logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
55m 15s

Queen of the St. Petersburg Crime Scene:...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

A gorgeous thief who was perhaps too talented for her own criming good, Sonia Golden Hand stole hearts and goods all over Europe. She ran cons and palmed gems like no other, which gained her fame. Pro tip: fame and recognition aren't particularly helpful for those looking to fly under the radar. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
To Thine Own Self Do Crime
Sometimes in this world you're confronted with a choice. One that, years later, you'll look back at and recognize that choice was a key moment in your life. Because that choice catapaulted you forward where you eventually get slammed into the consequences of your actions. Wheneve ... Show More
56m 20s
Jul 16
We Didn't Start the Fyre: Fabulous Festival Failures
We all need escapes from this crazy world, and one way to do that is to meet up with like-minded folks and enjoy your shared, niche interests. Whether it's a magical world of candy, the finery of the Gilded Age, or the fantasy realm of dragons and otherkin, getting together and r ... Show More
56m 5s
Jul 15
Introducing: DISGRACELAND
Hello, Ridiculous Crime Listeners! We want to share a new show you might enjoy, it’s DISGRACELAND!!! About the Show: You know the myths. You’ve seen the biopics. But if you’re the kind of music fan who craves the rest of the story—the stuff they buried or cleaned up for streaming ... Show More
1m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Getting Grifty with Sonya Goldenhand
<p>This week, Elna and Knoxville take a walk through history to share the story of Russia's Con Queen, a beautiful and charismatic criminal named Sonya Goldenhand. We also learn about Elna's patented "conference hall" scheme, and her experiences with pretty woman privilege.</p><b ... Show More
37m 50s
Aug 2025
Doris Payne: Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Grift | 170
Frustrated by the racist, sexist stereotypes keeping her down, Doris Payne started swiping precious jewels out of spite as a teen. For the next seven decades, she executed heists across nine countries, with thefts totalling an estimated $2 million. She spent her life dodging the ... Show More
50m 1s
Feb 2022
“Felony Barbie” Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder exuded confidence and glamour while starring in some of the 1990s most popular films. But on the inside, she was dealing with personal problems. And on a December day in 2001, she walked out of a Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills with over $5,000 worth of stolen mer ... Show More
37m 27s
Jan 2020
"The Bobbed Haired Bandit" Pt. 2: Celia Cooney
By the winter of 1924, Celia Cooney had robbed 10 stores with her husband across Brooklyn. "The Bobbed-Haired Bandit" eventually ran out of luck, only to find that her capture and trial made her a nationwide star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
49m 5s
May 2021
“Soho Grifter” Anna Sorokin Pt. 1
A con artist storms New York’s social scene in the 2010s, cementing her place in high society as a German heiress worth millions. Anna Delvey masterfully swindled banks, hotels, airlines, even her own friends out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her past was murky, but her pe ... Show More
42m 11s
Jul 2021
“Queen of Fences” Marm Mandelbaum Pt. 1
One of New York’s shrewdest criminals in the late 19th century was a German Jewish immigrant with a knack for buying and reselling stolen goods. But Fredericka “Marm” Mandelbaum wasn’t just any thief. Before long, she would reshape organized crime forever. Learn more about your a ... Show More
47m 33s
Sep 2020
Giulia Tofana: World's Most Dangerous Apothecary
Giulia Tofana was an Italian apothecary known for her beauty, her secrecy and her poisonous proclivities. If the numbers are all to be believed, she may be the most successful serial killer you’ve never heard of. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor ... Show More
26m 3s
Apr 2019
“The Queen of Mean” - Leona Helmsley
Born in 1920 to poor, Jewish immigrants, Leona Helsley spent the first 30 years of her life doing whatever it took to rise above her humble origins. She changed her name, bullied her competitors, and, if necessary, skirted the corners of the law, engaging in blackmail and fraud. ... Show More
42m 16s