3 | Coming Clean

Summary

Crook County - Episode 3: Coming Clean

Introduction

In Episode 3 of Crook County, titled "Coming Clean" and released on February 18, 2025, host Kyle Tequila delves deeper into the harrowing double life of his father, Kenny Tekiela—a respected Chicago firefighter and secret mafia hitman. This episode marks a pivotal moment in Kyle’s journey to uncover the truths concealed for over two decades, offering listeners an unflinching exploration of crime, addiction, and familial bonds.

Revisiting the Past: Kenny’s Double Life

The episode opens with reflections on Kenny's tumultuous past. At [02:52], Kenny reveals, “I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old,” setting the stage for a narrative that intertwines organized crime with personal struggle. Kyle recounts how his father's involvement in the Chicago Outfit remained hidden until Kenny's confession in 2013, fundamentally altering the family's dynamic.

Life Within the Outfit: Roles and Responsibilities

Kenny provides an in-depth look into his roles within the mafia. Starting as a doorman at whorehouses, he describes the strict no-drugs policy enforced by the Outfit:

“We could not sell dope, people. We could not sell dope. We were not allowed to sell dope” ([23:34]).

This rule was pivotal in maintaining the Outfit's operations discreet during the intense scrutiny of the War on Drugs era. Kenny elaborates on his duties, including managing whorehouses and ensuring members adhered to the Outfit’s stringent regulations.

Personal Struggles and Addiction

Kenny's narrative takes a vulnerable turn as he discusses his battle with heroin addiction:

“I was a raging addict, a raging heroin addict, believe it or not, at my age. So I came out here to California with my son. My son got me into treatment six years ago” ([05:05]).

This confession underscores the profound impact of addiction on his life and family, highlighting the duality of his existence as both a paramedic and a criminal.

Meeting Kyle’s Mother: A Complex Relationship

A significant revelation occurs when Kenny shares the story of meeting Kyle’s mother:

“Met her at a club... Beautiful redhead. Sexy. I fell in love with her pretty quick” ([40:26]).

This encounter, laden with complexity, adds another layer to Kenny's intricate life, blending personal relationships with his criminal affiliations.

Current Reflections and Recovery

Transitioning to the present, Kenny discusses his life post-addiction and his role in a sober living facility:

“I am the manager of a sober living area... I make sure they're looking for work. I make sure there's not too much idle time with them” ([07:16]).

His reflections are candid, emphasizing the transformative power of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in his recovery journey:

“It saved my life. While, on the other hand, drugs ruined my life. It ruined everything” ([07:16]).

Safety Concerns and Legal Advice

Acknowledging the dangers of exposing his past, Kyle shares insights from a conversation with a criminal defense attorney:

“No matter how much you disapprove of what your father did, you're gonna have The FBI breathing down your back” ([18:38]).

To mitigate risks, Kyle and Kenny agree to use fake aliases and obscure identifying details, ensuring the safety of all involved.

Expert Insights: Jeff Cohen’s Perspective

Seeking validation and context, Kyle consults Jeff Cohen, a veteran crime reporter from the Chicago Tribune:

“Yeah, as crazy as that sounds, it is actually true that most of the time drugs was not their business” ([26:07]).

Cohen confirms the Outfit's strategic avoidance of drug-related crimes to maintain operational integrity and avoid federal heat, aligning with Kenny’s account.

Introducing Key Figures: Mickey Gennaro and Jack Erickson

Kenny introduces pivotal figures from his past, starting with Mickey Gennaro:

“He acted like a normal person. He wasn't a sociopath. Narcissistic, you know, mobster guy” ([20:28]).

Mickey, the son of a notorious street boss known as the "Old Man," played a crucial role in Kenny’s recruitment and ascent within the Outfit.

Subsequently, Jack Erickson emerges as a mentor and father figure:

“He trained me, took me under his wing and trained me, took care of me” ([32:19]).

Jack’s meticulous management of vice operations, including whorehouses, underscores the Outfit's expansive reach and Kenny’s deep entrenchment within its ranks.

Operational Insights: Managing Whorehouses

Kenny provides a vivid portrayal of his responsibilities overseeing whorehouses:

“We had four units. It's a little foyer area where we would take their ID, look them up in the card catalog” ([22:19]).

He details the systematic process of vetting members, ensuring the operations remained undisturbed by law enforcement interference.

Balancing Crime and Normalcy

Despite his criminal activities, Kenny reflects on his attempts to maintain a semblance of normal life:

“I had friends... watch football on Sundays. I was just a normal guy” ([39:56]).

