very top of the department.

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LA County Sheriff’s Gangs Pt. 4: The Compton Executioners Dec 17, 2020

The Compton Executioners allegedly control every aspect of life at the LASD Compton substation. Gang members have been accused of assaulting fellow deputies and even killing civilians, claiming, often without evidence, that they were acting in self-defense. And although they’ve faced several lawsuits, somehow, the Executioners have evaded prosecution — and any accountability.

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LA County Sheriff’s Gangs Pt. 3: Wild West Roots/Jump Out Boys Dec 10, 2020

By the 1850s, Los Angeles was one of the most dangerous places to live in the West. Extrajudicial killings, unchecked racial violence, and vigilante groups like the Los Angeles Rangers prevailed. This “Wild West” culture seeped into and was propagated by the Sheriff’s Department — and it hasn't gone away.

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LA County Sheriff’s Gangs Pt. 2: The Lennox Grim Reapers Dec 03, 2020

The community of Lennox in Los Angeles is just one square mile, but it has an enormous problem. Alongside violent gang activity, there’s a secret organization adding terror to the neighborhood. Their symbol? The Grim Reaper. Their ranks? Los Angeles sheriff's deputies.

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LA County Sheriff’s Gangs Pt. 1: Little Devils & Lynwood Vikings Nov 26, 2020

Deputy gangs have been embedded in the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department since 1971. In the first of our five-part collaboration with Parcast series Secret Societies, we delve into the earliest of these violent gangs that shaped the current culture within the LASD.

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“Granny Evil” Pt. 2: Kath Pettingill Nov 13, 2020

After two Melbourne constables were gunned down in 1988, police identified the Pettingills as prime suspects. The case against the notorious crime family grew, but changing testimonies, family betrayals, and the idea of a police vendetta complicated the trial.

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“Granny Evil” Pt. 1: Kath Pettingill Nov 06, 2020

She was a young barmaid who rose to be the ruthless matriarch of a Melbourne crime family in the 1980s.

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“The Acid King” Pt. 2: William Pickard Oct 30, 2020

After the 1988 bust of his Mountain View LSD lab, William Pickard turned to academics and convinced his colleagues he was done cooking acid. In truth, he set up a new lab in a retrofitted Cold War silo and started making LSD by the kilo — becoming the drug’s largest producer in the history of the U.S.

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“The Acid King” Pt. 1: William Pickard Oct 23, 2020

What happens when a chemistry genius meets 1960s counterculture? After wunderkind William Pickard began taking psychedelics, he became convinced it was his duty to share his experience with the masses… and he started cooking acid.

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“Whitey” Pt. 2: James Bulger Oct 16, 2020

Racketeering, gun running, contract killing… For two decades, “Whitey” Bulger was the crime king of Boston. But when the walls started to close in around him in the 1990s, he fled — leading to one of the longest manhunts in FBI history.

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“Whitey” Pt. 1: James Bulger Oct 09, 2020

On the brutal streets of South Boston, James "Whitey" Bulger knew that survival meant leaving nothing off the table. After doing time for bank robbery in 1956, Whitey didn't plan on rejoining the underworld. But a bloody Irish gang war put Whitey on the path to Boston gangland supremacy. And he would do anything to hold onto that power... even ratting to the FBI.

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“Merchant of Death” Pt. 2: Viktor Bout Oct 02, 2020

By the end of the 1990s, Bout’s fingerprints were on almost every conflict in Africa. After 9/11, he saw an opportunity to capitalize on the turmoil in the Middle East—and earned another nickname: The Lord of War.

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“Merchant of Death” Pt. 1: Viktor Bout Sep 25, 2020

When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, there was a surplus of weapons and cargo planes collecting dust. One Russian government worker, Viktor Bout, saw the potential of all that discarded equipment. Within a few short years, Bout became one of the most infamous arms dealers in the world.

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“Lord High Executioner” Pt. 2: Albert Anastasia Sep 18, 2020

During the 1930s, Albert Anastasia was the leader of Murder Inc., the mafia’s crew of contract killers. But after World War II, he shot his way to the top to become the boss of one of New York’s Five Families. Unfortunately for him, the Feds were more determined than ever to keep the notorious killer in prison for good.

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“Lord High Executioner” Pt. 1: Albert Anastasia Sep 11, 2020

By the time he immigrated to America just after World War I, Albert Anastasia knew that if he wanted to climb the ranks of New York's underworld, he would have to get his hands dirty.

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“Prince Prosperous” Pt. 3: Khun Sa Sep 04, 2020

Forced out of Thailand by his Thai benefactors and the Americans, Khun Sa retreated back to Burma. Once again, he wasted no time in rebuilding his empire and making deals with the Burmese military dictatorship. But in the early 1990s, the various Southeast Asian countries decided that they had had enough of Khun Sa, forcing him to make one final deal.

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“Prince Prosperous” Pt. 2: Khun Sa Aug 28, 2020

Suddenly under arrest, Khun Sa was forced to rebuild his empire from behind prison walls in Manderlay. He solidified his position as one of the leading drug lords in the Golden Triangle with a daring escape, rebranding himself in the process as a Shan nationalist fighting for separation from Burma.

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“Prince Prosperous” Pt. 1: Khun Sa Aug 21, 2020

By the early 1950s, the teenaged Khun Sa was already a militia leader in war-torn northeast Burma (present-day Myanmar). Over the next decade, his power as a warlord only increased. When the Burmese government came to him with an offer of allyship, he set himself up to become the “Opium King” of the Golden Triangle.

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“The Cocky Watchman” Pt. 2: Curtis Warren Aug 14, 2020

In 1993, Warren handily beat a drug trafficking charge brought against him by British authorities. He spent the next three years rebuilding—and expanding—his empire, importing and exporting drugs all over the world, until Dutch authorities helped bring him down.

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“The Cocky Watchman” Pt. 1: Curtis Warren Aug 07, 2020

After a five-year stint in prison, Curtis Warren emerged stronger, sharper, and more connected. By 1989, he was selling cocaine and ecstasy in Liverpool, and building a network that included the biggest names in the Turkish mafia, Moroccan cartel, even the Triads…

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“El Chapo” Pt. 3: Joaquín Guzmán Jul 31, 2020

With the Federation dissolved, his son murdered, and law enforcement closing in, El Chapo fled to where he knew he’d be protected: the mountains of Sinaloa. When he finally decided to re-enter society, a special forces unit was ready.

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“El Chapo” Pt. 2: Joaquín Guzmán Jul 24, 2020

From inside prison, with his partners on the outside running logistics, El Chapo turned the Sinaloa Cartel into one of the most successful drug cartels of the 1990s and 2000s. And when he made a daring escape, he only added to his growing folklore.

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“El Chapo” Pt. 1: Joaquín Guzmán Jul 17, 2020

Before he became the most powerful drug cartel leader in the world, building tunnels to evade authorities and growing his power even from inside prison, Joaquín Guzmán Loera was a small-town marijuana farmer in Sinaloa, Mexico.

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“Sammy the Bull” Pt. 2: Salvatore Gravano Jul 10, 2020

Now a made man, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano believed he was destined for success. But as the 1980s rolled around, he became disenchanted with the leadership of the Gambino crime family. And after throwing his support toward the more media-happy John Gotti, he had a crisis of faith that led him to make the ultimate betrayal.

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“Sammy the Bull” Pt. 1: Salvatore Gravano Jul 03, 2020

A fierce fighter, Salvatore Gravano proved to members of the Colombo family and the Gambino family throughout the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s that if there was ever someone fully dedicated to La Cosa Nostra, it was him.

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“Chicago’s Finest?” Pt. 2: Richard Cain Jun 26, 2020

He saw himself as an enigmatic spy and went so far as to try to play both sides of the FBI and the CIA. Richard Cain’s later career in international espionage in the 1960s nearly crossed paths with Fidel Castro before once again returning to the mayhem of Chicago—and the mob.

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“Chicago’s Finest?” Pt. 1: Richard Cain Jun 19, 2020

He was an infamous Chicago police officer and mobster in the 1950s and 60s. The mean streets of Chicago shaped a young Richard Cain during the Great Depression, and landed him on the radar of mob boss Sam Giancana.

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“The Aryan Brotherhood” Pt. 2: Barry Mills Jun 12, 2020

At the start of the 1980s, Barry Mills wanted to turn the Aryan Brotherhood into more than just a prison gang; he envisioned a nation-wide criminal syndicate that trafficked in drugs. Little did he realize that as his empire was booming, the Federal government was monitoring his every move.

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“The Aryan Brotherhood” Pt. 1: Barry Mills Jun 05, 2020

In the mid-1960s, as prisons throughout Southern California were in the midst of desegregation, prison gangs began to form as means for protection across racial lines. One of the gangs was the white nationalist Aryan Brotherhood. And it would go on to be co-lead by a man who very few people knew named Barry Mills.

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Kingpins Daily: El Chapo May 31, 2020

Today, we’re taking a look at a quote from Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The once-leader of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, Guzmán used his crime syndicate to sell billions of dollars worth of drugs.

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Kingpins Daily: Karen Gravano May 30, 2020

Today’s quote comes from Karen Gravano, daughter of gangster Sammy “The Bull” Gravano. Gravano was an underboss in the Gambino crime family, helping John Gotti consolidate power in mid-1980s New York City.

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“Before the Medellín Cartel” Pt. 4: Jung & Rivas May 29, 2020

Greed and ambition would end up getting the better of both George Jung and Carlos Lehder Rivas, turning them from brothers into enemies. Despite their perceived invincibility, it was this rivalry that would ultimately bring them down in 1987.

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Kingpins Daily: Joe Profaci May 28, 2020

Today’s quote comes from Salvatore Profaci, an influential captain in the famous Colombo crime family, based in New York City.

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Kingpins Daily: Jimmy Hoffa May 27, 2020

Today’s quote is from union organizer Jimmy Hoffa. When mafia hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran was looking for work, an associate arranged a phone call with the infamous union man.

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Kingpins Daily: John Dillinger May 26, 2020

Today’s quote is from notorious bank robber John Dillinger. Dillinger had no illusions of righteousness. He knew that robbing banks was not only a crime, but a very public one.

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Kingpins Daily: Benjamin Ruggiero May 25, 2020

Today’s quote is from Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero. Ruggiero was a notorious thug, and is thought to have murdered 26 people during his 30 years working for the New York Mafia.

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Kingpins Daily: Lucky Luciano May 24, 2020

Today’s quote comes from Charles “Lucky” Luciano, the father of the American Mafia. After Prohibition, and a bloody gang war that turned New York City into the Wild West, Luciano seized control of the underworld.

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Kingpins Daily: Giovanni Falcone May 23, 2020

Today, we’re remembering the words of Italian judge Giovanni Falcone. He spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the dangerous Sicilian Mafia.

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“Before the Medellín Cartel” Pt. 3: Jung & Rivas May 22, 2020

By 1987, Carlos Lehder Rivas and George Jung had scraped together a cocaine smuggling empire fit for kings. Yet as profits grew, the two partners found themselves at odds—diverging away from each other to fulfill their own desires for power and prosperity.

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Kingpins Daily: Jhon Jairo Velasquez May 21, 2020

Today’s quote is from hitman Jhon Jairo “Popeye” Velásquez, of the Medellín drug cartel. Velásquez was Pablo Escobar’s right hand man throughout the ‘80s, until his arrest in 1989.

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Kingpins Daily: Sam Giancana May 20, 2020

Today’s quote is from Sam Giancana, the mafia boss who controlled the Chicago Outfit from the 1940s to the 1960s. As one of the most powerful mafiosos in the nation, Giancana was a prime target of Attorney General Robert Kennedy’s crusade against organized crime.

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Kingpins Daily: Meyer Lansky May 19, 2020

Today’s quote is from Meyer Lansky, otherwise known as the “Mafia’s Banker.” An associate of famed mobster Lucky Luciano, Lansky established a sprawling gambling empire.

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Kingpins Daily: Al Capone May 18, 2020

Today’s quote is from American businessman and gangster, Al Capone. During prohibition in the 1920s and ‘30s, Capone was more than just a criminal—he was a celebrity.

