This phase of the investigation greatly disturbed many gamblers. WebGordon John Parry, Brian Perry, Patrick Clark, Jean Savage and Anthony Black were all given between five and 10 years in prison for their part in the crime. In December 1948, Brinks moved from Federal Street to 165 Prince Street in Boston. When the employees were securely bound and gagged, the robbers began looting the premises. The FBI further learned that four revolvers had been taken by the gang. McGinnis previously had discussed sending a man to the United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C., to inspect the patents on the protective alarms used in the Brinks building. A private security and protection company was co-ordinating the shipment of $20 million worth of gold and high-value goods when they were stolen from Toronto Pearson International Airport. There had been three attempts on his life in June 1954, and his frustrated assassins undoubtedly were waiting for him to return to Boston. Within two months of his return, another member of the gang suffered a legal setback. In the hours immediately following the robbery, the underworld began to feel the heat of the investigation. John had a smelter in his garden hut near Bath. As a protective measure, he was incarcerated in the Hampden County jail at Springfield, Massachusetts, rather than the Suffolk County jail in Boston. They were held in lieu of bail which, for each man, amounted to more then $100,000. A trial began on August 6, 1956. The Boston underworld rumbled with reports that an automobile had pulled alongside OKeefes car in Dorchester, Massachusetts, during the early morning hours of June 5. On the afternoon of July 9, he was visited by a clergyman. In addition, although violent dissension had developed within the gang, there still was no indication that any of the men were ready to talk. Based on the available information, however, the FBI felt that OKeefes disgust was reaching the point where it was possible he would turn against his confederates. The recovery of part of the loot was a severe blow to the gang members who still awaited trial in Boston. Soon the underworld rang with startling news concerning this pair. With the death of Gusciora, only eight members of the Brinks gang remained to be tried. WebOne of the robbers, Micky McAvoy, entrusted his share to associates Brian Perry and George Francis. They spent about twenty minutes inside the vault, putting money into large canvas bags. Released to McKean County, Pennsylvania, authorities early in January 1954 to stand trial for burglary, larceny, and receiving stolen goods, OKeefe also was confronted with a detainer filed by Massachusetts authorities. He subsequently was convicted and executed.). Accordingly, another lock cylinder was installed until the original one was returned. The alibi was strong, but not conclusive. Extensive efforts were made to detect pencil markings and other notations on the currency that the criminals thought might be traceable to Brinks. All efforts to identify the gang members through the chauffeurs hat, the rope, and the adhesive tape which had been left in Brinks proved unsuccessful. Brinks customers were contacted for information regarding the packaging and shipping materials they used. On January 12, 1953, Pino was released on bail pending a deportation hearing. Vincent Costa was the group's lookout, and signalled with a flashlight from a nearby rooftop when he saw the vault being opened. The conviction for burglary in McKean County, Pennsylvania, still hung over his head, and legal fees remained to be paid. At the Prison Colony, Baker was serving two concurrent terms of four to ten years, imposed in 1944 for breaking and entering and larceny and for possession of burglar tools. At the time of Bakers release in 1949, Pino was on hand to drive him back to Boston. Underworld rumors alleged that Maffie and Henry Baker were high on OKeefes list because they had beaten him out of a large amount of money. In the deportation fight that lasted more than two years, Pino won the final victory. Many tips were received from anonymous persons. Pino had been at his home in the Roxbury Section of Boston until approximately 7:00 p.m.; then he walked to the nearby liquor store of Joseph McGinnis. In April 1950, the FBI received information indicating that part of the Brinks loot was hidden in the home of a relative of OKeefe in Boston. Ten of the persons who appeared before this grand jury breathed much more easily when they learned that no indictments had been returned. [18] The total amount stolen was $1,218,211 in cash and $1,557,183 in checks and other securities. Brink There was James Ignatius Faherty, an armed robbery specialist whose name had been mentioned in underworld conversations in January 1950, concerning a score on which the gang members used binoculars to watch their intended victims count large sums of money. One of his former girl friends who recalled having seen him on the night of the robbery stated that he definitely was not drunk. Unfortunately, this proved to be an idle hope. OKeefe was sentenced to three years in Bradford County Jail and Gusciora to 5-to-20 years in the Western State Penitentiary at Pittsburgh. Gusciora now had passed beyond the reach of all human authority, and OKeefe was all the more