This duality highlights the internal conflict between his criminal obligations and personal desires, painting a nuanced picture of his character.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

As the episode draws to a close, Kyle acknowledges the complexity and danger surrounding the divulgence of his father's past:

“There’s no way for me to prove any of this since most of the information was never reported anywhere that I'm aware of” ([19:50]).

The episode sets the stage for future revelations, promising listeners a continued exploration of Kenny’s hidden life and its enduring impact on his family.

Notable Quotes

• Kenny on Addiction and Recovery ([05:05]):
  “I was a raging addict... AA it saved my life.”

• Kenny on Mafia Rules ([23:34]):
  “We could not sell dope, people. We could not sell dope.”

• Jeff Cohen on Outfit’s Drug Policy ([26:07]):
  “Most of the time drugs was not their business... more trouble than it was worth.”

• Kenny on Mentorship ([32:19]):
  “He trained me, took me under his wing and trained me, took care of me.”

Final Thoughts

"Coming Clean" serves as a compelling chapter in Crook County, offering raw and honest insights into the life of a man torn between his criminal past and pursuit of redemption. Through candid conversations and expert commentary, Kyle Tequila weaves a narrative that is both personal and harrowing, shedding light on the enduring scars of a life of crime.

For exclusive content and ad-free listening, subscribe to Tenderfoot Plus as mentioned by Kyle Tequila throughout the episode.

Transcript

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme. From poisoners to art thieves, we uncover.

[Holly Fry]

The secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarke]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Holly Fry]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Need the latest crime news fast. Whether it's the latest developments in a high profile case or urgent alerts about missing persons, Crime Alert Hourly Update delivers the news you need to know as it happens.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm Nancy Grace and with our team of investigative reporters and experts, we bring you the top crime headlines you need to know every hour on the hour.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Listen to Crime Alert Hourly Update on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kenny]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Investigator]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kenny]

I like saw whole thing that happened.

[Investigator]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Investigator]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Did you kill her? Listen to the Real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Monster BTK Host]

Monster BTK concludes a judge asked Dennis.

[Kenny]

Rader to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Maria Tremarke]

He was not expecting that. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Monster BTK Host]

To hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iheart True Crime plus the latest episodes will become available for free every Monday. Monster BTK. Hey listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

Crook county is released weekly and brought to you absolutely free. But if you want to hear the whole season right now it's available ad free on Tenderfoot Plus. For more information, check out the show Notes. Enjoy the episode.

[Kenny]

You're listening to Crook County. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast. This episode also contains subject matter including graphic depictions of violence, which may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.

[Kyle Tequila]

Previously on Crook County.

[Kenny]

I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old.

[Kyle Tequila]

My father, Kenny, lived a secret double life for over 20 years.

[Kenny]

I didn't know he was in the Mob until maybe 20 years after you.

[Kyle Tequila]

Guys were born, he was also hiding a destructive heroin addiction.

[Kenny]

It's crazy to have someone that was.

[Kyle Tequila]

So strong in my life. And he was everything to me.

[Kenny]

So we fucking punch him in the face over drugs. Cause he was destroying our fucking family.

[Kyle Tequila]

Until it almost killed him in 2013.

[Maria Tremarke]

And he called my son Kyle.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

And he asked Kyle for help.

[Kyle Tequila]

No more secrets. No more lies. It's time I learn the truth. My name is Kyle Tequila. Welcome to Crook County. Lost in the waves. Lost in the waves.

[Kenny]

Listen, there are girls in and out of there for years and years and years and years and years, all right? Go in there, crack a deal with the client, come back to us, pay us our fucking portion, go to work, get out quick, and wait for the next guy. These girls were pure, pure business. And they made a ton of fucking money.

[Kyle Tequila]

Episode 3 Coming Clean.

[Kenny]

My son, Kyle. Justin and Jesse, bro. Hey.

[Kyle Tequila]

Good to see you, man. How are you? Hello, guys. Kyle, Good to meet you, buddy. Thanks.

[Kenny]

Justin lives with me. Jesse's the house manager. House manager.

[Kyle Tequila]

All right.

[Kenny]

And I'm the King.

[Kyle Tequila]

The King. Okay, perfect. Well, where does the King live?

[Kenny]

Right here.

[Kyle Tequila]

Today I'm visiting my dad for the first time in a year. He's showing me around his place of work. A group of small apartments that serve as a halfway house for people in recovery.

[Kenny]

So this is one of our units here? It's a girl's house.

[Kyle Tequila]

All right. How many units are there?

[Kenny]

We got four units.

[Kyle Tequila]

That's cool. Little compound, huh? That noise you hear is a carpet cleaning crew getting a unit ready for another client.

