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The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

Brazen

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William Veres is in trouble. In 2018 he was arrested following the largest ever investigation by the Italian police’s art squad. They accuse him of running a pan-European art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. He is alleged to have stolen $40 million worth of art and antiquities from Italy. Charged with 14 counts, including money laundering, forgery, wire fraud and conspiracy, he faces a jail term of up to 20 years.

But he has a plan to get out of trouble. In this four-part podcast, host Simon Willis follows him as he puts that plan into action. It’s a story that takes listeners deep into the underworld, and into the dark heart of the most famous criminal organization of them all – Cosa Nostra.

It is a story of drug dealers, hitmen, smugglers, spies – even a corrupt prime minister. And in the middle of it all is William Veres’s quest to save himself. How? By solving the coldest cold case in the history of art crime – the theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity.

The Professor is a series for Hidden Worlds, the home of unbelievable true stories and gripping investigations into shadowy places.

Stay subscribed to Hidden Worlds and get brand new series delivered to your favorite podcast app year-round. One podcast, endless stories.

For more, visit brazen.fm/hidden-worlds.

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Top 10 The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece Episodes

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FAT LEONARD - #4: The Braveheart

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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10/19/21 • 27 min

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5.0

How Leonard buys his own warship, the Braveheart, complete with a mercenary army, and deploys it to help fight Al Qaeda. He secretly records orgies with Navy officers, causing one of the U.S.’s worst ever national security breaches.

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10/19/21 • 27 min

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4 Listeners

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FAT LEONARD - #6: Morena

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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11/02/21 • 28 min

Leonard’s cruel treatment of his Filipina girlfriend, Morena De Jesus, and their children together, exposes his dark side. A fraught relationship with his own father could hold the key to understanding Leonard.

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11/02/21 • 28 min

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FAT LEONARD - #3: Paula

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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10/12/21 • 32 min

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We look back at the Tailhook sexual assault scandal of 1991 through the voice of Navy whistleblower Paula Coughlin. The Navy’s problem with misogyny is deep seated and it set the stage for Leonard’s rise.

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10/12/21 • 32 min

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FAT LEONARD - #5: Marcy

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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10/26/21 • 33 min

Michael Misiewicz was a rising star in the Navy before Leonard corrupts him with prostitutes, cash and free travel. We see the descent of one officer into graft and violence through the voice of his wife, Marcy Misiewicz.

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10/26/21 • 33 min

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FAT LEONARD - #1: Paper Ships

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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10/05/21 • 35 min

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Leonard Francis became the most powerful military contractor in the Pacific, running a mafia organization at the heart of the U.S. Navy. He’s over 300 pounds, and charming. We meet him in jail, and explore why he’s talking exclusively to our host, author and journalist Tom Wright. We explore Leonard’s troubled childhood. It turns out this isn’t his first time in prison.

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10/05/21 • 35 min

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FAT LEONARD - #9: Different Spanks

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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11/23/21 • 38 min

With Leonard in jail, the Navy investigates hundreds of officers. But they spare top admirals. Tom’s relationship with Leonard reaches breaking point. A major trial of U.S. Navy officers is set to start in February. Watch out for bonus episodes.

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11/23/21 • 38 min

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FAT LEONARD - #7: Suppos

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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11/08/21 • 33 min

A cocksure Navy officer called David Schaus takes on Leonard. He’s joined by a principled Navy supply official called Teresa Kelly. Finally, they force Navy admirals, who for years have given him cover, to take Leonard’s fraud seriously.

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11/08/21 • 33 min

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FAT LEONARD - #8: The Sting

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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11/16/21 • 35 min

Beaten and angry, Marcy Misiewicz makes a decision that will bring down Leonard, and her husband along with him.

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11/16/21 • 35 min

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FAT LEONARD - #2: Ring of Steel

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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10/05/21 • 30 min

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Out of jail, aged 21, Leonard begins his career as a defense contractor, just as the U.S. embarks on its Forever Wars. Through skill, bribes and luck, we chart the Wolf of Wall Street-like rise of Leonard, on the back of a product called the Ring of Steel.

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10/05/21 • 30 min

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Introducing Fat Leonard

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

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09/27/21 • 2 min

​​Leonard Francis, AKA Fat Leonard, is angry, and he’s talking for the first time. His explosive story will change the way you look at the U.S. Navy forever.

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09/27/21 • 2 min

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece have?

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece currently has 71 episodes available.

What topics does The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece cover?

The podcast is about Society & Culture, Documentary and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece?

The episode title 'FAT LEONARD - #4: The Braveheart' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece?

The average episode length on The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece is 21 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece released?

Episodes of The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece?

The first episode of The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece was released on Sep 27, 2021.

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6 Ratings