In the twilight hours of January 17, 1950, as the day came to a close, Brinks, Inc. employees in Boston, Massachusetts, were wrapping up their duties. Their task: returning sacks laden with unclaimed cash, checks, and assorted valuables to the safety of the company vault on the second floor.
Suddenly, just before 7:30 p.m., the tranquil evening was shattered by the arrival of five shadowy figures. Clad in elaborate disguises, they moved stealthily like phantoms, donning gloves to evade leaving any trace and soft-soled shoes to silence their steps. In a matter of moments, the unsuspecting employees found themselves bound and the thieves swiftly commenced their plunder.
In a daring heist, they made off with a staggering haul—over $1.2 million in cash and an additional $1.5 million in checks and securities—propelling this audacious crime to the forefront as the largest robbery ever recorded in the United States up to that point.
The Investigation
Following the rapid departure of the robbers, a Brink's employee urgently dialed the Boston Police Department for assistance. Within minutes, law enforcement personnel descended upon the Brink's building, with FBI agents swiftly joining the unfolding investigation.
Initially, the investigators were met with scant information. Interviews with the five employees confronted by the criminals revealed that between five to seven individuals had breached the premises. Adorned in Navy-style peacoats, gloves, and chauffeur's caps, each perpetrator concealed their identity behind Halloween-esque masks. To dampen their footsteps, one member wore crepe-soled shoes while the rest opted for rubber-soled footwear.
The robbers operated with a calculated precision, suggesting meticulous planning and rehearsal over preceding months. Maneuvering through at least three—potentially four—locked doors, they gained access to the second floor where the employees were engaged in their nightly duties of handling funds collected from Brink's patrons.
Forced at gunpoint to lie prone, hands bound behind their backs, and mouths taped shut, the employees endured a harrowing ordeal. During the chaos, one employee lost his glasses, which remained unrecovered on the premises.
As the stolen goods were being stowed between the second and third doors leading to the Prince Street entrance, an unexpected interruption occurred—a buzzer sounded, signaling an attempt to enter the vault area. Discovering it was a garage attendant, two of the gang members moved to intercept him but hesitated when they realized he seemed oblivious to the unfolding robbery.
Physical evidence left behind included ropes, adhesive tape, and a discarded chauffeur's cap, offering potential leads for investigators. Additionally, the gang absconded with four revolvers, the descriptions and serial numbers of which were meticulously documented as potential crucial evidence.
The aftermath saw intensified scrutiny within the criminal underworld. Boston's notorious figures faced interrogation, with the investigation's reach extending beyond city limits. Nationwide, seasoned criminals found themselves under official scrutiny for their activities during mid-January.
Given Brink's location in a densely populated tenement area, exhaustive efforts were devoted to canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses. A systematic examination of current and former Brink's employees ensued, alongside questioning of personnel within the building and inquiries into visitors familiar with its layout and operations.
Concurrently, efforts were made to catalogue the missing cash and securities, contacting Brink's customers for packaging and shipping details. Every identifying mark on currency and securities was documented, triggering alerts at financial institutions nationwide.
Hundreds of Dead Ends
The Brink's case gripped the nation, dominating headlines well before Brink's, Incorporated, offered a hefty $100,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the culprits. Millions of concerned citizens across America flooded the FBI with tips and theories in hopes of aiding the investigation.
From the far reaches of California came wild suggestions, such as speculations of the loot being submerged in the Atlantic Ocean near Boston—an idea promptly debunked after an exhaustive FBI survey of the Boston waterfront. Even former inmates, recalling snippets of conversations overheard while incarcerated, provided leads that ultimately led to dead ends.
Various other leads emerged, like the peculiar case of a seemingly average individual in Bayonne, New Jersey, suddenly splurging on lavish expenditures. However, thorough scrutiny revealed no connection to the Brink's robbery. Suspicion also fell on notorious criminal factions, with old gangs from Boston's Prohibition era coming under renewed scrutiny. Yet, each line of inquiry led to a dead end, with no tangible progress made.