[Kenny]

Everybody's out of here. 5:00 and then go. Well, you know what? No, you can leave. Go.

[Kyle Tequila]

He also lives here in one of the units. Nice, man. It's better than the last place.

[Kenny]

You think it's better in the house?

[Kyle Tequila]

The house felt, like, really cramped. And your room was, like, weird. In the living room.

[Kenny]

Well, look at my room here.

[Kyle Tequila]

Oh, yeah, well, we'll see.

[Kenny]

But that's okay. Listen, doesn't cost me a dime. This is Mark. To put my pain in the ass.

[Kyle Tequila]

Yo, buddy.

[Kenny]

Kyle, this is my son, Kyle. This is the kitchen.

[Kyle Tequila]

Son. That's your real father? Real father? Real son. You have a good stock. Look at this handsome man. I know. Yes, he did. Well. So you got your look from him? Your looks from him? No, my mom.

[Kenny]

I figured as much. Definitely.

[Kyle Tequila]

It's hard to believe it's already been six years since I dropped him off at rehab. He's still not his old, strong, matured self. I don't think he ever will be, but he's come a long way from the shaking, broken down man I picked up from the airport in 2013.

[Kenny]

So I'm gonna ask you guys to leave while we do this interview because he needs quiet.

[Kyle Tequila]

I'm gonna do Kundalini yoga. What are you talking about? I'm trying to go get laid.

[Kenny]

All right. Go get laid. I don't want to interrupt that. I'll be in the bathroom for a minute. Okay? Yeah, yeah. All right.

[Kyle Tequila]

Sounds good, guys. Well, Sinatra, huh?

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Kyle Tequila]

Set the mood. I like it. Feels right that we're talking about the mafia and you got Sinatra in the background. We decide to do the interview in his room because of the noise. It's a tight space with little but a twin bed against the wall and a crate with a cheap lamp on it. I mean, maybe bring a chair in here or you can sit on the bed. It honestly reminds me of my freshman year dorm room at siu. All that's missing is a Bob Marley poster tacked to the wall. You'll talk into it. I'll just sit right there or something. And so we begin. Fill me in here. What are you doing these days? And where am I right now.

[Kenny]

Right at the very moment? I am the manager of a sober living area where we have four apartments that we have clients in that are far enough in their recovery, at least 60 days of recovery, but they live under my direction in these apartments here. Being a drug addict myself who has been sober for six years, I am working with those people. And we could hold up to six girls and 10 guys all in separate apartments. And I run that. I'm in charge of that. I babysit. That's basically what I do. I babysit. I drug test, I breathalyze. I make sure they're on track. I make sure they're looking for work. I make sure there's not too much idle time with them. What my job is, is to get them ready to go back out in the world. That is what I chose to do. We are very, very sick people. And I am a firm believer in aa. It saved my life. While, on the other hand, drugs ruined my life. It ruined everything. Ruined my family, ruined my homes, ruined my businesses, ruined everything because I was a raging addict, a raging heroin addict, believe it or not, at my age. So I came out here to California with my son. My son got me into treatment six years ago. I had a couple relapses, but they got me sober. And like I said, I've been sober for six years. And now I work with these people. And that is what I do now. To thank God for not letting me be dead or something else would happen to my family. So that's my give back. That's what I do. I'm gonna help the people that need to help the most. Cause I know I needed a man. I needed a bad. So does. That's what I do now.

[Kyle Tequila]

This is a big moment, one that I honestly wasn't expecting. I have never in all my life seen my dad cry.

[Kenny]

Anybody that listens. Guys, you guys got family members that are drug addicts, alcoholics. There's someone in your family somewhere. A grandparent, an uncle, an aunt. That's genetic. It carries down that gene. Maybe your kids, maybe some of your kids listening to this. Go get help. You cannot control this. You cannot. It is the sniper. It is the devil. It lays in wait for you and it will take you out at your weakest moment. Go get help. Save my fucking life. It saved my life, that's for sure. No.

[Kyle Tequila]

Does anybody, does anybody around you know about any of this stuff?

[Kenny]

No. Are you kidding me? No one knows anything. Oh, my God. They have their. They, you know, they know I'm from Chicago. I know I've got a little bit of an accent. They hear it in my. They hear wordies that I say stuff that I say. And I think they snicker behind my back that I'm a gangster, but they don't know anything. I don't tell any stories. I do not share. We do a thing in treatment in AA that's called sharing. We share our life story. You know, what got us into treatment, but I've never shared. That's the one thing I haven't done with aa, is share. Because it's not something I really choose to share.

