Logo for The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece

Brazen

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.

Copyright © 2024 Brazen

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.

Copyright © 2024 Brazen
2hr 55min
Thumbnail for "Introducing Hidden Worlds".
Welcome to Hidden Worlds, a new home for gripping investigations and unbelievable true stories from Brazen.
Thumbnail for "Introducing The Professor: Hunting for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece".
Coming soon from Brazen and PRX, The Professor: The Hunt for the Mafia's Missing Masterpiece.
Thumbnail for "Episode 1: The Nativity".
An allegedly simple coin dealer is accused of leading a notorious art smuggling ring. But he has an audacious plan to prove his innocence & redeem himself.
Thumbnail for "Episode 2: The Go-Between".
To find the Caravaggio, Veres needs to find the people who may know where it is - no matter how dangerous they could be.
Thumbnail for "Episode 3: Money for Nothing".
A tip-off leads to a strangely familiar sounding painting - could Veres be hot on the trail of the Caravaggio?
Thumbnail for "Episode 4: The Fugitive".
Can Veres find the Caravaggio and stay out of jail or is he doomed to the hand of fate?
Thumbnail for "Introducing Death of an Artist: Krasner and Pollock".
A story about love, power, alcoholism and an ill-timed death.
Thumbnail for "Meeting Simon Willis: Unlocking the secrets of a stolen masterpiece".
Is the coldest cold case in the history of art crime about to be solved? Brazen co-founder Tom Wright speaks with Simon Willis about his upcoming podcast series, The Professor.