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Kingpins Daily: Arnold Rothstein May 17, 2020

Today’s quote comes from one of the most influential gangsters ever: Arnold “the Brain” Rothstein. A notorious gambler who allegedly fixed the 1919 World Series and helped build a bootlegging empire at the dawn of Prohibition, Rothstein wasn’t known to kill men to get ahead.

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Kingpins Daily: Carlo Gambino May 16, 2020

Today’s quote is from Carlo Gambino, the leader of the Gambino crime family. Though he was deeply involved with the mob for more than five decades, Gambino only faced a total of 22 months in prison.

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“Before the Medellín Cartel” Pt. 2: Jung & Rivas May 15, 2020

After meeting in a Connecticut prison in 1974, George Jung and Carlos Lehder Rivas began to build what was to become a moderate cocaine operation, smuggling drug shipments from Columbia into the U.S. However, after a few nail biting trial runs, the duo realized they were on the brink of creating an empire that would make them rich.

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Kingpins Daily: Eliot Ness May 14, 2020

Today’s quote is from American Prohibition agent Eliot Ness. His dedicated service defending the 18th Amendment earned him a reputation as an incorruptible man—living in extraordinarily corrupt times.

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Kingpins Daily: Mickey Cohen May 13, 2020

Today’s quote comes from a 1930s and 40s Jewish crime boss Meyer “Mickey” Cohen, who worked for Al Capone and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel before making a West Coast empire of his own.

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Kingpins Daily: John Gotti May 12, 2020

Today, we’re going back to the formative years of New York’s most ruthless crime boss, John Gotti. Growing up poor in blue-collar Brooklyn, Gotti quickly learned the only currency he had was fear.

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Kingpins Daily: John Stanfa May 11, 2020

Today’s quote is from Giovanni “John” Stanfa, the Sicilian-born mobster who served as the boss of the Philadelphia crime family during the early ‘90s.

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Kingpins Daily: Frank Sinatra May 10, 2020

Today’s quote is from none other than the beloved crooner Frank Sinatra. Throughout his life, Sinatra remained friends with many prominent gangsters. He is also suspected of using his mafia connections to give JFK a leg-up in the 1960 election.

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Kingpins Daily: Willie Moretti May 09, 2020

Today’s quote is from gangster Guarino “Willie” Moretti. Though he was known as Frank Costello’s “muscle” he had a sharp sense of humor. And when he testified in the Senate’s Kefauver Hearings in 1950, Willie brought that humor with him.

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“Before the Medellín Cartel” Pt. 1: Jung & Rivas May 08, 2020

In the late 1970s, George Jung and Carlos Lehder Rivas would team up to become one of the most infamous trafficking duos in the history of American cocaine. Before they could become professionals though, both men would start from humble origins, padding their resumes out with marajuana trafficking and forays into organized crime.

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Kingpins Daily: Willie Sutton May 07, 2020

Today’s quote is from bank robber Willie Sutton, known for his gentlemanly manner and for escaping jail multiple times. His crimes eventually earned him a spot on the FBI’s most wanted list.

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Kingpins Daily: Otto Berman May 06, 2020

Today, we return to a saying you’ve likely heard once or twice before. What you might not know is who coined it: New York math whiz turned mafia accountant, Otto “Abbadabba” Berman.

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Kingpins Daily: Stephanie St. Clair May 05, 2020

Today’s quote is from 1920s and 30s underworld boss, Stephanie St. Clair. During that time, she was engaged in a fierce rivalry with Arthur Simon Flegenheimer, more commonly known as mobster Dutch Schultz.

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Kingpins Daily: Pablo Escobar May 04, 2020

Today, we’re recalling an odd moment in the life of Colombia’s “King of Cocaine,” Pablo Escobar. According to his son, when the family was once holed up in one of Escobar’s hideouts in the mountains of Medellin, his father resorted to drastic measures to keep the family warm.

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Kingpins Daily: Henry Hill May 03, 2020

Today’s quote is from mafioso-turned-informant Henry Hill, an associate of the Lucchese crime “family,” as many Italian mafia outfits are called.

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Kingpins Daily: Niccolò Machiavelli May 02, 2020

Our first quote is not actually by a criminal—it’s from The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, written in 1513. But the book’s principles lie at the heart of every mobster’s philosophy.

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“The Torture Gang” Pt. 2: Charlie Richardson May 01, 2020

By the 1960s, Charlie Richardson had London's criminal underbelly in the palm of his hand. This was all thanks to his acumen as a shady businessman and his “Torture Court,” where he judged and punished his enemies. And just as he was ready to go straight, his enemies would have something to say.

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NEW: “The Torture Gang” Pt. 1: Charlie Richardson Apr 24, 2020

We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Kingpins today and for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time.

As a child in post-World War II South London, Charlie Richardson learned quickly that the path out of working class life was crime. It wouldn't be long before Richardson was running a criminal empire—and instituted his infamous “Torture Court” to keep London's other criminals in line.

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“New York’s Finest” Pt. 2: Joseph Petrosino Apr 17, 2020

By 1905, Joseph Petrosino and his Italian Squad were at war with the nefarious Black Hand. As murder, extortion, and bombings plagued the Italian neighborhoods of New York, Petrosino knew that if he wanted to bring down this dead organization, he would have to get creative.

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“New York’s Finest” Pt. 1: Joseph Petrosino Apr 10, 2020

In the mid-1880s, immigrant Joseph Petrosino joined the NYPD as one of the few Italians on the force. Over the next two decades, he proved himself to be one of the most famous detectives in the city. But at the dawn of the 1900s, Petrosino would find himself up against a new kind of threat...called the “Black Hand.”

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The Yamnaya Apr 03, 2020

In 3000 BCE, coins and paper money hadn't been invented yet. But this was when history's first large-scale pot dealers, known as the Yamnaya, began selling drugs in China and Western Europe—and in the process, changed the course of human evolution.

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Parcast Classic: Haji Bagcho Mar 27, 2020

Due to the unfortunate spread of COVID-19, Parcast has decided to halt recording for the time-being. This is a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of our hosts and staff. In the meantime, we're excited to share one of our classic episodes that we know you'll enjoy!

