It's the American Dream to reach these golden shores, work hard, make your fortune, and see your name go down in history. Charles Ponzi did all that, just not in the way the law intended. He perfected the pyramid scheme to such a degree, they just named the whole thing after him. Not the legacy you want in life. 

It's the American Dream to reach these golden shores, work hard, make your fortune, and see your name go down in history. Charles Ponzi did all that, just not in the way the law intended. He perfected the pyramid scheme to such a degree, they just named the whole thing after him. Not the legacy you want in life.&nbsp;

True Crime is more than blood, guts, mayhem, and murder. Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share outlandish tales of capers, heists, and cons that shine a light on the absurd and outrageous side of criminality. Always 99% murder-free and 100% ridiculous, this is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

Ridiculous Crime

Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Charles Ponzi

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/374ae500-5a87-4646-9caf-b45e014bb680/transcript

He was America's first super-wealthy faith healer. You could also say he was America's first religious robber baron. His name is John Alexander Dowie. After many arrests, lawsuits, and court fights, Dowie decided it would be best if he and his thousands of followers started their own town. And he named it Zion City. He ran his spiritual utopia like a company town in coal country. Things worked well for the wannabe Old Testament-style patriarch, right up until Dowie decided to lead a holy crusade to save the people of Gotham from their wickedness. They say if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. John Alexander Dowie certainly put that to the test!

He was America's first super-wealthy faith healer. You could also say he was America's first religious robber baron. His name is John Alexander Dowie. After many arrests, lawsuits, and court fights, Dowie decided it would be best if he and his thousands of followers started their own town. And he named it Zion City. He ran his spiritual utopia like a company town in coal country. Things worked well for the wannabe Old Testament-style patriarch, right up until Dowie decided to lead a holy crusade to save the people of Gotham from their wickedness. They say if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. John Alexander Dowie certainly put that to the test!

God Wants You...To Make Me Rich!: The Crimes of John Alexander Dowie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/449f6dac-03d5-450c-9527-b49b01546eab/transcript

A prototype for generations of crooked politicians and media figures to come, Horatio Bottomley knew how to work the public. Whether defrauding them with fake sweepstakes or holding boisterous hate rallies, Bottomley was a pro at making a name for himself while making plenty of coin, as long as there was plenty of the right champagne on hand.

A prototype for generations of crooked politicians and media figures to come, Horatio Bottomley knew how to work the public. Whether defrauding them with fake sweepstakes or holding boisterous hate rallies, Bottomley was a pro at making a name for himself while making plenty of coin, as long as there was plenty of the right champagne on hand.

Full of (John) Bull: Horatio Bottomley

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d1aaacbe-911c-4e12-adda-b4960143eb9a/transcript

In the days of apartheid South Africa, no one expected a young white man who was a former South African soldier to turn rebel and to then help Nelson Mandela and the ANC conduct a super-secret sabotage operation. But that's exactly what Rodney Wilkinson did. And his target? The new Koeberg nuclear facility. With the help of a lot of luck and his steely nerves, he planned to blow it all up. The question is: can a dope-smoking, bike-riding, commune-dwelling hippie turned fencing instructor get the job done?

In the days of apartheid South Africa, no one expected a young white man who was a former South African soldier to turn rebel and to then help Nelson Mandela and the ANC conduct a super-secret sabotage operation. But that's exactly what Rodney Wilkinson did. And his target? The new Koeberg nuclear facility. With the help of a lot of luck and his steely nerves, he planned to blow it all up. The question is: can a dope-smoking, bike-riding, commune-dwelling hippie turned fencing instructor get the job done?

The Rebel With A Cause: Rodney Wilkinson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e7d9f39c-35b1-43b3-a7b5-b494015fba9b/transcript

Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Charles Ponzi

In 1 playlist(s)

Ridiculous Crime

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips