True Crime

Ray William Johnson: True Story Podcast

The Official Podcast of Ray William Johnson, storyteller and comedian. Tune in for the best stories of True Crime and Pop Culture.

Latest Episodes:

The Fake Saudi Prince - The Anthony Gignac story Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

Anthony Gignac, a Colombian-born con artist, spent over three decades impersonating Saudi royalty to defraud investors worldwide. Assuming the identity of "Prince Khalid bin Al Saud," he orchestrated schemes that amassed over $8 million, funding a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, yachts, and private jets. His deception unraveled in 2017 when a suspicious investor noticed inconsistencies in his behavior, leading to his arrest. In 2019, Gignac was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for impersonation and fraud.

The World's Greatest Art Fraud - The Wolfgang Beltracchi story Mar 15, 2025

Show notes

The Wolfgang Beltracchi case is one of the most notorious art forgery scandals in history, where Beltracchi faked hundreds of paintings in the style of famous artists like Max Ernst, Heinrich Campendonk, and Fernand Léger. Rather than copying existing works, he created "newly discovered" paintings, complete with forged provenance, which fooled experts, collectors, and museums for decades. His scheme unraveled in 2010 when forensic testing detected modern titanium white paint in one of his supposed early 20th-century works.Wolfgang is not foine.

Casey Anthony Is Back! - The Casey Anthony Story Mar 14, 2025

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The Casey Anthony case gained national attention in 2008 when her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, was reported missing in Orlando, Florida. Casey initially lied to authorities about Caylee’s whereabouts, and after a month-long search, the child’s remains were found in a wooded area near the family home. Casey was charged with first-degree murder, but in a highly controversial 2011 trial, she was acquitted of murder but convicted of lying to law enforcement.

The Thailand Serial Killer - The Somkid Pumpuang story Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Somkid Pumpuang, known as the “Jack the Ripper of Thailand,” is a convicted serial killer who murdered multiple women. In 2005, he was sentenced to life in prison for murdering five women, all of whom were masseuses or karaoke hostesses, but was released early in 2019 for “good behavior.” Just six months after his release, he murdered another woman, leading to a nationwide manhunt and his swift recapture.

The Bling Bishop - The Lamor Whitehead story Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Lamor Whitehead, aka The Bling Bishop, a Brooklyn pastor known for his flamboyant lifestyle, was sentenced to nine years in prison in June 2024 for wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements. He defrauded parishioners, including misappropriating funds from a congregant's retirement savings. Whitehead also attempted to extort a businessman by falsely promising political favors.

America's Funniest Con Man - The Steve Comisar story Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Steve Comisar, born December 30, 1961, is an American con artist known for a series of high-profile frauds. In the 1980s, he notoriously sold a "solar-powered clothes dryer" for $49.95, which was merely a length of clothesline. Throughout his criminal career, Comisar amassed an estimated $10 million through various scams, earning him the moniker "the Jeffrey Dahmer of fraud." Despite multiple convictions and prison sentences, his fraudulent activities persisted over decades.

Jeopardy Champion Murders His Wife - The Paul Curry story Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

Paul Curry, a former nuclear engineer and Jeopardy! winner, was convicted in 2014 for the 1994 nicotine poisoning death of his wife, Linda Curry, in California. Prosecutors revealed that Curry stood to gain substantial life insurance benefits from Linda's death, highlighting a financial motive. Despite the crime occurring in 1994, Curry wasn't arrested until 2010, following a prolonged investigation.

He Made Will Smith Gay? - The David Hampton story Mar 08, 2025

Show notes

David Hampton was an American con artist who, in the early 1980s, deceived numerous affluent New Yorkers by posing as the son of actor Sidney Poitier. He leveraged this fabricated identity to obtain money, food, and shelter from unsuspecting individuals, including notable figures like Inger McCabe Elliott and Osborn Elliott. His exploits inspired John Guare's 1990 play "Six Degrees of Separation," which was later adapted into a 1993 film. This eventually lead to the rumor that Will Smith is gay.

Dance Mom Goes Crazy - The Nancy Motes story Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

In December 2016, Nancy Alice Motes orchestrated an armed home invasion and kidnapped Alexa Blair, a freshman member of the Kilgore College Rangerettes dance team and daughter of the team's director, Dana Blair. Motes abducted Alexa from her home and held her captive, but Alexa managed to escape after approximately an hour.

Mafia Boss Caught By Google Street Car - The Gioacchino Gammino story Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Gioacchino Gammino, a convicted murderer and member of the Sicilian mafia group Stidda, escaped from Rome's Rebibbia prison in 2002 and evaded capture for nearly 20 years. During his time as a fugitive, he adopted the alias "Manuel" and established a fruit and vegetable shop, El Huerto de Manu, in Galapagar, Spain. His whereabouts were uncovered in late 2021 when Italian authorities, utilizing Google Street View, identified him conversing outside his shop, which led to his arrest.

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