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Fraudsters

Fraudsters

Fraudsters is an all-you-can-eat buffet of liars, cheaters, and scammers. We cover every flavor of fraud you can imagine from fake psychic hotlines to corporations cookin’ the books. This podcast is a collaboration between Zerocool Media and the Last Podcast Network. Hosted by Seena Ghaznavi and Justin Williams. Produced by Hazel Bryan. Theme music by Simon TaufiQue. Find us on Instagram or Twitter @FraudstersLPN Email us with your thoughts at [email protected]

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1 hr, 9 min•
3 Dec

A Tale of Two Fraudsters: John Kapoor and The Sacklers

It’s the season finale of Fraudsters, and we’re reluctantly exploring the grim origins of America’s opioid crisis. From the Sackler family’s OxyContin empire, built on shameless marketing, fake science, and philanthropy-as-image-laundering, to John Kapoor’s Insys Pharmaceuticals, a scrappy underdog peddling fentanyl sprays, we unravel the fraud that fueled this epidemic. With half a million deaths, shattered communities, and contrasting fates for these corporate villains, it’s a class war in a pill bottle. Who paid the price—and who walked free?Follow The Show: Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/Follow the Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Sources:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/13/meet-the-sacklers-the-family-feuding-over-blame-for-the-opioid-crisishttps://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/business/01sackler.htmlhttps://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a12775932/sackler-family-oxycontin/https://theconversation.com/a-dangerous-method-in-defence-of-freuds-psychoanalysis-5989#:~:text=According to Freud's theory%2C mental,caused by early childhood trauma.https://www.bmj.com/content/suppl/2005/07/18/331.7509.DC1https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/12-napp-pharmaceutical-holdings-rhmq8hnpfgxhttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sackler-family-oxycontin-opioid-drug-scandal-british-connection-q3wd30s35https://lithub.com/on-terminal-pain-and-the-origins-of-the-end-of-life-movement/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/27/obituaries/dr-arthur-sackler-dies-at-73-philanthropist-and-art-patron.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/business/raymond-sackler-dead-of-purdue-pharma.htmlal-health-data/https://casetext.com/case/kottayil-v-insys-therapeutics-inc/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1516479/000143774915019892/R12.htmhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/page/file/947866/dl?inlinehttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/page/file/1010246/dl?inlinehttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/health/insys-opioid-bankruptcy.html?searchResultPosition=6https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/business/doubts-raised-about-off-label-use-of-subsys-a-strong-painkiller.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article®ion=FooterLinks to clips:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaxlJXpwkzshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTR3R2jYw4Q&t=1127shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkeQifzvSNE&t=80shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtwFZwjCSTEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w327H5VNT9Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s8kybr-YFU Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

A Tale of Two Fraudsters: John Kapoor and The Sacklers
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1 hr, 19 min•
26 Nov

Profiting Off Punishment: The Kids for Cash Scandal

Get ready for one of the most sinister and heartbreaking frauds this week – the Kids for Cash scandal. Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan turned Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system into their very own cash cow, sentencing kids to private detention centers they secretly profited from. How else are you gonna clear $330,000 of credit card debt…? From denying legal representation to forcing minors into facilities over petty offenses, their scheme destroyed lives for kickbacks. Join us as we unravel their twisted web of greed and power with guests Marsha Levick co-founder of the Juvenile Law Center and Corene Kendrick of the ACLU.Follow The Show:Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/ Follow the Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Follow Our Guests:https://x.com/ck94117https://x.com/marshalevick?lang=en Sources:https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-152/issue-30/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E330-1https://ursdayton.org/about/https://thearc.org/https://www.timesleader.com/archive/330195/news-local-news-523246-ciavarellas-wife-files-for-divorce-2https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/816416/ciavarella-denied-compassionate-releasehttps://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/us/21judge.html?searchResultPosition=1https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/us/12brfs-JUDGESARECHA_BRF.html?searchResultPosition=13https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/us/28judges.htmlhttps://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/20090328_judges_charges.pdfhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/535978548/https://www.newspapers.com/image/508543336/https://jlc.org/news/lessons-kids-cash-part-2-all-children-must-have-access-legal-representation-courthttps://jlc.org/cases/am-v-luzerne-county-juvenile-detention-centerhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/504007342/ Clips:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-bXCdZpMwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdhsf1u3JVY Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

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1 hr, 10 min•
19 Nov

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s the Superpredator Myth!

Picture this: it’s the mid-'90s. Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise dominates the airwaves, and America’s crime hysteria is peaking. It’s the perfect time for a new villain to emerge: the “superpredator.” Tune in as we unravel the fear-mongering myth born from flawed statistics, Ivy League arrogance, and moral panic—spearheaded by Princeton professor John DiIulio. We explore how this theory intersected with the 1994 Crime Bill, fueling mass incarceration and devastating policies, with guests Kris Henning (Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at Georgetown Law) and Yasmin Cader (Deputy Director at the ACLU). Through stories like Terrance Lewis’s—wrongfully imprisoned for 22 years—we reveal the human cost of a lie that reshaped America’s justice system.Follow The Show:Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/ Follow the Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Follow Our Guests:https://x.com/profkrishenninghttps://www.instagram.com/yasmin_cader/?hl=en Sources:https://www.newsweek.com/did-liberals-put-black-america-behind-bars-297096[↩︎](about:blank#fnref1)Martinson, R. "What works?—questions and answers about prison reform". Public Interest 1974↩︎https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/us/politics/bush-willie-horton.html[↩︎](about:blank#fnref3)https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1992-democratic-party-platform[↩︎](about:blank#fnref4)https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/1994-crime-bill-and-beyond-how-federal-funding-shapes-criminal-justice[↩︎](about:blank#fnref5)https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/20/18677998/joe-biden-1994-crime-bill-law-mass-incarceration[↩︎](about:blank#fnref6)Clips:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HY45DY2B8w&t=356shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izRCGHJmg0M&t=1568shttps://www.pbs.org/video/retro-report-on-pbs-season-1-episode-8-correcting-myth-superpredator/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uCrA7ePno Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s the Superpredator Myth!
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39 min•
12 Nov

One Bag of Crack for Bush Senior, Please!

