Game of Crimes

Retired DEA Special Agent Jeff Sweetin pulls back the curtain on almost three decades of undercover operations, international cartel takedowns, and the razor's edge between life and death. Jeff worked alongside legendary agents in some of the most dangerous corners of the drug war — Panama, the Dominican Republic, South America — and lived to tell the tale.

Former LAPD Officer Toni McBride survived a life-altering officer-involved shooting on April 22, 2020. She was cleared. She did everything right. But being right didn't protect her from what came next — the media firestorms, the public hatred, the departmental politics, the lawsuits, and the battle against an autoimmune disease that attacked her body just as the world was attacking her name.

She was born to wear the badge. Raised by an undercover LAPD officer in Southern California, Toni McBride didn't just dream about law enforcement — she dominated it. She became the youngest female in LAPD history to complete the Level 2 Reserve Academy, earned the title of Top Shot, and served as class leader. Then came April 22, 2020 — and the officer-involved shooting that changed everything. Wh...

After dismantling his own drug trafficking network and agreeing to cooperate with federal agents, Ben entered a world few ever talk about from the inside. The deals, the dangers, the mental toll, the paranoia — and the unexpected truth about the people supposed to protect him. Ben is now a law enforcement consultant and informant expert — training handlers on what they're getting wrong. His insigh...

What started as small marijuana runs across state lines grew into a  sophisticated, multi-state criminal operation. Ben Freedland stayed ahead of law  enforcement by constantly reinventing his methods: "I always changed my  methods of transport to stay ahead of law enforcement." He was connected,  calculated, and relentless — until the day everything changed.

In Part 2 of this exclusive interview, Mary reveals what happened when the resilience that kept her alive in combat collided with the emotional toll of saving premature babies — and how COVID-19 pushed her to a breaking point she never saw coming. She opens up about nurse burnout, the invisible wounds veterans carry into civilian careers, and the self-care journey that saved her. This is the story...

In this powerful episode of Game of Crimes, host and retired DEA Special Agent Steve Murphy sits down with Mary Howe — an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran who nearly lost herself before the military gave her the structure that saved her life. From growing up in the shadow of America's most elite special operations unit to becoming a military veteran herself, to transitioning to a family nurse pra...

Veteran New York City Medical Examiner investigator Barbara Butcher, who was one of the first forensic professionals to enter Ground Zero, continues discussing her amazing career as she reveals the raw, emotional reality of working the largest victim identification operation in American history. Barbara shares the surreal moment she entered a city buried in smoke and ash, and what it was really li...

Murph sits down with Barbara Butcher, a former medical legal investigator for the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  After navigating the counterculture era, battling Alzheimer's patients' suffering, and becoming a physician assistant, a life-changing interview with the Chief Medical Examiner set her on a new path. "Forget the money, do what you love." She did, and through forens...

Retired DEA agent J. Todd Scott takes us inside his most intense assignment — serving as Assistant Special Agent in Charge in El Paso, Texas, during some of the bloodiest years of cartel violence in Juarez, Mexico. From 21st-century drug trafficking operations to old-school smuggling straight out of the Wild West, Todd saw it all unfold from the front lines of America's border crisis. Todd reveals...

Retired DEA agent J. Todd Scott went from running undercover operations and dismantling cartel networks to consulting on hit TV shows like Yellowstone. In this episode of Game of Crimes, host Murph sits down with Todd to hear stories that most people only see on screen — the brutal reality of DEA operations in Haiti, the mindset of criminals who think they're smarter than everyone, and how nearly...

In Part 2 of this Game of Crimes true crime special, Murph returns with Jen Buchholz to break down exactly how a cold case gets solved. Transitioning from a career in military intelligence and corrections, Jen proves that sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see what others missed.

In this week's true crime podcast episode of Game of Crimes, Murph sits down with Jen Buchholz, a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Specialist and Supermax prison social worker who now dedicates her life to solving the impossible: Cold Cases.  Jen uses that same intensity to hunt killers who thought they got away with it. Listen as we find out exactly how modern technology is cracking cases tha...