[Kyle Tequila]

Starting a few months into his recovery, I would regularly visit him. It was during these visits that he started opening up about his past. The story here, a memory there, but never the whole picture. It seems he's finally ready to tell me everything. Thanks for joining me on Crook County. For ad free listening and exclusive content, dive into tenderfootplus.com right there in the show notes. Tenderfoot plus is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other podcast players. You'll unlock access to early episodes, upcoming bonus material, the Tenderfoot podcast library of over 400 A.D. free episodes as well as subscriber only specials. Subscribe [e-mail].

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Stay on top of breaking crime news with crime alert hourly update available now.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm Nancy Grace Our team of reporters and experts is dedicated to bringing you the top crime headlines you need to know every hour on the hour. From missing people to trial updates and true crime stories, we bring you the latest real time news and analysis.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Whether it's the latest developments in a high profile case or urgent alerts about missing persons, Crime Alert Hourly Update delivers the news you need to know as it happens.

[Nancy Grace]

Stay informed, Keep yourself and your family safe with Crime Alert Hourly Update, the only podcast delivering hourly true crime updates.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Subscribe now to Crime Alert Hourly Update and never miss a moment of breaking crime news. Listen to Crime Alert Hourly Update on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Monster BTK Host]

Monster BTK concludes the plans were made.

[Holly Fry]

Search warrants were drawn in advance on that day. I remember it was radio silence when.

[Kenny]

The chief came out and said we caught btk, denial was the first reaction. Now that they got him, how am I going to get my hands on him? A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Kyle Tequila]

He was not expecting that.

[Kenny]

And you see him trying to maintain control.

[Maria Tremarke]

You see his voice change.

[Kenny]

He's acting like he's bored. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Monster BTK Host]

To hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iheart True Crime plus the latest episodes will become available for free Every Monday. Monster BTK Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme, everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures, including a man who built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarke]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime, from legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching, to see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarke]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kenny]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big Big news.

[Investigator]

When a young woman is murdered, a desperate search for answers takes investigators to some unexpected places. He believed it could be part of a satanic cult.

[Kyle Tequila]

I think there were many individuals present.

[Kenny]

I don't know who pulled the trigger.

[Investigator]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kenny]

I like saw whole thing that happened.

[Investigator]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Kenny]

He just saw his body just kind of collapsing.

[Investigator]

Two decades later, a new team of lawyers says their client is innocent.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Investigator]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Are you capable of murder?

[Kenny]

I definitely am not.

[Investigator]

Did you kill her? Listen to the Real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

I'm gonna warn you, this story is very complex with a lot of characters over several decades long. I'm gonna do the best I can to break it down into easy to digest chapters. Some characters may come in and out of focus as the story progresses, so I may remind you about them with a little description or a previously heard soundbite if you still find yourself getting lost. Well, that makes me a shitty storyteller, so I'm sorry. But if you do have questions or just want to say hi, please visit us at Crook county podcast. You can even leave me a voicemail which I may play on a future audience Q and A episode. So that's cool. You can also follow us on all socials. Rookcountypodcast okay, let's jump back to the very beginning. A 17 year old kid named Kenny just got accidentally recruited into the outfit for robbing a drug dealer.

[Kenny]

So these two come up on me and I'm sitting down and I'm going, I'm thinking to myself, ah, fuck, here we go here. And I'm completely unprepared, Completely came up on me. And the bigger guy goes, the older guy goes, is that him? And the kid goes, yeah, that's him. That's the guy that robbed me uncle. He ran a fucking crew. So he tells me, he goes, are you looking for a job? Yeah, I'm looking for a job. I'm fucking starving here. That's how I got in the fucking outfit. That's how I got in. He was impressed.

[Kyle Tequila]

Oh, that reminds me, before we dive into this, I had a serious conversation with a criminal defense attorney about all this. He's very worried about this story going public.

[Kenny]

You need to be careful. No matter how much you disapprove of what your father did, you're gonna have The FBI breathing down your back. Because he's not just a street dog, he's connected to a syndicate. If your dad was serving life for murder, the government would be far less interested. Please understand that with your dad being alive, that means others are alive. The information is too recent. The 1980s is yesterday. And I really believe that it's a mistake. I would encourage you not to do it.

[Kyle Tequila]

I also asked my dad to weigh in on this. And here's what he said.

[Kenny]

They're all dead, man. You know, you have to realize that I was really young. That's why they called me kid. Everybody was at least 10 years older than me. At least 10 years older than me. And if they're not dead of old age, they're dead from a hit, they're dead from an overdose. Or like I said, dead from old age. I don't think there's anybody left. I doubt it very much.

[Kyle Tequila]

So after talking it through, we both agreed that for his own safety and mine, to give fake aliases to everyone involved in the outfit. And to remove or obscure any specific identifying details about people, places and dates. I should also note that there's no way for me to prove any of this since most of the information was never reported anywhere that I'm aware of. I'm going solely here on my dad's word and I'll leave it at that. So, without further ado, let's meet our first character in the outfit, the maid guy who recruited my dad. Mickey Gennaro.

[Kenny]

He was a powerful man. Good guy, businessman, well dressed, well kept, well spoken, good looking guy. Always took time to say hi to me. Always took time to little chat with me, just a little bit. I never saw him do that with anybody else. Always took a couple minutes out to say hi to me. And I liked the way he behaved. He didn't act like a gangster, okay? He acted like a normal person. He wasn't a sociopath. Narcissistic, you know, mobster guy. You know, those guys loved to play the part. Love to play the part of gangster. I never could understand that greaseball bullshit. But he didn't do that. So I admired him.

[Kyle Tequila]

Mickey was also the son of a notorious street boss they called the Old Man.

[Kenny]

And he was, at that time in Cook county, the king of the chop shops. They'd heist a car. They'd heist a truck with cars on it and bring them back to his shops, chop the shit out of them, change the numbers and shipped them out. They shipped them out all over the world, you know, as Far as Saudi Arabia. I mean, they were going all over the world. And it was a big, big, big money maker. I only saw him a couple times. Kind of a gravelly old guy, if I can remember correctly. Looked like a typical fucking greasy gangster. I don't know what else to put. Real fucking grease ball, you know. But he was a very powerful man.

[Kyle Tequila]

Kenny spent his first year working for Mickey until he learned the ropes.

[Kenny]

I was an errand boy when I first started. Low level, very, very low level. Dropping money off, collecting gambling money. No hits yet, but, you know, doing some beatings. But I always had somebody with me. So I was like assisting the person that was doing the heavy work. So that's kind of where I learned how to do heavy work.

[Kyle Tequila]

It didn't take long for Kenny to prove his worth. So Mickey gave him a new job.

[Kenny]

I was selling dope for him on the side. I'd get a half a key. I'd break it up at a scale. Some of it I'd cook up for the freebase clients. And the rest of it I just eight balled up. And I can't remember how the freebase sold. I really can't. I don't. That was. You smoke that shit, boy. That stuff was insane. It was just, just a rush of euphoria. Would just, just, just, just look like a tidal wave. Just knock you over. And the problem was now you're chasing that shit all the time. Cause you don't get that after that. You get that first hit, that's it. You're not gonna find that. So, you know, you're always chasing that first blast anyway. All right? But he wasn't supposed to do that. That would have been bad for me, and that would have been very bad for him. Cause I was just taking an order, all right? I was just obeying orders. But you can't do that, man. You cannot do that.

[Kyle Tequila]

No selling dope. This is one of the many strange rules the Outfit had for itself that I find fascinating. Their entire enterprise is built on crime. But drugs are where they draw the line.

[Kenny]

We could not sell dope, people. We could not sell dope. We were not allowed to sell dope. You got caught selling dope. You were in big ass fucking trouble. Because that could bring heat on you. The whole thing. We don't want to bring any heat on any of us. So if you're gonna do something stupid like sell dope, it's going to bring heat on you. People were coked up all the time. So you're dealing with people that were fucking high. 247 on coke. So no one's in their really right mind, you know, no one's sober. Everybody's fucked up. And it dictated a lot of things that got a lot of people killed.

[Kyle Tequila]

That actually makes good sense. And of course, everyone knew the risks, but many guys did it anyway. The money was just too good. And Kenny, he was happy to take a small slice of it.

[Kenny]

Listen, here's the deal, man. This was quick, fast money, all right? This was not my career, and this is not what I chose to do with my life. I'm 17 years old, all right? I'm living in the backseat of my car. I'm hungry. I'm a survivalist, you know, and it's a job and it's income, you know, I can start to get some security in my life, at least get an apartment, you know, so I'm taking this, I'm jumping on this.

[Kyle Tequila]

As I got deeper into the details of my dad's life story, I began to wonder just how much of this stuff is actually true. The no selling drugs thing, for example. How do I even attempt to verify something like this or any other inner workings of an organization notorious for their secrecy? Especially in the 70s and 80s when the mafia moved through the streets with near impunity. I thought it would be a good idea to find an outside perspective on the inner workings of the outfit. A Mafia expert that could weigh in when necessary throughout this series. So I reached out to veteran crime reporter Jeff Cohen of the Chicago Tribune. Jeff is an expert on organized crime in Chicago and covered one of the largest Mafia trials in history. The infamous FBI operation, Family secrets that almost single handedly took out the entire Chicago outfit. In 2007. I sent Jeff a few rough versions of these episodes to get him up to speed.

