Kingpins

By Spotify StudiosSociety & Culture True Crime History

Kingpins episodes

September 17, 2019 Introducing: SPORTS CRIMINALS, a new Parcast Original!
In our new show SPORTS CRIMINALS, we break down the crimes and careers of the most controversial sports figures in history. From kidnapping and murder to widespread corruption scandals, we give you the play by play of what lurks in the shadows of the sports world. New episodes come out every Thursday!
In this clip we introduce the incredible rise and precipitous fall of Oscar Pistorius, who captured the attention of the world by participating in the 2012 Olympic games as a double-leg amputee. To finish this episode, subscribe to SPORTS CRIMINALS on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
22 min
September 13, 2019 “Mr. Nice” Pt. 1: Howard Marks
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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51 min
September 06, 2019 “Gaspipe” Pt. 2: Anthony Salvatore Casso
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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43 min
August 30, 2019 “Gaspipe” Pt. 1: Anthony Salvatore Casso
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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45 min
August 23, 2019 “Bobby Tuna” Pt. 2: Robert Platshorn
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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Bombas - Visit Bombas.com/KINGPINS and get 20% off your first purchase.

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53 min
August 19, 2019 Introducing: TODAY IN TRUE CRIME, a new Parcast Original!
Crime never takes a day off, and neither do we. In our new podcast, TODAY IN TRUE CRIME, every day, we flip back the calendar and examine a true crime event from the same date years ago.

In this clip, we look back at August 19th, 1970, when John Norman Collins was convicted of the murder of 21-year-old Karen Sue Beineman. Subscribe to TODAY IN TRUE CRIME for a new story every day!

17 min
August 16, 2019 “Bobby Tuna” Pt. 1: Robert Platshorn
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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48 min
August 09, 2019 “Queen Pin” Pt. 2: Jemeker Thompson
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.
Sponsors!
Native - For $20 off a suitcase, visit AwayTravel.com/KING and use promo code KING during checkout!

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49 min
August 02, 2019 “Queen Pin” Pt. 1: Jemeker Thompson
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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50 min
July 29, 2019 Introducing: CON ARTISTS, a new Parcast Original!
From counterfeit goods, to fake love interests, and even major financial fraud, you will find it all in our new show. In this Parcast Original, we examine the swindlers behind the scam, and the victims manipulated by their deceit. In CON ARTISTS you will learn about the art of the hustle, and the ways you can spot a con.

In this clip, we explore the massive Ponzi scheme orchestrated by fraudster Bernie Madoff. Subscribe to CON ARTISTS on Spotify or wherever you listen to Parcast to listen to the rest of this episode!
20 min

About Kingpins

From the publisher's feed

Undeniable power. Unbelievable stories. Unlikely origins. Kingpins follows the rise and fall of rulers of the underworld. Every Friday, we examine the leaders of organized crime rings, and how money…