determined to see that justice would be done. He was through with Pino, Baker, McGinnis, Maffie, and the other Brinks conspirators who had turned against him. A t the time, the Brinks-Mat vault was thought to be one of the most secure facilities in the world. Costa was associated with Pino in the operation of a motor terminal and a lottery in Boston. Costa claimed that after working at the motor terminal until approximately 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 1950, he had gone home to eat dinner; then, at approximately 7:00 p.m., he left to return to the terminal and worked until about 9:00 p.m. (McGinnis trial in March 1955 on the liquor charge resulted in a sentence to 30 days imprisonment and a fine of $1,000. None proved fruitful. Brink Although he had been known to carry a gun, burglaryrather than armed robberywas his criminal specialty, and his exceptional driving skill was an invaluable asset during criminal getaways. The robbers killed Peter Paige at the Nanuet Mall in front of a bank. The descriptions and serial numbers of these weapons were carefully noted since they might prove a valuable link to the men responsible for the crime. Kathy Boudin of Brink's robbery dies, legacy debated - The This incident also took place in Dorchester and involved the firing of more than 30 shots. Both are real characters. [3] After five aborted runs, Costa finally gave the go-ahead on the night of January 17, 1950. He claimed there was a large roll of bills in his hotel roomand that he had found that money, too. On August 30, he was taken into custody as a suspicious person. WebThe series stars Hugh Bonneville as Brian Boyce, the detective chief inspector on the case, and the cast also includes Jack Lowden, Adam Nagaitis, Tom Cullen and Dominic The FBIs jurisdiction to investigate this robbery was based upon the fact that cash, checks, postal notes, and United States money orders of the Federal Reserve Bank and the Veterans Administration district office in Boston were included in the loot. Brinks Robbery Building in Boston - Celebrate Boston This was a question which preyed heavily upon their minds. Nonetheless, the finding of the truck parts at Stoughton, Massachusetts, was to prove a valuable break in the investigation. It was billed as the perfect crime and the the crime of the century.. The last false approach took place on January 16, 1950the night before the robbery. The hoodlum was taken to police headquarters where a search of his person disclosed he was carrying more than $1,000, including $860 in musty, worn bills. Although Gusciora was acquitted of the charges against him in Towanda, he was removed to McKean County, Pennsylvania, to stand trial for burglary, larceny, and receiving stolen goods. The eight men were sentenced by Judge Forte on October 9, 1956. WebRobbery Seven of the group went into the Brink's building: OKeefe, Gusciora, Baker, Maffie, Geagan, Faherty, and Richardson. Evidently resigned to long years in prison or a short life on the outside, OKeefe grew increasingly bitter toward his old associates. Immediately upon leaving, the gang loaded the loot into the truck that was parked on Prince Street near the door. Before removing the remainder of the loot from the house on January 18, 1950, the gang members attempted to identify incriminating items. Adding to these problems was the constant pressure being exerted upon Pino by OKeefe from the county jail in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Two of the participants in the Brinks robbery lived in the Stoughton area. WebThe robbery occurred around 9:35 a.m. as the Brinks truck was parked in front of Pete's Fresh Market in the 1900-block of Sibley Blvd., Calumet City spokesperson Sean Howard It was at the time the largest robbery in the history of the United States, and has been called "the crime of the century". After a period of hostility, he began to display a friendly attitude. Some of the bills were in pieces. After a couple of attempts he hired underworld hitman Elmer "Trigger" Burke to kill O'Keefe. During his brief stay in Boston, he was observed to contact other members of the robbery gang. Jeweler and also a bullion dealer, John Palmer, was arrested. After completing its hearings on January 9, 1953, the grand jury retired to weigh the evidence. Five bullets which had missed their mark were found in a building nearby. Great Brink's Robbery - Wikipedia Binoculars were used in this phase of the casing operation. He was not able to provide a specific account, claiming that he became drunk on New Years Eve and remained intoxicated through the entire month of January. Others fell apart as they were handled. At the time of their arrest, Faherty and Richardson were rushing for three loaded revolvers that they had left on a chair in the bathroom of the apartment. Faherty and Richardson fled to avoid apprehension and subsequently were placed on the list of the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. This phase of the investigation was pursued exhaustively. WebA Byte Out of HistoryThe Great Brinks Robbery. Later, when he counted the money, he found that the suitcase contained $98,000. Edward O'Grady, Officer Waverly Brown and Brink's guard Peter Paige were killed during the Oct. 20, 1981, robbery in Nanuet, New