Anonymous tips flooded in, including a mysterious call on the exact second anniversary of the crime, alleging to identify the Brink's robbers. While this tip initially seemed promising, it ultimately proved fruitless, with only one suspect, a long-standing person of interest, later facing arrest as a member of the robbery gang.
Despite exhaustive efforts, cooperation from New England's criminal underworld was minimal. Some offered tantalizing leads, contingent on their own freedom, while others, like a Massachusetts racketeer, preferred silence, driven by the allure of potential loot.
The FBI cast a wide net, reaching out to resorts, race tracks, and gambling establishments nationwide in a bid to trace any significant influx of cash post-robbery. This intensive phase rattled the gambling community, prompting some to halt operations and others to fervently wish for the perpetrators' swift capture.
Amidst this deluge of information, diligent investigation yielded little. Despite recovering one of the stolen revolvers in Somerville, Massachusetts, and tracing pieces of a matching truck to a dump in Stoughton, Massachusetts, attempts to identify those responsible for the thefts and subsequent dismantling of the vehicle proved futile.
Yet, the discovery of the truck parts provided a pivotal breakthrough, focusing suspicion on two individuals residing in the Stoughton area, intensifying scrutiny on their involvement in the Brink's robbery.
Field of Suspects Narrows
As the investigation unfolded and numerous leads reached dead ends, the pool of potential suspects gradually narrowed.
One early suspect was Anthony Pino, an individual with a history of involvement in major robberies and burglaries in Massachusetts. Revered in the underworld for his meticulous planning, Pino's modus operandi was believed to be evident in the casing of the Brink's offices. Despite providing an alibi for the night of the robbery, questions lingered. Pino's alibi, while strong, had some inconsistencies, leaving room for doubt. Additionally, his association with Joseph McGinnis, a prominent figure in the Boston underworld, raised suspicions about McGinnis's potential involvement, given his own criminal history and his proximity to the crime scene that night.
Neither Pino nor McGinnis seemed the type to undertake such a daring heist without capable support. Enter Joseph James O'Keefe and Stanley Albert Gusciora, known for their boldness and experience in handling firearms. Both had prior convictions and were familiar faces in East Coast underworld circles. O'Keefe, in particular, had a reputation for audacity, with reports linking him to various criminal activities in the Boston area.
Following the robbery, both O'Keefe and Gusciora provided less-than-convincing alibis, claiming to have been drinking at bars in Boston that evening. Their ties to the Stoughton area, where pieces of a stolen truck were found, further intensified scrutiny. Despite searches of their residences yielding no incriminating evidence, suspicions lingered.
In April 1950, a tip led the FBI to investigate the possibility of Brink's loot being stashed in the home of one of O'Keefe's relatives in Boston. A federal search uncovered hidden cash, though it couldn't be definitively linked to the stolen funds.
As the investigation delved deeper into the criminal underworld's murky depths, suspects emerged and theories were tested, yet concrete evidence remained elusive.
The First Arrests
On June 2, 1950, O'Keefe and Gusciora departed Boston by car, ostensibly to visit Gusciora's brother's grave in Missouri. However, their journey seemed more leisurely than somber, peppered with what appeared to be illicit activities.
Their escapade came to an abrupt halt on June 12, 1950, when they were apprehended in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Authorities discovered firearms and clothing believed to be from burglaries in Kane and Coudersport, Pennsylvania, in their possession.
Following their arrest, a former Boston bondsman made repeated trips to Towanda in vain attempts to secure their release on bail. O'Keefe received a three-year sentence in Bradford County jail and a $3,000 fine for violating the Uniform Firearms Act, while Gusciora, although acquitted in Towanda, faced charges in McKean County, Pennsylvania, resulting in a five to 20-year sentence in Western Pennsylvania Penitentiary at Pittsburgh.