[Jeff Cohen]

That's quite the family tale you've got there.

[Kyle Tequila]

Yes, it is.

[Kenny]

Holy shit.

[Kyle Tequila]

Unfortunately, yes, it is.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Kyle Tequila]

Thankfully, he agreed to add his voice to this story. So I asked him about the no drugs rule.

[Jeff Cohen]

Yeah, as crazy as that sounds, it is actually true that most of the time drugs was not their business for a variety of reasons, I guess I think it was more difficult for them to control, I think is one of the elements that was typically a problem. You had large amounts of money moving between people that they couldn't necessarily keep their fingers on. It was also a real area of heat back, especially in the 80s when you had sort of the war on drugs. It just was not a clean business for them. It wasn't something that they could. Could run tightly make sure it stayed under the radar. They could get reliable money out of it. It was none of those things. It could go sideways in a minute. You had major federal heat on it all the time and it was just more trouble than it was worth. I think a lot of times for them, even though it was big, big money. But whorehouses, chop shops, any kind of illegal business that's along that line definitely would have been within the outfits purview at that time. Whorehouses, especially anything related to sex and vice, they typically had a piece of it across the Chicago area.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Stay on top of Breaking Crime News with Crime Alert Hourly Update available now.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm Nancy Grace. Our team of reporters and experts is dedicated to bringing you the top crime headlines you need to know. Every hour on the hour, from missing people to trial updates and true crime stories, we bring you the latest real time news and analysis.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Whether it's the latest developments in a high profile case or urgent alerts about missing persons, Crime Alert Hourly Update delivers the news you need to know as it happens.

[Nancy Grace]

Stay informed. Keep yourself and your family safe with Crime Alert Hourly Update, the only podcast delivering hourly true crime updates.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Subscribe now to Crime Alert Hourly Update and never miss a moment of breaking crime news. Listen to Crime Alert Hourly Update on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Monster BTK Host]

Monster BTK concludes the plans were made.

[Holly Fry]

Search warrants were drawn in advance on that day. I remember it was radio silence when.

[Kenny]

The chief came out and said, we've caught btk. Denial was the first reaction. Now that they got him, how am I going to get my hands on him? A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Kyle Tequila]

He was not expecting that.

[Kenny]

And you see him trying to maintain control. You see his voice change. He's acting like he's bored.

[Maria Tremarke]

He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Monster BTK Host]

To hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iheart True Crime plus the latest episodes will become available for free Every Monday. Monster BTK Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme. Everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures, including a man who Built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarke]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime, from legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching, to see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarke]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kenny]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Investigator]

When a young woman is murdered, a desperate search for answers takes investigators to some unexpected places. He believed it could be part of a satanic culture.

[Kyle Tequila]

I think there were many individuals present.

[Kenny]

I don't know who pulled the trigger.

[Investigator]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kenny]

I, like, saw a whole thing that happened.

[Investigator]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Kenny]

He just saw his body just kind of collapsing.

[Investigator]

Two decades later, a new team of lawyers says their client is innocent.

[Kenny]

He did not kill her.

[Investigator]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Are you capable of murder?

[Kenny]

I definitely am not.

[Investigator]

Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer, Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Kyle Tequila]

Eventually, Mickey saw a new opportunity for Kenny within the outfit, Something a little more permanent. And introduced him to a man named Jack Erickson. A crew boss who would end up playing a much larger role in entrenching Kenny within the ranks.

[Kenny]

My boss, my crew boss was Jack. Jack Jackie Lemons Erickson. Great guy. I love Jack, man. I really admired him. He was a great guy, well kept. Still a gangster, but a well kept gangster. You know, his genes were even creased. You know, he was one of those guys. Everything was perfect on him. Clean, neat nails done, manicure, pedicure. One of them guys.

[Kyle Tequila]

You know, Jack became sort of a father figure to young Kenny.

[Kenny]

Oh, he was a. He was a mentor. He trained me. He trained me. He just took me under his wing and he trained me. I was the young guy. Gotta remember, I was the absolute youngest guy there. These guys had 20 years on me, you know, I was the kid. So he just kind of took me under his wing and trained me, took care of me, you know, make sure I did everything good, you know, make sure I didn't get in trouble, make sure he had my back, you know, I felt safe. I always felt safe when I went out to do bad work because I knew I had the, you know, the mob behind me, the alpha. It was on my back. You know, I had that. That always to fall back on. So that kind of relieved a lot of the fear.

