Rosie Keo & Samantha Barbash: In the Club, We All Scammed | 236
Summary
This episode details the true story of Rosie Keough and Samantha Barbash, two former strippers who orchestrated a massive scam in New York City by non-consensually drugging wealthy clients with ketamine and MDMA to max out their credit cards. The narrative traces their partnership from the recession-hit strip club industry to a sophisticated operation involving hotel rooms and upscale restaurants, highlighting their internal power struggles and the eventual betrayal when Rosie turned on Samantha to avoid prison. The story concludes with their arrests, guilty pleas, and the subsequent media …
Topics discussed
Content warning and host introduction
Host banter on dating and high school memories
Dr. Ziad Yunnan's first drugged date
The second incident and the crew's scale
Show intro and the Rosie/Samantha partnership
Rosie's background and early work experiences
The waitress tipping scheme
Rosie's life as a stripper and student
Disillusionment with clients and the 'savior' complex
Rosie's drug addiction and career changes
Mentoring dancers and group tactics
Rosie's pregnancy and return to work
Samantha's backstory and determination
Samantha's client recruitment and card schemes
The partnership forms and Rosie's suspicion
Rosie observes the drugging in the champagne room
Rosie takes charge of the operation
The drugging process and credit card disputes
The partnership's dynamic and new venue
Operational risks and relationship strain
The Fred case and emerging guilt
Fred's plea and the Rick incident
Evolution of the scam to hotel rooms
Samantha's spending and Rosie's concerns
Marjorie's overdose and the sting operation
Victim courage and media exposure
Ziad's story goes public and police investigation
Arrests and Rosie's decision to cooperate
The breakup of the partnership
Court appearances and sentencing
The Hustlers movie and aftermath
Post-prison lives and tell-all books
Host analysis on gender dynamics and shame
Credits and sources
Promotion for Killer Psyche podcast
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