By the time he stood trial in 2012, 70-year-old Haji Bagcho had been moving drugs for nearly five decades, and was responsible for 20% of the entire world's heroin supply. But he didn't climb to the top on his own...he had some help from both the CIA and the Taliban.

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“The Mob’s Enforcer” Pt. 2: John Alite Mar 20, 2020

When John Gotti Senior went to prison in 1992, his son, Junior, tried to keep control of the Gambino Family. But it became apparent to Albanian-American John Alite that his old friend was unfit to lead. Within a few short months, the one-time friends were at war with each other.

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“The Mob’s Enforcer” Pt. 1: John Alite Mar 13, 2020

In the 1980s, John Alite grew up in Queens with a promising career in baseball. But when that career was shattered in college, he returned to his neighborhood and started selling drugs to make money. In no time at all, he was running cocaine and doling out beatings for the Gambino Family.

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“Hell’s Angel” Pt. 2: Sonny Barger Mar 06, 2020

With the Hell's Angels making inroads as a drug dealing empire, Sonny Barger was on top of the world... until his Angels started getting booked on homicide charges.

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“Hell’s Angel” Pt. 1: Sonny Barger Feb 28, 2020

In 1963, at the age of twenty-five, Sonny Barger sat at the top of the burgeoning empire known as the “Hell’s Angels.” The outlaw biker club, known for drinking, fighting, and dealing drugs, rose to national infamy alongside the counterculture movements of the 1960s.

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Exciting Announcement Feb 24, 2020

Kingpins listeners… we have some exciting news! Kate has a new co-host, Alastair! If he sounds familiar, it is because he hosts other Parcast shows like Villains and Con Artists. Continue to tune in every Friday to listen to Kate and Alastair on Kingpins!

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Kingpins Rewind: “Diamond Jim” Pt. 1: Vincenzo Colosimo Feb 23, 2020

On the last Sunday of every month, Parcast Rewind replays a classic episode of Kingpins that you might have missed!

He had come from nothing, and yet had risen to become Chicago’s most feared and respected crime lord. Everybody knew “Diamond Jim,” and not just for his jewelry and that flashy three-piece suit he always wore. By 1914, Jim Colosimo controlled more than a 100 businesses in Chicago’s Red Light District.

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“The Untouchables” Pt. 2: Eliot Ness Feb 21, 2020

With Al Capone finally behind bars, Eliot Ness needed a new fish to fry. His move to Cleveland, Ohio ended up reshaping his career in the police force, with a very unexpected ending.

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“The Untouchables” Pt. 1: Eliot Ness Feb 14, 2020

As Prohibition amplified chaos in the streets of Chicago, federal agent Eliot Ness took to targeting the city's own mob royalty—Al Capone—in hopes of quashing the bootlegging that lined the pockets of gangsters and crooked cops.

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“The Zimbabwean Mastermind” Pt. 2: Paul Le Roux Feb 07, 2020

At age thirty-three, Paul Le Roux had his hands in everything from gold to guns to illicit drugs. By early 2009, his pharmacy network, RX Limited, was bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars. But it was his doomed tuna fishing venture in Somalia that eventually led to his downfall.

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“The Zimbabwean Mastermind” Pt. 1: Paul Le Roux Jan 31, 2020

He was an expert computer programmer and an early adopter of the internet. In the mid-2000s, Paul Le Roux made millions through online prescription drugs and helped contribute to the current opioid addiction crisis.

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Kingpins Rewind: Frank Lucas Pt. 1 Jan 26, 2020

On the last Sunday of every month, Parcast Rewind replays a classic episode of Kingpins that you might have missed!

Frank Lucas found his way into the New York City underworld, and under the wing of a man known as the Harlem Godfather, emerged as one of the most powerful drug kingpins of all time.

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“Queenie” Pt. 2: Stephanie St. Clair Jan 24, 2020

As the other Harlem policy bankers fall at the hands of Dutch Schultz, Stephanie St. Clair stood firm. Unfortunately for St. Clair, Schultz had political muscles and members of the NYPD on his payroll.

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"Queenie" Pt. 1: Stephanie St. Clair Jan 17, 2020

When she was just a teenager, Stephanie St. Clair immigrated to the United States from the French West Indies without a penny to her name. By the 1920s, with $10,000 mysteriously in her hand, she opened up her own numbers racket and became one of the most successful racketeers in Harlem.

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"Queen of Ivory" Yang Feng Glan Jan 10, 2020

Known as the “Ivory Queen,” Yang Feng Glan was a Chinese smuggler who helped move nearly 2-tons of illegal ivory out of Tanzania throughout the 2000s.

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Best of 2019: “Freeway” Pt. 2: Rick Ross Jan 03, 2020

Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: By 1983, Rick Ross had risen to become the reigning kingpin of South Central LA. But when he made a deal with a new supplier named Danilo Blandon, he ended up getting into much more than he’d bargained for.

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Best of 2019: “Freeway” Pt. 1: Rick Ross Dec 27, 2019

Here’s one of our listeners’ most requested episodes of 2019: In the 1970s, cocaine was seen as a “rich man’s drug” — reserved for the wealthy elites in the Hollywood Hills. That is, until 1979, when 19-year-old Rick Ross found a way to market it to the masses in South Central LA.

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LAPD Gangster Squad Dec 20, 2019

To surveil the seedy underworld of organized crime in the 1940s and 50s, a special undercover unit of the LAPD was created to track the city's most notorious gangsters, including Mickey Cohen and Jack Dragna.

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“Boss of All Bosses” Pt. 2: Carlo Gambino Dec 13, 2019

He ruled his family with an iron fist. But among his peers, Carlo Gambino was considered so fair that when he became head of the Commission, he earned the title “Boss of All Bosses.” Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, no criminal decision passed without his say.

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“Boss of All Bosses” Pt. 1: Carlo Gambino Dec 06, 2019

After growing up surrounded by the Sicilian mafia in the early 1900s, Carlo Gambino immigrated to America and put the knowledge to use. In an endless hail of bullets, Gambino solidified his status and reputation in the underworld.

