Episodes

When Fernando Wood won the election to become mayor of New York City, Bill Tweed watched him closely. He observed everything his political rival did -- the way he manipulated voters, how he curried favor, and how he consolidated his own power. But he also paid careful attention to Wood's biggest mistakes, including the one that led to the infamous New York City Police Riot. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'William 'Boss' Tweed' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to...

As Bill Tweed tightened his stranglehold over Tammany Hall, the Civil War broke out, throwing the country into chaos. And when the war effort asked New Yorkers to pay too high a price, they took to the streets in a deadly riot that would last for days. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'William 'Boss' Tweed' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season first, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠⁠Americancriminal.com⁠ Learn more about your ad ch...

By the spring of 1870, William Tweed had almost complete control over New York – not just the city, but much of the state, too. And with his wealth increasing by the day, he knew that he was nigh untouchable. Money could be used to end political careers, bribe judges to look the other way, or even buy nuisance publications that wouldn’t play ball. But there were a few men who couldn’t be bought. Bill understood plenty about America’s political system, but he didn’t understand that. Listen ...

December 4, 1875. Notoriously corrupt New York City politician Boss Tweed slips away from guards during a home visit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the story of William Tweed has taught us anything, it’s that corruption in politics is nothing new. But nor is corruption the only thing that affected the course of Boss Tweed's career. We're joined by historian, lawyer, and author Kenneth Ackerman to talk about the life and legacy of William Tweed, the impact of the Orange Riots on New York City, and the way history echoes through the ages. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'William 'Boss' Tweed' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get ear...

In the 1970s, one man is the face of New York City’s heroin trade: Leroy “Nicky” Barnes. After a years-long cycle of arrests, prison time, and parole, Nicky assembles a syndicate of Black dealers to challenge the Mafia’s dominance in the industry. For years, they rake in millions. But despite earning the nickname “Mr Untouchable,” Nicky’s gonna find out the hard way that nothing lasts forever. This season on American Criminal: how a former heroin-addict built one of the most lucrative drug empi...

In the 18th century, it was an open secret that new corpses would often be taken from graves and used as teaching aids for medical students. Not the most pleasant thing to think about, but much of society was pretty happy to ignore the elephant in the room. But in April of 1788, something changed, and it suddenly brought a lot more attention to the cottage industry of body snatching. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'William 'Boss' Tweed' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free...

Long before he became "Mr Untouchable" -- one of the biggest drug dealers in the country -- Nicky Barnes was just a kid growing up in Harlem. But he would eventually gather together a group of other Black men to control the flow of heroin across New York City, challenging the dominance of the city's existing crime families. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Nicky Barnes: Mr. Untouchable' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season, subscribe in Apple Pod...

Fresh out of his stint in Green Haven State Prison, Nicky Barnes gets to work rebuilding his drug business. He takes the advice of Matty Madonna, and models his growing empire on the structures of the Five Families of the American Mafia. But his rapid success puts a huge target on his back, and he won't be able to stay ahead of the law forever. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Nicky Barnes: Mr. Untouchable' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season, s...

In 1972, Nicky Barnes assembles "The Council" -- a Mafia-inspired syndicate of Black heroin dealers. They establish a partnership with supplier Matty Madonna, and quickly flood the streets of New York with their product. And although investigators will continue trying to bring Nicky down, he'll prove a tricky man to prosecute, earning him the nickname "Mr Untouchable." Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Nicky Barnes: Mr. Untouchable' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free acces...

When a low-level grunt in the Council's orbit gets picked up for running a telephone scam, he offers to help the feds get to Nicky Barnes. And over a period of months, he does just that. But Nicky's mighty tumble isn't what upsets him the most, its the betrayals that come after that make him angry. And before long, he decides he wants revenge on the partners who've taken him for granted all this time. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Nicky Barnes: Mr. Untouchable' wherever you get your podcast...