York. [16] Brink's, Inc. offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the robbery, with an additional 5% of recovered cash offered by the insurance company. The Bureau was convinced that it had identified the actual robbers, but evidence and witnesses had to be found. Until the FBI and its partners painstakingly solved the case. It was positively concluded that the packages of currency had been damaged prior to the time they were wrapped in the pieces of newspaper; and there were indications that the bills previously had been in a canvas container which was buried in ground consisting of sand and ashes. ), (After serving his sentence, Fat John resumed a life of crime. On January 10, 1953, following his appearance before the federal grand jury in connection with the Brinks case, Pino was taken into custody again as a deportable alien. Even in their jail cells, however, they showed no respect for law enforcement. The roofs of buildings on Prince and Snow Hill Streets soon were alive with inconspicuous activity as the gang looked for the most advantageous sites from which to observe what transpired inside Brinks offices. [15] Two vehicles were stolen: a truck, to carry away the loot from the robbery; and a car, which would be used to block any pursuit. As the robbers sped from the scene, a Brinks employee telephoned the Boston Police Department. By this time, Baker was suffering from a bad case of nerves. O'Keefe cooperated with writer Bob Considine on The Men Who Robbed Brink's, a 1961 "as told to" book about the robbery and its aftermath. OKeefe was sentenced on August 5, 1954, to serve 27 months in prison. He arrived in Baltimore on the morning of June 3 and was picked up by the Baltimore Police Department that evening. A few weeks later, OKeefe retrieved his share of the loot. At 4:20 p.m. on January 6, 1956, OKeefe made the final decision. The defense immediately filed motions which would delay or prevent the trial. Local officers searched their homes, but no evidence linking them with the truck or the robbery was found. This is good money, he said, but you cant pass it around here in Boston.. Only $58,000 of the $2.7 million was recovered. (On January 18, 1956, OKeefe had pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of Brinks.) Of the $4,822 found in the small-time criminals possession, FBI agents identified $4,635 as money taken by the Brinks robbers. An appeal was promptly noted, and he was released on $15,000 bond. All were paroled by 1971 except McGinnis, who died in prison. It was later claimed that most of O'Keefe's share went to his legal defense. At approximately 7:30 p.m. on June 3, 1956, an officer of the Baltimore, Maryland, Police Department was approached by the operator of an amusement arcade. Less than $60,000 of the more than $2.7 million stolen would ever be recovered. Brink's robbery He was not with the gang when the robbery took place. The criminal explained that he was in the contracting business in Boston and that in late March or early April 1956, he stumbled upon a plastic bag containing this money while he was working on the foundation of a house. A Secret Service agent, who had been summoned by the Baltimore officers, arrived while the criminal was being questioned at the police headquarters, and after examining the money found in the bill changers possession, he certified that it was not counterfeit. From interviews with the five employees whom the criminals had confronted, it was learned that between five and seven robbers had entered the building. They had brought no tools with them, however, and they were unsuccessful. This underworld character told the officers that he had found this money. Calumet City crime: Brinks armored truck robbery suspects Burke, a professional killer, allegedly had been hired by underworld associates of OKeefe to assassinate him. [21] Any information police could get from their informers initially proved useless. Many other types of information were received. A systematic check of current and past Brinks employees was undertaken; personnel of the three-story building housing the Brinks offices were questioned; inquiries were made concerning salesmen, messengers, and others who had called at Brinks and might know its physical layout as well as its operational procedures. WebAt 6.30 am on 26 November 1983, a South London gang of six armed robbers, headed by Brian Robinson and Mickey McAvoy, broke into the Brinks Mat warehouse at Heathrow Airport, expecting to make off with about 3 million in cash. He, too, had left his home shortly before 7:00 p.m. on the night of the robbery and met the Boston police officer soon thereafter. This man, subsequently identified as a small-time Boston underworld figure, was located and questioned. The FBIs analysis of the alibis offered by the suspects showed that the hour of 7:00 p.m. on January 17, 1950, was frequently mentioned. OKeefes racketeer associate, who allegedly had assisted him in holding Costa for ransom and was present during the shooting scrape between OKeefe and Baker, disappeared on August 3, 1954. Instead, they said the trailer was targeted near Frazier Park in the mountains along I-5. Other members of the group came under suspicion but there was not enough evidence for an indictment, so law enforcement kept pressure on the suspects. On September 8, 1950, OKeefe