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“Crazy as a Bedbug” Pt. 2: Bugsy Siegel Nov 29, 2019

In 1940, after the charges against Siegel were dismissed for the murder of Harry Greenberg, he reinvented himself in the deserts of Las Vegas and began his sordid affair with Virginia Hill.

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“Crazy as a Bedbug” Pt. 1: Bugsy Siegel Nov 22, 2019

No man was feared in New York during the 20s and 30s more than Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. After teaming up with Meyer Lansky, Bugsy made his bones carrying out vicious murders for the mob.

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“Billionaire Boss” Pt. 2: Dawood Ibrahim Nov 15, 2019

Even while he was on the run, Dawood Ibrahim continued to rule Mumbai's underworld with an iron fist. But as his riches increased, so did his appetite for violence. And in 1992, his operations expanded into terrorism.

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“Billionaire Boss” Pt. 1: Dawood Ibrahim Nov 08, 2019

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dawood Ibrahim, a young Muslim-born Indian would rise from a small time street thief to gang leader, bringing a more businesss-like—and ruthless—approach. And in the process, he would become one of the richest kingpins in history.

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“The King of Cocaine” Pt. 4: Pablo Escobar Nov 01, 2019

As the 90s approached, it was time for El Patron’s last stand. Many innocent Colombians would die in Pablo Escobar’s war against extradition before he finally reached a compromise with the government.

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“The King of Cocaine” Pt. 3: Pablo Escobar Oct 25, 2019

From multi-millionaire Colombian Congressman to political pariah—once Pablo Escobar’s criminal history was exposed, all bets were off. As his facade of legitimacy in the early 80s washed away, he vowed to take back control using the weapons he knew best: coercion, bribery and violence.

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“The King of Cocaine” Pt. 2: Pablo Escobar Oct 18, 2019

With a violent childhood and mantra of “smuggling, bribery and murder,” witness the beginnings of Pablo Escobar’s cocaine empire in Medellín in the 1970s, and how he expanded it exponentially by joining forces with other Colombian drug traffickers.

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“The King of Cocaine” Pt. 1: Pablo Escobar Oct 11, 2019

Before becoming “El Patron” and trafficking 80% of the world’s cocaine market, Pablo Escobar was nothing more than a petty criminal on the streets of Medellin.

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"Dread Pirate Roberts" Pt. 2: Ross William Ulbricht Oct 04, 2019

By 2013, the DEA, FBI, DOJ, and Homeland Security were all after Ross Ulbricht, aka "The Dread Pirate Roberts." His drug website, The Silk Road, trafficked millions worth of drugs every week. So far, Ulbricht remained anonymous, thanks to Tor and the cloak of the Dark Web. Little did he know, the users he thought were his friends were federal agents in disguise.

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"Dread Pirate Roberts" Pt. 1: Ross William Ulbricht Sep 27, 2019

In 2011, Ross Ulbricht created The Silk Road, aka "The Amazon of Drugs." Hosted on the dark web and financed by Bitcoin, it was an anonymous marketplace where anyone could buy or sell anything without leaving a trace. Drugs, guns, hacking software, human organs -- the free market utopia quickly made Ulbricht a millionaire. And made him a top target for the DEA.

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All Kingpins Episodes Now Available! Sep 24, 2019

Thank you for being a loyal listener! We’re excited to announce all Parcast Network episodes older than 6 months are now available for free on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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“Mr. Nice” Pt. 2: Howard Marks Sep 20, 2019

After being able to hide on the lam for years, Howard Marks was finally caught and forced to answer for his crimes. However, a convincing lie about his supposed involvement with MI6 ensured Marks’ release and allowed him to continue smuggling cannabis well into the 1980s.

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“Mr. Nice” Pt. 1: Howard Marks Sep 13, 2019

During the 1970s, Howard Marks became one of the biggest cannabis smugglers in Europe. Through a series of networks, which included contacts in the IRA and the Mafia, he was able to bring in upwards of 30 tons of cannabis into the UK and the United States. But after years of anonymity, a single bust in Las Vegas would put him on the DEA’s radar.

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“Gaspipe” Pt. 2: Anthony Salvatore Casso Sep 06, 2019

Mafia life came with plenty of rules, and Anthony Casso loved that. He was a criminal, but an honorable criminal, and his dedication to the Mafia lifestyle took him to the top of the Lucchese family hierarchy. In the mid 1990s, as he faced threats from inside and outside the family, the pressure got to him, and he started to make mistakes. He was taking his violence too far.

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“Gaspipe” Pt. 1: Anthony Salvatore Casso Aug 30, 2019

Anthony Casso was born in Mafia territory in South Brooklyn, and the money-making, wily intelligence, and violence that the "the life" demanded came naturally to him. It was no surprise that he started to climb the ranks of the Lucchese Family as they hit the height of their power in the 1980s.

Parcasters - Watergate forever changed the way Americans look at the presidency, but could there be more to the story? Find out today on Conspiracy Theories! Subscribe to Conspiracy Theories on Spotify to listen now!

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“Bobby Tuna” Pt. 2: Robert Platshorn Aug 23, 2019

By the 1970s, the Black Tuna Gang, led by Robert Platshorn, was running the marijuana game out of Miami. But, as internal strife grew out of control and the feds closed in around them, Platshorn's life was headed for a downfall.

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“Bobby Tuna” Pt. 1: Robert Platshorn Aug 16, 2019

In the late 1960s, Robert Platshorn was one of the most successful independent salespeople in the country. When a colleague offers to bring him into the marijuana business, Bobby just couldn't resist. Soon, he's off to Columbia to start his own smuggling outfit - which would become known to the FBI as "The Black Tuna gang."

Parcasters - When Darwin published his thesis on human evolution, it was highly contentious. When John Scopes introduced the theory into his lesson plan, criminal charges were brought against him. Learn about this historic trial on our other podcast NOT GUILTY.

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“Queen Pin” Pt. 2: Jemeker Thompson Aug 09, 2019

In 1984, Queenpin Jemeker Thompson lost her husband Daff, when he was shot to death while playing dice. She would successfully run her empire without him, but it would all come crashing down, thanks in part, to her own son.

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“Queen Pin” Pt. 1: Jemeker Thompson Aug 02, 2019

In 1977, when she was only 15 years old, Jemeker Thompson entered the world of drug-dealing by dipping her toes into the weed business. And with the help of her boyfriend, Daff, she would expand into the cocaine business, and become one of the foremost narcotics distributors in Los Angeles at the time.

Parcasters - This week on The Dark Side Of, we move on from Hollywood and start our exploration of the music industry. Our first episode details the myth of the 27 Club, you won't want to miss it! Subscribe to The Dark Side Of on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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“The Brotherhood of Eternal Love” Pt. 2: John Griggs Jul 26, 2019

The Brotherhood of Eternal Love reached new heights after the proliferation of their potent LSD tablet "Orange Sunshine." They spread their psychedelic gospel far and wide, even attracting infamous drug advocate Timothy Leary to their ranks. But all of their success would bring on unwanted attention from none other than the federal government.

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“The Brotherhood of Eternal Love” Pt. 1: John Griggs Jul 23, 2019

Just before the Summer of Love, 22-year-old John Griggs discovered LSD and had an epiphany – he would serve as the Hippie Messiah and guide the world to psychedelic revolution. John set out to the beaches of Southern California where he founded a psychedelic cult and international drug ring, while blazing the trail for the recreational use of psychedelics at the height of the hippie era.

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“Scarface” Pt. 2: Al Capone Jul 19, 2019

1926, Al Capone has risen to become the sole leader of The Chicago Outfit, and one of the most feared men in the country. As his enemies fall one by one, finally the United States Government gets involved.

Parcasters - This week on Conspiracy Theories, we wrap up our exploration of the mysterious Denver International Airport. You won’t want to miss these shocking episodes! Available now on Spotify or wherever you listen to Parcast Originals!

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“Scarface” Pt. 1: Al Capone Jul 12, 2019

As Prohibition and unsustainable economic growth spread across America in the early 1920s, a new wave of organized crime rose to meet the growing demand for illegal liquor. Among the many young immigrants enticed by a life of crime was Alphonse Gabriel Capone, a smart and violent Italian-American who would soon become the most infamous gangster of all time.

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“Black Caesar” Pt. 2: Frank Matthews Jul 05, 2019

In the dawn of the 1970s, Frank Matthews was at the top of his game. But growing attention from the FBI causes Frank to consider whether he should quit while he's still ahead. Or maybe, he could just... vanish.

Parcasters - When conservation advocate Joy Adamson turned up dead, the authorities initially suspected one of her lions. Little did they know one of her disgruntled employees would be much more dangerous! Listen to her story on Assassinations, available now on Spotify or wherever you get your Parcast Originals!

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“Black Caesar” Pt. 1: Frank Matthews Jun 28, 2019

Throughout the late 1960s, Frank Matthews rose from petty thievery in Durham, North Carolina to become one of the premier narcotics traffickers in New York City. But his mysterious life of luxury caught the attention of his neighbor - NYPD Detective Joe Kowalski.

Parcasters - This week on The Dark Side Of we dig into the trial of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, and the media frenzy that followed. You might think you know the story, but the truth is much darker! Available now on Spotify or wherever you listen to Parcast!

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“Freeway” Pt. 2: Rick Ross Jun 21, 2019

By 1983, Rick Ross had risen to become the reigning kingpin of South Central LA. But when made a deal with a new supplier named Danilo Blandon, he ended up getting into much more than he’d bargained for.

Parcasters - Catch up on our most recent episode of Crimes of Passion, where we explore the Sutton-Taylor feud, a back and forth battle between former Confederate soldiers, and the lawmen tasked with bringing them to justice. Available now on Spotify, or wherever you listen to Parcast podcasts!

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“Freeway” Pt. 1: Rick Ross Jun 14, 2019

In the 1970s, cocaine was seen as a “rich man’s drug” - reserved for the wealthy elites in the Hollywood Hills. That is, until 1979, when 19-year-old Rick Ross found a way to market it to the masses in South Central LA.

Parcasters - For more information on this don't miss our Conspiracy Theories episode on the Crack Epidemic! Available now at parcast.com/conspiracy

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“El Azul” Pt. 2 Juan José Esparragoza Moreno Jun 07, 2019

As an endless sequence of cartel leaders rose and fell, El Azul, miraculously managed to keep himself alive and free. After nearly five decades in the drug trade, a string of indictments in the 2000s threatened to end his streak of luck.

Parcasters - Colleen Stan was locked away by her captor for 7 years, her perseverance to live is unmatched. How did she get through the ordeal? Find out today on Hostage at parcast.com/hostage

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“El Azul” Pt. 1: Juan José Esparragoza Moreno May 31, 2019

From the late 1960s to the 2010s, the Mexican narcotics trade evolved from a Wild West of independent traffickers into a network of massive, highly-organized cartels. Only one man successfully weathered all five decades: Juan José Esparragoza Moreno.

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"The Wolf of Widnes” Pt. 2: Shaun Attwood May 24, 2019

After instigating a war with the Italian Mafia while high on a cocktail of psychedelic drugs in the early 2000s, former stockbroker Shaun Attwood realized he was in over his head. Shaun's resulting incarceration led him to a mission of education and advocacy.

Parcasters - On Espionage this week we cover one of the longest embedded spies in U.S. history, Larry Wu-tai Chin, who sent documents to the Chinese government for over 30 years! Available now at parcast.com/espionage

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"The Wolf of Widnes” Pt. 1: Shaun Attwood May 17, 2019

In 1996, this British-born stockbroker quit his day job trading stocks and switched his focus to trading ecstasy. Within a year, Shaun Attwood controlled the majority of the ecstasy market in the American Southwest. But his business sense and English charm couldn't protect him after a run-in with his enterprising rival.

Parcasters - Just like criminal masterminds, emperors hold tremendous power and control. In Ancient Rome, the only way to get the seat was to take it! Check out Assassinations to hear our most recent episode on Caligula and his violent end, on Spotify or anywhere you listen to Parcast! (parcast.com/assassinations)

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"The Lord of the Skies" Pt. 2: Amado Carrillo Fuentes May 10, 2019

Under his leadership, the Juarez Cartel became one of the most powerful narcotics enterprises in Mexico - but it also caught unwanted attention from authorities on both sides of the border. In 1997, the caution and creativity that launched the "Lord of the Skies" to success would also prove to be Amado Carillo Fuentes’ downfall.

