Scam Goddess – Fraud Friday: Return of the Deacon, Jacquis Neal

Podcast: Scam Goddess
Host: Laci Mosley
Guest: Jacquis Neal
Release Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This Fraud Friday "from the vault" features host Laci Mosley (“Scam Goddess”) joined by recurring guest and comedian Jacquis Neal. The episode delivers true-con retellings of historic scams, disarmingly relatable stories about personal fraud, and the epic tale of a suave international thief famous for blending charm, quick wit, and luxury hotel heists. With comedic banter throughout and plenty of love for schemes (both past and present), Laci and Jacquis break down why the funny side of fraud is so appealing, sharing laughs, sharp commentary, and fresh perspectives on morality, class, and what really counts as a scam.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Opening Banter & Church Scam Comedy

• [04:34 - 08:00]
  • Jacquis returns, humorously dubbing himself "the deacon" and riffing on the traditions of passing collection plates in church, ultimately joking about who actually benefits from tithes and offerings.
  • Laci muses about gifting the pastor non-cash items at anniversary services, questioning the motives and realities behind church money traditions.
  • Quote:
    • "You know damn well that tithing offering money is going to the pastor!"
      — Jacquis Neal, [05:22]
    • "Why does the church have to do our anniversary? Take me to Cancun..."
      — Laci Mosley, [06:12]

II. Defining What Counts as a Scam

• [08:11 – 10:20]

  • Jacquis playfully asserts that "liberalism and progressiveness is a scam," tangling taxes, personal responsibility, and class. Both recall feeling let down by political promises, connecting the frustration to the broader scam theme.

  • Laci contextualizes social benefit programs versus infrastructure spending as another locus of American distrust, and they lampoon the idea of being expected to "work harder" while billionaires avoid taxes.

  • Quote:

    • "What people don’t be realizing is once you get out of the five digit bracket and you get into that six inch bracket... taxes—I'm about to have my feelings hurt this tax season. It’s all a scam."
      — Jacquis Neal, [08:33]
    • "Every time I hit a pothole, I’m just screaming at Jeff Bezos..."
      — Laci Mosley, [12:09]

III. Listener Scam Submission: “Victor Johnson’s Bootleg Movie Enterprise”

• [16:46 – 23:38]

  • Laci and Jacquis read a listener letter about Victor’s mom, who, in the DVD-burning era, would not only duplicate movies but also manufacture glossy covers and cases to make at-home copies indistinguishable from retail purchases.

  • Jacquis jokes about how widespread bootlegging was, but marvels at the dedication to detail—questioning the cost-benefit and hypothesizing how more profit could’ve been scammed had Victor’s mom sold the wares.

  • Quote:

    • "Your mom was trying to stunt on the community... She was faking it till she made it."
      — Jacquis Neal, [20:25]
    • "We just saying your mama could have gone further. That’s all."
      — Laci Mosley, [22:07]

IV. Historic Hoodwinks: The Life and Crimes of Juan Carlos Guzman Betancur

• [24:16 – 70:05]
  • Segment premise: Recounting an infamous international thief who started as a stowaway and elevated himself to "gentleman thief" status, orchestrating a string of luxury hotel burglaries worldwide.

A. Origin Story: The Frozen Stowaway

• In 1993, Miami airport workers discover a nearly-frozen, unconscious teenager in a DC8 cargo jet after a flight from Colombia; believed dead, he is revived and spins a sob story about being an orphaned 13-year-old named "Guillermo Rosales."

• He garners sympathy, legal representation, and adoption offers, before being outed: He’s actually 17-year-old Juan Carlos Guzman Betancur, with a living family and a history of petty theft.

• Quote:

  • "If I thaw out, maybe that would keep me alive. Just the anger, the sheer rage would keep me warm inside... If I ever thaw out, it’s over for you wolves!"
    — Laci Mosley, [25:06]
  • "How you frozen like an ice cube and you still alive? That don’t compute in my brain either."
    — Jacquis Neal, [27:14]

B. Early Scams and Path to "Gentleman Thief"

• Deportation back to Colombia follows, but fame (and a new suit, courtesy of US charities) act as a springboard for Juan’s growing criminal ambition.

• Fluent in four languages, armed with new-forged identities, Juan targets luxury hotels in Vegas, London, Beverly Hills, and more.

