The Binge Cases: Denise Didn't Come Home - Coming Soon: Puppy Kingpin

Episode Date: May 25, 2022

Americans are used to being on the lookout for a scam, but authorities are warning of a new kind of fraud. Puppy Kingpin shines a spotlight on Jolyn Noethe, a secretive businesswoman from Iowa who is accused of laundering puppies like drug money. Over the course of 7 episodes, investigative reporter and host Alex Schuman exposes the scheme and an underground part of the industry bringing us the pets we love. From Neon Hum Media and Sony Music Entertainment. Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin is available June 16th. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.  Smokescreen: Puppy Kingpin is part of The Binge -  a new podcast channel from Sony Music Entertainment. The Binge: All Episodes, All at Once. Coming Soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scams are a dime a dozen. You already know to keep your guard up when you check your email or when you swipe right. But did you know how hard it can be to avoid getting tricked when you're buying a dog? What do you think of the companies that do this? Honestly, scumbags. I usually report on politics and crime. But I turned my attention to puppies because, well, there's something going on in our pet industry that not enough of us are talking about.

You have to be just a complete psychopath to be involved in this industry and just not care about animals suffering and cruelty and defrauding consumers. This is a supply and demand issue. There are companies who will threaten to repossess your family dog. It's taking advantage of people. Or sell consumers a puppy without disclosing it's sick. They spent $5,000 on a dog and then they were out another $5,000 to help it be healthy. But then one day, I heard about an elaborate plan to keep dog owners in the dark. This is a national scheme that is happening by essentially one business.

I find out there's one woman accused of covering up where thousands of puppies come from. Consumers thought they got a rescue dog, but might have ended up supporting puppy mills. I knew instantly that this is a front. This is not legit. They're just in it to churn out puppies and make a dollar. They're being transported under fake circumstances in the nighttime. It's just the whole thing. It's a sleazy operation. This mogul has made millions supplying puppies to people across America. But now she's facing multiple lawsuits.

She's the perfect example of a target. Not everyone, though, thinks what she's doing is wrong. She's not doing anything illegal, immoral. There is a demand for puppies out there. My investigation found government employees were told to turn a blind eye, allowing puppies to starve and freeze. I don't think that they felt they were going to be held accountable. None of this might have come to light if not for a coverup.

These animals are laundered and laundered over and over again to try and confuse the public because we want to do the right thing. At the root of it, no member of the public wants to buy from a puppy mill. From Neon Home Media and Sony Music Entertainment, I'm Alex Schumann. And on this season of Smokescreen, I'll investigate the mastermind trafficking puppies and her alleged scheme to hide the truth. Listen to Smokescreen, Puppy Kingpin, coming June 16th.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to binge all episodes, or listen weekly wherever you get your podcasts.