Behind the Bastards Presents: Weird Little Guys
Behind the Bastards
Deep Dive
Who is Frank Sweeney and why is he considered a 'weird little guy'?
Frank Sweeney is a man whose life has intersected with major historical events and notorious figures, including the American Nazi Party, Rhodesian mercenaries, and a Soviet spy. His life is marked by a series of bizarre and criminal acts, including bank robberies, gun battles, and a lengthy campaign of harassment against a family.
What was Frank Sweeney's first major criminal act?
Frank Sweeney's first major criminal act was attempting to rob a bank in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1962 using a toy gun painted black. He was arrested by an off-duty policeman shortly after leaving the bank.
Why did Frank Sweeney join the Rhodesian Light Infantry?
Frank Sweeney joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry in the early 1970s, likely due to his white supremacist beliefs and a desire to support the white minority-led government in Rhodesia during the Rhodesian Bush War.
What role did Frank Sweeney play in the escape of Christopher Boyce?
Frank Sweeney provided false clues and planted misleading information to divert the manhunt for Christopher Boyce, who had escaped from prison in 1980. Sweeney's actions led investigators on an international goose chase, though Boyce was eventually recaptured.
How did Frank Sweeney's life intersect with Joseph Paul Franklin, a neo-Nazi serial killer?
Frank Sweeney and Joseph Paul Franklin were briefly cellmates in 1981. Sweeney later testified against Franklin, claiming that Franklin had confessed to shooting civil rights activist Vernon Jordan. Sweeney's testimony was one of three jailhouse informants used in Franklin's trial.
What was Frank Sweeney's 'cat scam' and why did he run it?
Frank Sweeney's 'cat scam' involved cutting the tails off regular house cats and advertising them as exotic purebred cats for $300. He likely ran the scam to make money, though he claimed to be independently wealthy from an inheritance.
What was Frank Sweeney's final major criminal act before his arrest in 2019?
Frank Sweeney's final major criminal act was a three-year campaign of harassment against a family in Idaho, sending them postcards containing personal information and false accusations. He also sent letters to inmates, encouraging them to write to the family, causing them significant distress.
How did Frank Sweeney's obsession with reptiles tie into his life?
Frank Sweeney had a lifelong interest in reptiles, breeding them and collecting snakes. At the time of his arrest, investigators found two live rattlesnakes in his home, which he was likely breeding, despite rattlesnakes not being native to Idaho.
- Frank Sweeney's early life and involvement with the American Nazi Party
- His failed bank robbery attempt with a toy gun
- His time as a mercenary in Rhodesia and his involvement in the Rhodesian Bush War
- His role in the escape of Soviet spy Christopher Boyce
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