[Kyle Tequila]

Jack also had a very important job within the outfit. One that required a unique kind of personality and responsibility.

[Kenny]

Yeah, he ran the whorehouses every night, just bouncing from whorehouse to whorehouse, checking on the bank, seeing how things are going, making sure nobody was selling dope. Making sure the girls weren't too high. Cause they were always high. Making sure the guys weren't too high. Cause they were always high. You know, just kind of keeping things runnable, you know, Babysitting, basically. Kind of like what I do now for a living, babysitting a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholics. That's kind of what he was doing back then. So that's. That's what. That's what. That's what Jack did.

[Kyle Tequila]

Jack saw a lot of potential in Kenny.

[Kenny]

He. He trusted me. He trusted me because I didn't steal money. I didn't do dope while I worked. I didn't sell dope while I worked. I just did my job and my count every night, right up there every night for years, man, it's hard to find an honest guy in the fucking outfit. I was a. I was an anomaly. I don't even want to say a rarity. An anomaly.

[Kyle Tequila]

And so he made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Running the door at one of the brothels in Cook County.

[Kenny]

So for the years I spent working in the whorehouses, the clubs, and they were scattered all over Cook County, DuPage county, and Kane county, we could only put them in the unincorporated areas because we had the county police pretty much taken care of. We'd rent a house, a single family home. And we'd get in there, gut it to an extent. Put about six bedrooms in there, small rooms with little peepholes at a peephole in the door and a peephole in the walls. Not everyone could be peeped, but if we could peep them, we peeped them. The living room would stay as a living room. The kitchen would stay as a kitchen. We had a front area where they came in, a little foyer area there where we would take their id, look them up in the card catalog that we had. We actually gave them a fucking idea. Can you believe that shit? Match the ID with the picture. The picture was their face. And then we'd let them in. Now, how did they become members. They would come in, I want to be member of this club. You know, guy, there's a million people out there that want to join whorehouses. Guys are horny bastards, okay? The people that frequent whorehouses know where houses are. You don't have to advertise this. They just know where they are. They would come in and want to join the club. So we would put them through a process. We would make sure we check their employment, check their id. We even had something with county, with the county vice guys where we would have them run something by them. I don't know what it was, I can't remember. But we would run something with them. And then after we got him checked out, I didn't do the checkout process. That wasn't my job. So I can't really expound too much on this. So anyway, they became members through a process that we put them through pictures and verification. Basically, we wanted to make sure they weren't vice, the honest vice. We wanted to make sure they weren't the honest vice. How's that sound?

[Kyle Tequila]

Sounds like my dad was a bonafide pimp. That's how it sounds. You know, you'd think after all this time, nothing would shock me anymore, but you would be wrong. All right. What was it like once you got inside?

[Kenny]

A guy would come in, bring him in, introduce to the girls, would be sitting there, the girls would stand up. I'd introduce them to all the girls by name. Jane, Marilyn, Cindy. We did have drinks. It wasn't a bar, but they would go, you want a drink? And go back in the kitchen. They make the guy a drink. Mostly just beer. Beer and wine. And then they would sit and talk to the girls. And it could go on anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours. They'd. Some guys just came in there and just partied with the girls, sat partied with them. We didn't mind. They were members. Plus, when somebody else came in, it made that person rush a little bit because there was someone else in there. That guy that's already in there was going to take the girl that this new guy came in. You know what I'm saying? So they maybe kick it up a little bit. They pick up their. Make their choice a little bit faster. So they'd come in, chat it up with the girls, decide who they like. The girl would take them back to one of the rooms and they would negotiate a deal. So much for whatever sex they wanted. They'd seal the deal. The girl would leave the guy in the room, the girl would Come out, come see me and say, $100 for blowjob and missionary sex. She would hand me 50, half the cake, and then she would be on her way. That was the end of the operation. That was how it worked. Very simple.

[Kyle Tequila]

Did things ever get out of control?

[Kenny]

Oh, yeah, they got out of control. People come in drunk or all coked out and. But they didn't. They got their asses beaten bad. We would make a phone call and there would be four muscle showing up within 15 minutes. And it was just, you know, they'd be. When we got into their cars, they'd be. We put them in their cars and they'd be hanging half in, half out. And just county stopped by and they knew it was a whorehouse there and. But we want to keep them on property. We'd get them out on the street in their cars and. Yeah, they didn't last long. They got. They got beat pretty bad. They got beat really bad.