In part 2, we go deep into Sheriff Mark Lamb's career trajectory, his bold strategy for securing a 20% pay raise for Deputies, and the controversial but effective media tactics that rebuilt public trust.  Discover the real stories behind the headlines as Mark discusses the transition from local law enforcement to the national stage.

Murph sits down with one of America's most recognized law enforcement figures, retired Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb. Go behind the badge as he reveals the gritty reality of policing, his personal journey from business to the front lines of crime, and the untold stories of taking down criminals. Mark and Murph dive deep into border crime, the psychology of policing, and how Mark balanced raising five...

Murph continues his gripping conversation with Seamus McElearney , a former FBI Special Agent fighting organized crime from the inside. This episode dives deeper into the deadliest phase of mob investigations : informants, witness protection, betrayal, and survival. Seamus pulls back the curtain on the real-world Mafia behind The Sopranos , revealing how the DeCavalcante crime family—the so-called...

This episode pulls back the curtain on the high-risk world of informants , the fragile trust required to flip a capo, and the relentless challenges of witness protection , where one mistake can cost lives. Seamus also opens up about the personal toll these investigations took on him and his family—and why cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies is essential in taking down organized...

This powerful conversation with Chad Meli goes beyond headlines, diving into real-life trafficking cases , rescue operations , and the often-overlooked reality of victim support after recovery . Chad shares firsthand stories that reveal how traffickers exploit technology—and how law enforcement, NGOs, and community partners are using that same technology to fight back. Chad and Murphy explore the...

Murph sits down with anti-human trafficking investigator Chad Meli. Chad walks us through a harrowing investigation involving a father who exploited his own daughters for profit , using social media and online platforms to traffic abuse across borders. What followed was a complex, high-risk operation requiring undercover work , cutting-edge technology, and unprecedented collaboration between NGOs...

In the second part of this powerful episode of Game of Crimes , Lew Rice , a retired DEA Special Agent and senior leader , discusses his life of service, sacrifice, and what it truly means to wear the badge. Lew takes listeners inside his distinguished DEA career , which began on the gritty streets of New York City and led to overseas assignments , major leadership roles, and ultimately becoming S...

In this explosive episode of Game of Crimes , Murph sits down with Lew Rice , a legendary 26-year veteran of the DEA , to pull back the curtain on the brutal realities of America’s drug war. Lew shares firsthand stories from the front lines of federal drug enforcement , revealing how drugs like heroin, opioids, meth, and fentanyl have devastated communities across the country. From the early days...

Murph shares his recent trip to Vienna, Austria , where he represented Libertas International at the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Symposium . While the conference highlighted the global awareness surrounding human trafficking, it also exposed the frustration felt by those on the front lines — too much talk, and far too little action. Tyler and Murph reflect honestly on the gaps between po...

This episode dives deep into the alarming scope of human trafficking, from Latin America to the United States, and why Medellín became a strategic base for operations. Tyler shares heart-wrenching survivor journeys, miraculous interventions, and tragic reminders of just how high the stakes truly are. You’ll hear firsthand about the cost of doing good, the dangers NGOs face, and the resilience of s...

Murph is joined once again by veteran DEA leader AJ Collazo for a deep dive into one of the most complex fronts in modern law enforcement—the international drug war . Their conversation centers on Operation Panama Express , a groundbreaking multi-agency effort that transformed how law enforcement tracks and dismantles maritime drug trafficking networks . AJ breaks down how intelligence-driven case...

In this gripping and surprisingly hilarious episode of Game of Crimes , Murph sits down with AJ Collazo , a veteran law enforcement officer whose 38-year career includes 24 years with the DEA during some of the most dangerous years of America’s drug war. AJ takes listeners inside the real world of policing—from outrageous Florida criminal stories that will make you laugh out loud, to the deadly se...