Jeremy and Joel get together for a casual and illuminating conversation about the complicated world of Nicky Barnes, the legacy he left behind, and the many stories that didn't fit into our full series. We’ve covered dozens of stories here at American Criminal, and we always love hearing which ones are your favorites. Now we want your help to choose some of our upcoming seasons. We’ve put together a list of stories we think you’ll really enjoy, and now the final say is yours. Click the lin...

In the early ‘90s, someone was taking men home from Manhattan’s gay bars, killing them, and mutilating their bodies. As pieces of victims turned up outside the city, panic set in for a community already in turmoil. Could authorities catch the killer before he struck again? Or would he always be one step ahead? They called him the ‘Last Call Killer,’ and as investigators finally started to put together the pieces, they wondered if New York City was his only hunting ground… This season on Ameri...

There's corruption, and then there's corruption.Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito rise through the ranks of the NYPD while secretly working for the Mafia. Protected by their reputations and a culture where cops protect cops, the two men think they’re untouchable—until a small team of honest investigators comes together to take them down. From American Scandal, you can listen to the entire season of 'Mafia Cops: The Thin Blue Line' on Audible Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Nicky Barnes:...

Between 1991 and 1993, New York City was home to an active serial killer: Richard Rogers. But his first kill came long before he made it to the Big Apple. In 1973, University of Maine student Frederic Spencer was found beaten and strangled to death near a forest outside of Orono. Richard readily admitted to killing his roommate, but he had every certainty he'd get away with it. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Serial Killer: Richard Rogers' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-f...

Having been acquitted of murdering his roommate Frederic Spencer, Richard Rogers moves to New York City, where he studies nursing and gets a job at Mount Sinai Hospital. But while most nurses dedicate their lives to taking care of others, Richard is that rare creature: an angel of death. Only he doesn't kill his patients. He targets men he meets at Manhattan's gay bars. It's also possible that he's responsible for at least one unsolved murder. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Serial Killer: Ri...

In 1647, Alse Young became the first person executed for the crime of witchcraft in the American colonies. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be the last. As the 17th century progressed, ignorance, fear, and religious fervor led to the persecution and deaths of innocent men and women. Thankfully, society evolved. But in the 1980s, there were at least two people who were very afraid of witches. And they thought our ancestors had the right idea: kill them all. This Halloween on American Criminal: the s...

On Halloween night, 1957, Peter Fabiano is gunned down by one final trick-or-treater. Or so it seems. Listen to all Halloween Horrors episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season first, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠Americancriminal.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the discovery of a mutilated body beside the Pennsylvania Turnpike, local investigators search for clues to the man's identity. Their hunt leads them all the way to New York City, where three more men will disappear from in the coming years: Thomas Mulcahy, Anthony Marrero, and Michael Sakara will all be spotted at gay friendly bars right before their murders. And two of them will be seen in the company of a man matching the description of nurse Richard Rogers. Listen to all 4 episod...

In 1974, one shocking crime changed the way Americans think about trick-or-treating forever when Ronald O'Bryan's son Timothy died after eating poisoned Halloween candy. Listen to all Halloween Horrors episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season first, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠Americancriminal.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the murder of Michael Sakara, investigators from New Jersey reach out to their New York counterparts to form a task force. They team up with detectives from Pennsylvania to investigate the series of murders that have had Manhattan's gay community on edge for years. But the Last Call Killer will prove more elusive than anyone expected, and it will take some outside help from a Canadian forensics lab to finally identify the killer. Listen to all 4 episodes of 'Serial Killer: Richar...

In November 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were found murdered in their beds in Amityville, New York. The truth behind the shocking crime rocked the small community and would go on to inspire one of the most iconic horror film franchises of all time. But just how haunted is the Amityville Horror house? Listen to Halloween Horrors episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the entire season first, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ⁠Americancrimin...

In 1647, Alse Young became the first person executed for the crime of witchcraft in the American colonies. Three and a half centuries later, a husband and wife team appointed themselves the avenging arms of the lord, and set out to rid the world of witches. Who were Michael and Suzan Carson? Were they righteous warriors on a religious quest? Or were they crazed killers just looking for an excuse to shed blood? Listen to Halloween Horrors episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early,...