Despite their convictions, O'Keefe and Gusciora persisted in seeking release, prompting rumors of Boston underworld figures contributing to their legal defense against Pennsylvania charges. Names like Pino, McGinnis, "Jazz" Maffie, and Henry Baker circulated in these rumors, suggesting their involvement in the Brink's robbery.
While lacking concrete evidence, it became increasingly evident during the investigation that O'Keefe played a central role in the heist, with Pino also implicated. Suspicions arose that O'Keefe felt abandoned by Pino, now that O'Keefe was behind bars.
Even in custody, O'Keefe and Gusciora remained defiant, showing no respect for law enforcement during interviews. The FBI's pursuit of underworld rumors led to the identification of additional suspects, including "Jazz" Maffie and Henry Baker, both with questionable alibis for the night of the robbery.
Vincent James Costa, Pino's brother-in-law, emerged as another strong suspect, linked to Pino's criminal activities in Boston. Despite his alibi of working at a motor terminal until 5:00 p.m. and returning around 7:00 p.m., suspicions lingered.
An analysis of suspects' alibis revealed a recurring theme: the hour of 7:00 p.m. on January 17, 1950. This coincidence, coupled with the robbery occurring between 7:10 and 7:27 p.m., suggested meticulous planning, with the gang likely arranging to rendezvous shortly before the crime commenced to provide alibis up to the last possible moment.
Grand Jury Hearings
All doubts harbored by the Brink's gang regarding the FBI's investigation were dispelled when a federal grand jury convened in Boston on November 25, 1952, to probe the crime.
The FBI's authority to delve into the robbery stemmed from the inclusion of cash, checks, postal notes, and United States money orders from the Federal Reserve Bank and the Veterans Administration district office in Boston among the stolen items. After nearly three years of relentless inquiry, authorities hoped that witnesses or participants who had maintained silence might finally come forward before the grand jury. However, this expectation proved futile.
Concluding its hearings on January 9, 1953, the grand jury deliberated over the evidence. In a report released on January 16, 1953, it conceded its inability to ascertain the identities of the Brink's robbery participants fully. Disguised effectively, lacking eyewitnesses to the crime, and encountering uncooperative witnesses, the grand jury found itself stymied.
Ten individuals who faced the grand jury breathed sighs of relief upon learning of the absence of indictments. However, three years later, almost to the day, these same ten, along with another criminal, faced indictments by a state grand jury in Boston for their involvement in the Brink's robbery.
Despite the federal grand jury's conclusions, the FBI's tireless investigation persisted. While convinced of having identified the actual perpetrators, the quest for evidence and cooperative witnesses remained paramount.
Pino’s Deportation Troubles
While O'Keefe and Gusciora languished in Pennsylvania jails, Pino faced his own set of challenges.
Born in Italy in 1907, Pino arrived in the United States as a young child but never obtained citizenship. In 1941, due to his criminal history, the Immigration and Naturalization Service initiated deportation proceedings against him while he was serving time in Charlestown, Massachusetts, for burglary-related offenses, including carnal abuse.
Despite his efforts to fight deportation, Pino's record remained stained until September 1949 when he received a full pardon from the acting governor of Massachusetts, clearing one of his convictions. However, fresh troubles arose on January 10, 1953, after his appearance before the federal grand jury for the Brink's case. Pino was once again detained as a deportable alien, this time for a larceny offense in 1948, for which he served a brief sentence.
Released on bail pending a deportation hearing, Pino staunchly contested his deportation, arguing that the 1948 conviction should not warrant expulsion. His legal battles extended over two years, with constant pressure from O'Keefe, incarcerated in Pennsylvania, adding to his challenges.
Ultimately, after a protracted legal fight culminating in a Supreme Court ruling on April 11, 1955, Pino emerged victorious. The Court determined that his 1948 conviction did not justify deportation, securing his right to remain in the country.
Meanwhile, O'Keefe completed his sentence in Pennsylvania and faced additional charges in McKean County for probation violation and burglary. Released on bond, he returned to Boston, where he sought support from his underworld contacts to finance his legal defense. However, his relationships soured, reflecting a bitter attitude toward his associates.
Convicted of burglary in McKean County in March 1954, O'Keefe lodged an appeal and was released on bond. He returned to Boston, awaiting the outcome of his appeal, while another gang member, "Jazz" Maffie, began serving a sentence for federal income tax evasion in June 1954.
Hatred and Dissension Increase
Amidst the turbulent underworld, rumors swirled, suggesting tensions within the Brink's gang. Maffie and Henry Baker allegedly found themselves on O'Keefe's blacklist due to suspicions of embezzlement, prompting Baker and his wife to swiftly depart Boston on a "vacation" soon after O'Keefe's return in March 1954.
O'Keefe, intent on replenishing his coffers, made repeated visits to his fellow gang members in Boston during the spring of 1954. His demeanor, cold and relentless, hinted at a quest for substantial funds, possibly his share of the Brink's loot.
During this time, O'Keefe rekindled his alliance with a Boston racketeer, previously involved in fundraising for O'Keefe's defense. The duo made headlines when they allegedly kidnapped Vincent Costa on May 18, 1954, demanding ransom. Although denials ensued from all parties involved, the Brink's gang appeared visibly perturbed in the aftermath.
The calm was shattered on June 5, 1954, when assailants ambushed O'Keefe's car in Dorchester, Massachusetts, firing bullets through the windshield. Further chaos erupted on June 14, as O'Keefe narrowly escaped another shooting incident during a confrontation with Baker, who brandished a firearm. A third attempt on O'Keefe's life occurred on June 16, leaving him wounded but alive.
Elmer "Trigger" Burke, a hired hitman, was implicated in the attacks and arrested for possession of a machine gun on June 17. O'Keefe, injured from the third attempt, disappeared until his arrest on August 1, 1954, for violating probation. His associate vanished on August 3, under mysterious circumstances, fueling speculation of foul play.
Other members of the gang faced their own tribulations. James Ignatius Faherty, implicated in the Brink's robbery, faced parole revocation due to misconduct. McGinnis encountered legal troubles related to liquor offenses, while Adolph Maffie served time for income tax violations. The death of Joseph Sylvester Banfield and the arrest of Pino added further turmoil to the gang's woes.
Pino's involvement in aiding Burke's escape from Suffolk County jail in August 1954 added another layer of intrigue to the saga. Despite Pino's claims of innocence, suspicions lingered as the tangled web of underworld alliances and betrayals continued to unfold.
O’Keefe Confesses
Despite the considerable resources poured into legal defense by members of the robbery gang throughout 1954, the year concluded without any trace of the Brink's loot surfacing. Furthermore, despite internal discord brewing within the gang, there were no signs of anyone being willing to betray their comrades. However, the FBI sensed that O'Keefe's frustration might push him towards betrayal.
During an October 1954 interview with special agents in the Springfield jail, O'Keefe expressed concern about the fate of the missing Boston racketeer. By December 1954, he hinted to agents that Pino could face repercussions upon his potential release.
From his cell, O'Keefe penned bitter missives to his former allies, persistently demanding money to cover legal expenses. Facing the looming specter of his burglary conviction in Pennsylvania and mounting legal fees, O'Keefe contemplated his future bleakly. He realized that imprisonment or a short, perilous life awaited him outside, especially after surviving three attempts on his life in June 1954.
Resigned to his fate, O'Keefe's bitterness towards his former associates deepened. Despite his threats, the gang remained unmoved, convinced that his incarceration rendered him powerless to harm them. With his prospects dim, O'Keefe grew increasingly embittered towards his erstwhile comrades, realizing that his warnings fell on deaf ears.