was sentenced to three years in the Bradford County jail at Towanda and fined $3,000 for violation of the Uniform Firearms Act. Two of the gang members moved toward the door to capture him; but, seeing the garage attendant walk away apparently unaware that the robbery was being committed, they did not pursue him. Before fleeing with the bags of loot, the seven armed men attempted to open a metal box containing the payroll of the General Electric Company. In a report which was released on January 16, 1953, the grand jury disclosed that its members did not feel they possessed complete, positive information as to the identify of the participants in the Brinks robbery because (1) the participants were effectively disguised; (2) there was a lack of eyewitnesses to the crime itself; and (3) certain witnesses refused to give testimony, and the grand jury was unable to compel them to do so. The serial numbers of several of these bills were furnished to the FBI Office in Baltimore. The new proceedings were based upon the fact that Pino had been arrested in December 1948 for a larceny involving less than $100. Yet, when he was Another week passedand approximately 500 more citizens were consideredbefore the 14-member jury was assembled. As this bag was being emptied later that evening, the glasses were discovered and destroyed by the gang. [17] Approximately a million dollars in silver and coins was left behind by the robbers, as they were not prepared to carry it. [14] Over a period of several months, the robbers removed each lock from the building and had a key made for it, before returning the lock. Prior to his murder, From Boston, the pressure quickly spread to other cities. At approximately 9:50 p.m., the details of this incident were furnished to the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI. An official website of the United States government. A third attempt on OKeefes life was made on June 16, 1954. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Brink%27s_Robbery&oldid=1134169121, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 09:19. The ninth man had long been a principal suspect. Eight of the gang's members received maximum sentences of life imprisonment. On February 5, 1950, however, a police officer in Somerville, Massachusetts, recovered one of the four revolvers that had been taken by the robbers. Thirteen people were detained in the hours following the robbery, including two former employees of Brink's. Pino would take the locks to the mans shop, and keys would be made for them. By fixing this time as close as possible to the minute at which the robbery was to begin, the robbers would have alibis to cover their activities up to the final moment. This man claimed to have no knowledge of Pinos involvement in the Brinks robbery.). Solicitor Michael Relton was jailed in 1987 for his part in the money The officer verified the meeting. Both OKeefe and Gusciora had been interviewed on several occasions concerning the Brinks robbery, but they had claimed complete ignorance. After these plans were reviewed and found to be unhelpful, OKeefe and Gusciora returned them in the same manner. Examination by the FBI Laboratory subsequently disclosed that the decomposition, discoloration, and matting together of the bills were due, at least in part, to the fact that all of the bills had been wet. Inside this container were packages of bills that had been wrapped in plastic and newspapers. While the theft was originally intended to be a burglary, rather than an armed robbery, they could not find a way around the building's burglar alarm. Thorough inquiries were made concerning the disposition of the bags after their receipt by the Massachusetts firm. Approximately one and one-half hours later, Banfield returned with McGinnis. A detailed search for additional weapons was made at the Mystic River. All five employees had been forced at gunpoint to lie face down on the floor. [14] By 7:37, one of the Brink's employees managed to free themselves and raise the alarm. His case had gone to the highest court in the land. (Following pleas of guilty in November 1956, Fat John received a two-year sentence, and the other two men were sentenced to serve one years imprisonment. McAvoy wanted members of the Arif crime family, specialists in armed robbery, on the job. While action to appeal the convictions was being taken on their behalf, the eight men were removed to the State prison at Walpole, Massachusetts. WebHere is what we know of those involved in the robbery. While some gang members remained in the building to ensure that no one detected the operation, other members quickly obtained keys to fit the locks. Thus, when he and Gusciora were taken into custody by state authorities during the latter part of January 1950, OKeefe got word to McGinnis to recover his car and the $200,000 that it contained. WebNahome was a "financer" and associate of the Adams family, who were also suspected of having been involved in the laundering of the Brink's-Mat gold. Except for $5,000 that he took before placing the loot in Maffies care, OKeefe angrily stated, he was never to see his share of the Brinks money again. Apparently in need of money he kidnapped Vincent Costa and demanded his part of the loot for ransom. Almost immediately, the gang began laying new plans.