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"The Lord of the Skies" Pt. 1: Amado Carrillo Fuentes May 03, 2019

The nephew of one of Mexico's first major drug kingpins, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, learned the narcotics trade from the best and brightest. By the time he took control in Ciudad Juarez in the late '80s, he knew exactly what to do - and what not to do - to ensure his reign didn't come to a premature end.

Parcasters - Criminal organizations are built on trust, but occasionally a mole will infiltrate the group. How do spies achieve this? Find out on Espionage! A new episode released today at parcast.com/espionage

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“Mad Dog” Pt. 2: Vincent Coll Apr 26, 2019

After a hit job gone awry in 1932, 23-year-old Vincent Coll found himself in the crosshairs of the New York Police - as well as several of the most powerful organized crime outfits. Instead of accepting an early retirement, he kept pushing his luck and stirring up trouble, even as nearly every crime group in the city wanted him dead.

Parcasters - Check out our new show today! We cover the most intriguing exoneration and acquittal cases in Not Guilty, now available at parcast.com/notguilty

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“Mad Dog” Pt. 1: Vincent Coll Apr 19, 2019

When mobsters wanted a particularly ruthless job done in the 1920s and 30s, their go-to man was Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll. Vincent would kidnap or kill anyone, from Hell's Angels leader "Big Frenchy" DeMange to Broadway singer Rudy Vallee.

Parcasters - Did you catch Unexplained Mysteries yesterday? You won’t want to miss the case of the disappearing genius, Physicist Ettore Majorana, a supposed time traveler! Available now at parcast.com/unexplained

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“The Cocaine Godmother” Pt. 3: Griselda Blanco Apr 12, 2019

As Griselda's closest ranks of family and associates turn into a list of enemies and rivals, she flees from Miami to California to escape the heat. But even as the law started to close in on Griselda's operation in the mid-'80s, she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Parcasters - You won’t want to miss our new show, Espionage! Subscribe today for the most incredible spy stories you have ever heard! Available now at parcast.com/espionage

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“The Cocaine Godmother” Pt. 2: Griselda Blanco Apr 05, 2019

After a DEA investigation forced Griselda Blanco to flee New York City in 1975, she returned to her hometown of Medellin, Colombia to run her cocaine operation from the shadows. There, she met a protege who would soon become her deadliest rival: Pablo Escobar.

Parcasters - The US government needed a way to turn public opinion in favor of conflict with Cuba during the Cold War. You know about the Bay of Pigs incident, but do you know about Operation Northwoods? Check it out now: parcast.com/conspiracy

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“The Cocaine Godmother” Pt. 1: Griselda Blanco Mar 29, 2019

The woman who would become one of Colombia's first major cocaine traffickers in the 1970s got her start as a criminal at age 11, kidnapping neighborhood children for ransom. This brand of ruthlessness and violence would become Griselda Blanco’s signature whenever she was crossed, even by her own husbands.

Parcasters - Check out our new show, Survival! In our first episode we covered Shin Dong-hyuk’s escape from a North Korean internment camp. Available now at parcast.com/survival

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Heroin Godfather: Haji Bagcho Mar 22, 2019

By the time this 70-year-old Afghan kingpin stood trial in 2012, Haji Bagcho had been moving drugs for nearly five decades and responsible for twenty percent of the entire world's heroin supply. He didn't climb to the top on his own: he had some help from both the CIA and the Taliban.

Parcasters - Thank you so much for listening! Check out Extraterrestrial if you’re looking for a another perspective on things at parcast.com/extraterrestrial

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“Black Mafia Family” Pt. 2: Demetrius and Terry Flenory Mar 15, 2019

Even while he was building his nationwide drug empire, Demetrius Flenory never gave up on his childhood dream of becoming a hip-hop artist and producer. After a shooting at an Atlanta nightclub in 2003, the law started closing in and his chances of going legit started slipping away.

Parcasters - All caught up with Kingpins? Try out our new show, Crimes of Passion! Check it out: parcast.com/passion

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“Black Mafia Family” Pt. 1: Demetrius and Terry Flenory Mar 08, 2019

Growing up in poverty in Detroit, brothers Demetrius and Terry Flenory started dealing drugs to keep the family afloat before they were even old enough to drive. In 1989, Demetrius moved to Atlanta to expand his cocaine empire nationwide. He became a fixture of the city's nightlife scene, catching the attention of rappers like Young Jeezy...and DEA agents like Jack Harvey.

Parcasters - To learn about an iconic event in American history, check out our our new episode on John McCain on HOSTAGE, wherever you get your shows. Listen now at parcast.com/hostage

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“Cali Cartel” Pt. 4: The Rodríguez Orejuela Brothers Mar 01, 2019

As Colombia descended into chaos in the late 1980s, the Orejuela Brothers knew there was only one way to save the Cali Cartel from crumbling: get rid of Pablo Escobar for good. They didn't anticipate that by bringing down their rival, they'd only be setting the stage for their own inevitable fall.

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“Cali Cartel” Pt. 3: The Rodríguez Orejuela Brothers Feb 22, 2019

The Brothers infiltrated the streets of New York City and built the infrastructure for one of the United States’ largest cocaine rings in the 80s. Never getting caught by a local or federal enforcement officer, the Orejuela brothers thought they could continue their operation unscathed. However, more was happening behind-the-scenes than they ever knew.

Parcasters - Brotherly love brought the Cali Cartel to the heights of the drug running world, learn more about criminal siblings with our new show CRIMES OF PASSION. Listen now at parcast.com/passion

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“Cali Cartel” Pt. 2: The Rodríguez Orejuela Brothers Feb 15, 2019

At the height of their power, Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela were bringing in one million dollars a week by smuggling cocaine into New York City. In the 1980s, a war broke out between the Cali Cartel and the Medellin Cartel. Officials struggled to track down the notorious kingpins.

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“Cali Cartel” Pt. 1: The Rodríguez Orejuela Brothers Feb 08, 2019

The two brothers that made up half of the Cali Cartel in Colombia, Gilberto and Miguel Orejuela became the leaders of one of the world’s most successful cocaine cartels in the 1970s. Most of the cocaine in New York City at the time was delivered by this massive operation that stretched from Bolivia to Peru.