In the summer of 1989, President George H.W. Bush’s War on Drugs needs a dramatic touch for his first national address: a bag of crack cocaine bought steps from the White House. The DEA zeroes in on Keith Jackson, an unsuspecting young dealer, luring him into a dangerous setup to secure the president’s controversial prop. As Bush’s speech electrifies the nation, Keith faces life-altering consequences, sparking questions about political theater, selective justice, and a deeply flawed system. Tune in now as we dive into the chilling tactics used in America’s zero-tolerance crusade with the help of our guest, journalist Jefferson Morley.Follow The Show:Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/ Follow the Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Follow our guest:https://x.com/jeffersonmorley Sources:https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/bushdrug.htmhttps://dcplislandora.wrlc.org/islandora/object/dcplislandora%3A347387#page/27/mode/1uphttps://file.notion.so/f/f/35cc2dfe-904c-4092-bad6-96c81acda7c4/dcc370ec-f359-4283-9c22-a5758bb6310a/D.C._STUDENT_IS_GIVEN_10_YEARS_IN_DRUG_CASE_-_The_Washington_Post.pdf?table=block&id=f1fbb853-ea9e-4704-b9ac-aa8350205be6&spaceId=35cc2dfe-904c-4092-bad6-96c81acda7c4&expirationTimestamp=1731456000000&signature=nN7Cu00VPq-ylGpJjuj5KroddB_75ZbPMeXMrcoDxus&downloadName=D.C.+STUDENT+IS+GIVEN+10+YEARS+IN+DRUG+CASE+-+The+Washington+Post.pdfhttps://file.notion.so/f/f/35cc2dfe-904c-4092-bad6-96c81acda7c4/09fe9751-0988-45e8-8b6c-e25736ed042c/isikoff-0922_1989-full-text.pdf?table=block&id=f872be3d-4ad7-40f3-b412-fa8fa2e85de4&spaceId=35cc2dfe-904c-4092-bad6-96c81acda7c4&expirationTimestamp=1731456000000&signature=1wED3CdhQbVdtakW4sOFmGvfGaI2ElYLF9pJx-NjmOs&downloadName=isikoff-0922_1989-full-text.pdfClips:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtlkyBk6rcc&t=1471s Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

One Bag of Crack for Bush Senior, Please!
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39 min•
5 Nov

The Rise and Fall of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International

This week we’re taking a step back to Miami, 1987. South Beach is buzzing, and the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) looks like any other bank—until you take a closer look. BCCI was no ordinary financial institution. It was a global hub for money laundering, arms deals, and shady alliances with everyone from Columbian drug lords to CIA operatives. In this episode, we unravel the rise and fall of BCCI, led by Agha Hasan Abedi. From secretive offshore accounts to "rent-a-face" deals with Arab monarchs, this was a bank that did it all...until it all fell apart. Tune in now to catch the full story!Follow The Show:Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/ Follow the Hosts: https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Sources:A Full Service Bank: How BCCI Stole Billions Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

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1 hr, 8 min•
29 Oct

This is Your Brain on Anti-Drug Propaganda

Get ready for a deep dive into America’s anti-drug propaganda! This week, we’re tackling everything from Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” crusade to McGruff the Crime Dog and the DARE program. We’re digging up the roots of these campaigns, exploring how they reshaped public perception and exposing the contradictions of Nancy’s White House role. From the scare tactics of Harry Anslinger to those unforgettable ‘80s and ‘90s PSA (“This is Your Brain on Drugs” and so much more) we break down how these campaigns blamed users while ignoring the real issues behind addiction.Follow The Show:Twitter: https://twitter.com/fraudstersLPNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraudsterslpn/Discord: https://discord.gg/WRZ8zgusPTWebsite: https://fraudsters.fm/ Follow the Hosts:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/justin_williams_comedyhttps://twitter.com/arielleaty Sources for this episode:https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1987/03/06/971087.html?pageNumber=103https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/science-psas-do-anti-drug-ads-keep-kids-drugs/https://www.marketplace.org/2019/03/26/advertisings-war-drugs-also-failed/https://www.npr.org/2013/04/28/179658317/anti-drug-psas-do-they-workhttps://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/how-nancy-reagan-shaped-war-drugshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1447241/Clip Links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOnENVylxPIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4rVJsy8z8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQXgVM30mIY&t=233shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hivkBw2JKfY&t=35shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KCAGzNv_QIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSFaDeRpSHAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJcbSbpr8w4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb8z2BMrd60https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFE86cyltmUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ISXS5c5Cnkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2oqCf9i3rc&t=2542shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQEG8j0lgeEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EjUzterCf4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHQQwp_MpvUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOcNXoYsnWUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHCnGRz7i4https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/video/2024/06/11/return-dare-how-curriculum-has-changed-up-schools/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes.

This is Your Brain on Anti-Drug Propaganda
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