However, on December 28, 1955, during another interview with FBI agents, O'Keefe's demeanor softened, indicating a gradual shift in his attitude. Finally, on January 6, 1956, O'Keefe made a momentous decision. Fed up with his former allies, he declared to FBI agents, "All right, what do you want to know?"
In a series of subsequent interviews, O'Keefe divulged the entire story of the Brink's robbery. His account, meticulously cross-checked by FBI agents, filled in crucial gaps in the investigation.
O'Keefe revealed that while Pino conceived the robbery, it was a collaborative effort among long-time associates. Plans for the heist originated as far back as 1947, with the gang meticulously studying Brink's operations and premises. They even obtained keys to access the building surreptitiously and conducted meticulous reconnaissance.
The robbery itself was meticulously planned, with each member of the gang playing a specific role. On the night of January 17, 1950, they executed the heist flawlessly, binding Brink's employees, looting the premises, and escaping with the stolen money.
Afterwards, they dispersed to establish alibis, meticulously examining the loot for identifying marks and distributing their shares. However, internal strife and betrayal soured the aftermath, with O'Keefe feeling cheated and betrayed by his former associates.
Ultimately, O'Keefe's decision to cooperate with the authorities marked the culmination of years of mounting frustration and disillusionment with his erstwhile allies.
Arrests and Indictments
On January 11, 1956, the United States Attorney in Boston authorized FBI special agents to file complaints against the 11 criminals involved in various charges, including conspiracy to commit theft of government property, robbery of government property, and bank robbery by force and intimidation. Additionally, they were charged with committing bank robbery on January 17, 1950, along with assaulting Brink’s employees during the commission of the crime. Furthermore, they faced charges of conspiracy to receive and conceal money, violating the Bank Robbery and Theft of Government Property Statutes. McGinnis faced additional complaints related to the receiving and concealing of the loot.
On January 12, 1956, FBI agents arrested six members of the gang—Baker, Costa, Geagan, Maffie, McGinnis, and Pino. They were detained without bail, each facing bail amounts exceeding $100,000.
The remaining three gang members had their whereabouts known: O’Keefe and Gusciora were already incarcerated on separate charges, and Banfield was deceased. Faherty and Richardson, however, went into hiding to evade capture and were subsequently placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Their flight came to an end on May 16, 1956, when FBI agents raided their hiding place in Dorchester, Massachusetts. At the time of their arrest, Faherty and Richardson were attempting to reach for three loaded revolvers left on a chair in the bathroom of the apartment. Additionally, over $5,000 in coins was found at the hideout. (Their arrest also led to the indictment of another Boston criminal as an accessory after the fact.)
To aid in the prosecution, the FBI provided the information collected during the Brink’s investigation to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. On January 13, 1956, the Suffolk County grand jury issued indictments against all 11 members of the Brink’s gang. O’Keefe played a pivotal role as the principal witness before the state grand jury.
Part of the Loot Recovered
In January 1956, despite the arrests and indictments, over $2,775,000, including $1,218,211.29 in cash, remained missing. O’Keefe was clueless about the whereabouts of the gang's shares of the loot or if they had disposed of it. The silence of the other gang members was deafening.
Then, in an unexpected turn of events in June 1956, a breakthrough occurred. At around 7:30 p.m. on June 3, 1956, a Baltimore police officer was alerted by an amusement arcade operator who suspected that someone had passed a counterfeit $10 bill. Upon inspection, the officer noticed the bill's worn condition. The suspect, a small-time Boston underworld figure, was located and questioned. During the encounter, the suspect made a suspicious gesture, prompting nearby officers to intervene. They discovered a large roll of money hidden in his hand.
The suspect, taken to police headquarters, was found to be carrying over $1,000, including $860 in worn bills. A Secret Service agent confirmed the authenticity of the money. The suspect claimed to have stumbled upon a plastic bag containing the money while working on a house foundation in late March or early April 1956.