Parcasters - Be sure to check out Parcast’s newest show Extraterrestrial! Listen at parcast.com/extraterrestrial

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“Diamond Jim” Pt. 2: Vincenzo Colosimo Feb 01, 2019

One of the most powerful men in Chicago, Big Jim’s businesses ranged from brothels and opium dens to upscale dining. His political influence in the early 1900s helped shape the way American organized crime operated for decades to come. Nobody could take down Big Jim… but that doesn’t mean they didn’t try.

Parcasters - Take a trip from Chicago to New Hampshire and learn about the alien abduction of Barney and Betty Hill on our new show Extraterrestrial. Listen at parcast.com/extraterrestrial.

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“Diamond Jim” Pt. 1: Vincenzo Colosimo Jan 25, 2019

He had come from nothing, and yet had risen to become Chicago’s most feared and respected crime lord. Everybody knew Diamond Jim, and not just for his jewelry and that flashy three-piece suit he always wore. By 1914, Jim Colosimo controlled more than a 100 businesses in Chicago’s Red Light District.

Parcasters - Once you’re finished with “Diamond Jim” you’ll want to learn about fate of Chicago native Alan Berg on this week’s episode of Assassinations. Listen now at parcast.com/assassinations

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“King Larry” Pt. 2: Larry Hoover Jan 18, 2019

Imprisoned in 1973 for drug crimes, he continued to oversee Chicago’s Gangster Disciples from his prison cell. Hoover used his time in prison to educate himself on politics and history. The Pontiac Prison Library provided a place for him to formulate a new plan: take the Gangster Disciples from street gang to political powerhouse.

Parcasters - Hear Hercules as you’ve never heard him before on this week’s episode of Mythology!

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“King Larry” Pt. 1: Larry Hoover Jan 11, 2019

The leader of one of Chicago's most dangerous gangs in the 1970s, Larry Hoover was only 23 when he was sent to a maximum-security prison. The police thought they’d taken one of Chicago’s most dangerous gang leaders out of the game, but they’d only given him a new territory to reign, and 3,200 new inmates to recruit.

Parcast News - Be sure to check out Parcast’s first fictional crime show MIND’S EYE at Parcast.com/MindsEye!

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“Mr. Murder Capital” Pt. 2 - Rayful Edmond III Jan 04, 2019

This powerful Kingpin was responsible for the drug epidemic that gave D.C. the reputation as the “murder capital” of the U.S. Edmond’s infamous trial in 1989, required the jury to sit behind bulletproof glass for their protection.

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“Mr. Murder Capital” Pt. 1: Rayful Edmond III Dec 28, 2018

He was the youngest drug lord in D.C. history and began selling drugs at the ripe old age of 9-years-old. By the mid-1980s, Rayful Edmond III controlled 60 percent of the drugs that came into the city and was making $300 million annually. But this would only be the beginning of his legendary reign.

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“Gangster Queen of Philadelphia” Pt. 2: Thelma Wright Dec 21, 2018

After her husband's murder in 1986, Thelma stepped in and took over a nationwide drug operation, moving cocaine and heroin from LA to Philadelphia. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Wright enjoyed the lavish lifestyle the drug trade afforded, but would soon learn the consequences of engaging with the criminal underworld.

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“Gangster Queen of Philadelphia” Pt. 1: Thelma Wright Dec 14, 2018

For years, this queenpin watched from the shadows while her husband built a drug empire. After tragedy struck in 1986, Thelma was thrust into the center of the action navigating a bi-coastal drug trade between Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Parcast - Check out our brand new podcast Mythology at https://www.parcast.com/mythology

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“Cara de Piña” Pt. 2: Manuel Noriega Dec 07, 2018

He rose from nothing to become the drug-smuggling, secret-selling, military dictator of Panama throughout the 1980s. However, it turns out he had a great deal of help from the American CIA.

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"Cara de Piña" Pt. 1: Manuel Noriega Nov 30, 2018

How did Manuel Noriega rise from nothing to become the drug-smuggling, secret-selling, military dictator of Panama? He had a great deal of help from the American CIA.

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"American Gangster" Pt. 2: Frank Lucas Nov 23, 2018

After the death of his boss, Bumpy Johnson in 1968, Frank Lucas is ready to capitalize on the open market. Originally a small-time dealer on the streets of Harlem, he becomes one of the most successful heroin dealers of all time.

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"American Gangster" Pt. 1: Frank Lucas Nov 16, 2018

Moving from North Carolina to New York City, Frank Lucas engaged in petty crime and pool hustling before he began smuggling drugs using coffins of dead American servicemen in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He cut out the middleman and bought heroin directly from the source.

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"The Ojinaga Fox" Pt. 3: Pablo Acosta Villarreal Nov 09, 2018

This vicious leader had very little regard for human life as if it stood in the way of his business. Pablo Acosta Villarreal commanded a 500 person operation on both sides of the border before his downfall and death in 1987.

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"The Ojinaga Fox" Pt. 2: Pablo Acosta Villarreal Nov 02, 2018

He repaired schools, paid medical bills for the poor and elderly, in exchange for one thing: control. The whole town protected him. But who was the man that brought him down?

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"The Ojinaga Fox" Pt. 1: Pablo Acosta Villarreal Oct 26, 2018

In the early years of the Mexican drug world, there were no cartels - there were only kingpins. The border region was a lawless desert governed by bloody shootouts, crooked cops, and folk-hero bandits. And to rule an old-fashioned frontier, it takes an old-fashioned outlaw.

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Welcome Trailer! Oct 09, 2018

Violence. Corruption. Decadence. Kingpins and Queenpins live heightened lives. This new podcast tells their unbelievable stories. Kingpins tracks the rise and fall of the notorious, presenting bizarre and captivating tales from the underworld. Along the way, the hosts profile the insane people, skewed relationships, and pressure-cooker environments behind organized crime. What's it really like to live like a Kingpin? Tune in to Kingpins every Friday. Kingpins is part of the Parcast Network and is a Cutler Media Production.

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