[Kyle Tequila]

Just like. Who are these people?

[Kenny]

Just drunk. Just drunk. Members. No. Yeah, yeah, these. These are members. Yeah, these are members. Or a guest of a member or a guest of a member. Could bring in one guest. All right. And, you know, alcohol and drugs turns people weird, man. People go stupid sometimes. I mean, 90% of the time it was fine. But that 10% there was, you know, something would go wrong. That's just. That's just. That's just. Law of average, man. Something's bound to go wrong eventually. But we. But we jumped on that quick.

[Kyle Tequila]

I have to keep reminding myself he's still only 19 at this point. Everybody else's age is fresh out of high school, going to bars and trying to get laid without a care in the world. I can tell you I was an absolute moron at 19. That's a fact. But I can only imagine three years selling drugs and handing out beatings at a brothel for the Mafia will make you grow up real fucking fast. I wonder, can you even try to have a regular life? What would you do in your free time?

[Kenny]

I don't know. Hang out. I had friends, you know, some friends that I'd hang out with, do normal guy stuff, you know, watch football on Sundays. I was just a normal guy, just a normal young guy, that's all. Go to bars with my friends, you know, pick up chicks, you know.

[Kyle Tequila]

He tells me he wasn't looking for a girlfriend, let alone anything serious. But one night, as things do, all that changed.

[Kenny]

Met her at a club called SOP Some other place in the Spleens, I think it is. Saw her sitting at the end of the bar. Beautiful redhead. Sexy. I fell in love with her pretty quick. So I just walked up to her just as a matter of course of time. We just ended up dating.

[Kyle Tequila]

I'm sure you've guessed it already, but that pretty little redhead at the bar was my mother.

[Kenny]

I thought your mother was beautiful. I think I was 19 when I met her. She was 20. Yeah, listen, I had to work to get your mother. Damn. Wasn't easy. She wasn't like one of the whores. I can just say, hey, come on, let's go. I had to work for that. I had to work for your mom. That was a job. That was a job. That was a job, man. It was worth it, though. It was well worth it.

[Kyle Tequila]

Next week on Crook County. Just look at me now and tremble.

[Kenny]

We would have to take bus every once in a while just so Cook county cops could show that they're making some progress here. When half the motherfuckers were running their own horse on the side out of our fucking clubs.

[Kyle Tequila]

Crook county is a production of Iheart podcasts and Tenderfoot TV in association with Common Enemy. All episodes are written, produced and hosted by me, Kyle Tequila. Executive producers are Donald Albright and Payne Lindsay. Original score by makeup and vanity set. Main title song is called Crush by the band Starry Eyes. End credit song is called Trouble, also by the band Starry Eyes. Sound mix by Cooper Skinner. Thank you to Oren Rosenbaum and the excellent team at UTA for their support and to my fearless attorney Wendy Bench for her guidance. To stay updated on all things Crook county, follow us on all socials rookcountypodcast or leave us a voicemail by visiting crookcountypodcast.com for more podcasts like Crook county, search Tenderfoot TV on your favorite podcast app or visit Tenderfoot TV. Thanks for listening. The story continues next week.

[Kenny]

SA.

[Kyle Tequila]

Thank you for tuning in to Crook County. New episodes are released weekly, completely free. But if you're itching for more, check out Tenderfoot plus on Apple Podcasts or visit tenderfootplus.com to subscribe for early access to the full series plus an ad free experience.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme, from poisoners to art thieves.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarke]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired inspired by each story.

[Holly Fry]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Need the latest crime news fast. Whether it's the latest developments in a high profile case or urgent alerts about missing persons, Crime Alert Hourly Update delivers the news you need to know as it happens.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm Nancy Grace and with our team of investigative reporters and experts, we bring you the top crime headlines you need to know every hour on the hour.

[Crime Alert Hourly Update Host]

Listen to Crime Alert, Hourly Update on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kenny]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big big news.

[Investigator]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kenny]

I like saw a whole thing that happened.

[Investigator]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Investigator]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

To have a murder as gruesome as.

[Kenny]

Jade Beasley's doesn't happen very often down here in Marion, Illinois.

[Maria Tremarke]

An 11 year old girl brutally stabbed to death. Her father's longtime live in girlfriend maintaining.

[Kenny]

Innocence but charged with her murder.

[Maria Tremarke]

I am confident that Julie Beverly is guilty.

[Kenny]

They've never found a weapon. Never made sense. Still doesn't make sense. She found out she was pregnant in jail. The person who did it is still out there.

[Maria Tremarke]

Listen to Murder on Songbird road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever.

[Kenny]

You get your podcasts.