A search of his hotel room in Baltimore yielded $3,780, which was taken to police headquarters. Details of the incident were promptly relayed to the FBI in Baltimore. Serial numbers of some bills matched those from the Brink’s loot, confirming that the suspect possessed part of the stolen money.
Of the $4,822 found in his possession, $4,635 was identified as Brink’s loot. The suspect, a 31-year-old with a history of arrests, revealed that he had been involved in a federal crime and had been released from prison less than a year ago. He claimed that another Boston underworld figure, known as “Fat John,” had provided him with the money.
According to the suspect, “Fat John” had instructed him to retrieve money hidden in their office wall. “Fat John” later admitted that the money was part of the Brink’s loot and offered the suspect a cut for laundering some of the bills.
The suspect took six packages of money from “Fat John” and began passing them the following day in Baltimore. Upon his arrest, “Fat John” and his associate were located and interviewed. Despite denying knowledge of the loot, a search of their office revealed over $57,700, including $51,906 identifiable as Brink’s loot.
Their arrests led to indictments on state offenses related to possessing stolen money. “Fat John” received a two-year sentence, while the others received one-year terms. Tragically, “Fat John” was later found shot dead in Boston.
The recovered money, wrapped in plastic and newspapers, had undergone significant decomposition due to exposure to moisture and insects. Despite the recovery, over $1,150,000 of the stolen currency remained unaccounted for.
Death of Gusciora
Stanley Albert Gusciora, a participant in the 1950 Brink's robbery, met his demise in July 1956 while awaiting trial. The recovery of part of the stolen loot dealt a heavy blow to the remaining gang members anticipating trial in Boston. They were anxious about any potential evidence linking them to the money.
In July 1956, another significant development occurred. Gusciora, who had been transferred from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts for trial, fell ill with weakness, dizziness, and vomiting. On July 9, while visited by a clergyman, Gusciora collapsed, hitting his head on the floor. He passed away two hours later. An examination revealed a brain tumor and acute cerebral edema as the cause of death.
O’Keefe and Gusciora had been longtime friends. Despite their close bond, O’Keefe, after admitting his involvement in the robbery to the FBI in January 1956, would have testified against Gusciora as a government witness, albeit reluctantly. With Gusciora's passing, beyond the reach of justice, O’Keefe was more determined than ever to ensure that justice would prevail.
Trial of Remaining Defendants
Following Gusciora's death, only eight members of the Brink’s gang awaited trial, with O’Keefe having already pleaded guilty on January 18, 1956. The trial commenced on August 6, 1956, before Judge Feliz Forte at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston. The defense promptly filed motions to delay or prevent the trial, all of which were denied, and jury selection began on August 7.
Over the next two weeks, nearly 1,200 potential jurors were dismissed as the defense exhausted their 262 peremptory challenges. It took another week to select the 14-member jury, after considering approximately 500 more citizens.
Throughout September 1956, over 100 individuals testified for the prosecution and defense. Notably, “Specs” O’Keefe provided detailed testimony, outlining the roles of each defendant.
At 10:25 p.m. on October 5, 1956, the jury retired to deliberate. Three and a half hours later, they reached a unanimous verdict of guilty for all defendants.
On October 9, 1956, Judge Forte sentenced the eight men. Pino, Costa, Maffie, Geagan, Faherty, Richardson, and Baker received life sentences for robbery, two years for conspiracy to steal, and eight to ten years for night breaking and entering. McGinnis, not present during the robbery, received life sentences on eight indictments for being an accessory before the fact, along with other sentences ranging from two to ten years.
While the men pursued appeals, they were transferred to the State prison in Walpole, Massachusetts. Despite legal efforts, the Massachusetts State Supreme Court rejected their appeals on July 1, 1959, in a 35-page decision. The United States Supreme Court denied their request for a writ of certiorari on November 16, 1959.
Ultimately, the “perfect crime” met a fitting conclusion, albeit not for the robbers.
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