• Quote:

  • "He was interested in the money as much as in the luxury goods and services... if I’m getting robbed, I want to have the lingering scent of Tom Ford."
    — Laci Mosley, [42:41]
  • "Anybody who can unthaw and get your story straight—Will Smith-level charisma!"
    — Jacquis Neal, [42:56]

C. Notorious Heists & Social Engineering Genius

• Signature moves: impersonating guests with perfect forgeries, mining the hotel lobbies/bars for info, manipulating staff, and emptying safes of the ultra-wealthy. At one point, he tricks a nanny into leaving a luxury suite so he can rob $200,000 in valuables.

• He even sweet-talks surprised hotel patrons by pretending to be a staff member—compensating them with “complimentary” hotel champagne (charged to their own bill).

• Quote:

  • "He said, ‘I’m gonna send you up a bottle of champagne.’ He didn’t say, ‘I’m gonna pay for it.’"
    — Laci Mosley, [53:48]
  • "That’s just disrespectful, and I love it."
    — Laci Mosley, [54:12]

D. Capture, Escape, and Legend

• Authorities connect his worldwide scams but struggle to catch him, partly due to his suave persona and quick adaptation of new identities.

• Briefly imprisoned in the UK, Juan engineers an escape by faking a toothache and slipping away at a dentist's office.

• His addiction to the grift eventually leads to reckless behavior and repeated arrests; in 2019, he’s jailed in France for a Disneyland hotel heist—yet, as of the episode, his whereabouts remain unknown.

• Quote:

  • "If the government was smart, they'd be like, bruh, I'm tired of catching you. You tired of being caught... Come work for us."
    — Jacquis Neal, [69:16]
  • "I hope he’s doing well. Wherever you are out there, stay scheming."
    — Laci Mosley, [70:11]

Notable Quotes & Best Moments (by Timestamp)

• [05:22] – Jacquis: “You know damn well that tithing offering money is going to the pastor!”
• [08:33] – Jacquis: “Taxes—I'm about to have my feelings hurt this tax season. It’s all a scam.”
• [12:09] – Laci: “Every time I drive over a pothole, I just be, like, screaming at Jeff Bezos...”
• [20:25] – Jacquis: “Your mom was trying to stunt on the community... She was faking it till she made it.”
• [25:06] – Laci, on the stowaway: “If I ever thaw out about, it's over for you wolves!”
• [42:41] – Laci: “If I get robbed, I want to just have the lingering scent of Tom Ford... a gentleman thief.”
• [53:48] – Laci (on Juan's “complimentary” champagne): “He said, ‘I’mma send you up a bottle.’ He didn’t say, ‘I’mma pay for it.’”
• [69:16] – Jacquis: “If the government was smart, they'd be like, bruh, I'm tired of catching you. You tired of being caught... Come work for us.”
• [70:11] – Laci: “Wherever you are out there, stay scheming. Still very proud of you. Love your work. Huge fan.”

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | Description | |---|---|---| | Church Money & Scam Comedy | [04:34 – 08:00] | Parody around church finances, tithes, and what counts as a “scam” in religious contexts. | | The Real Scam – Progressive Politics? | [08:11 – 10:20] | Class, fairness, and Jacquis’s comic critique of American “progress.” | | Listener Scam: DVD Bootlegging Mom | [16:46 – 23:38] | Victor Johnson’s letter about professional-level home video piracy sparks nostalgia and debate. | | Main Historical Scam: “Gentleman Thief” | [24:16 – 70:11] | Juan Guzman’s origin, rise, and notorious hotel heists worldwide; escapes, captures, and enduring legend. |

Tone & Style

The episode brims with rapid-fire jokes, playful exasperation, and real admiration for clever scammers (especially those targeting the ultra-wealthy). Laci’s irreverent one-liners and Jacquis’s improvised riffs keep the historical deep dives light and fun, always looping back to the “stay scheming” ethos of the pod. The atmosphere is that of a no-judgment congregation—rooting for the underdog, exposing absurd social norms, and using humor as the lens for all things fraud.

Summary Takeaway

If you love your true crime with wit and a heart for the anti-hero, this episode delivers: extolling the hidden artistry and audacity of con artists past and present, giving voice to listener hustle, and never missing a punchline. By the end, you’ll be laughing, questioning capitalism, and maybe—just maybe—keeping a closer eye on your valuables next time you hit a luxury hotel.

Stay scheming, Scam Goddess congregation!