View source for Great Brink's Robbery

{{Short description|1950 security company robbery}}
{{about|the 1950 robbery|other similarly-named robberies in 1981, 1983 and 2008|Brinks robbery (disambiguation){{!}}Brinks robbery}}
[[File:Boston MA North Terminal Garage.jpg|thumb|right|Present-day [[North Terminal Garage]] in Boston, site of the Great Brink's Robbery in 1950]]
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{use American English|date=October 2022}}
The '''Great Brink's Robbery''' was an armed [[robbery]] of the [[Brink's]] building in the [[North End, Boston|North End]] of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], on January 17, 1950. The $2.775 million (${{Inflation|US|2.775395|1950|r=+1|fmt=c}} million today) theft consisted of $1,218,211.29 in cash and $1,557,183.83 in [[cheque|check]]s, [[money order]]s, and other securities. It was at the time the largest robbery in the history of the United States and has been called "the [[crime of the century]]". The robbery remained unsolved for nearly six years, until estranged group member Joseph O'Keefe testified only days before the [[statute of limitations]] would have expired. 

Of the eleven people involved in the robbery, eight would receive [[Life imprisonment|life sentences]] after a trial, with two others dying before they could be convicted. Less than $60,000 of the more than $2.7 million stolen would ever be recovered. The robbery received significant press coverage and was eventually adapted into [[#Films|four movies]].

== Perpetrators ==

* '''Joseph McGinnis'''{{snd}}according to O'Keefe's testimony, McGinnis was the mastermind behind the robbery; however, this was later disputed by Geagan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2020 |title=Historical Photos: Boston's Great Brinks Robbery |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/historical-photos-boston-s-great-brinks-robbery/8118545 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=[[WCVB-TV|WCVB]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Richard |date=January 12, 1975 |title=A quarter-century later{{--}}Brink's robber admits guilt to Globe |pages=1 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113268139/a-quarter-century-later-brinks/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He was responsible for destroying incriminating evidence, including guns, the truck, and clothes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1956 |title=O'Keefe Says Brink's Holdup Gang Vowed To Kill Any Member Who Periled Others |pages=5 |work=[[The San Bernardino Sun]] |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19560918.1.5&srpos=95&e=-------en--20--81--txt-txIN-brink%27s+robbery-------1 |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref> McGinnis died in prison on October 5, 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1966 |title=Joseph McGinnis Obituary |pages=34 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113267009/joseph-mcginnis-obituary/ |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref>
* '''Joseph "Specs" O'Keefe'''{{snd}}O'Keefe died in March 1976, at the age of 67.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomasson |first=Robert E. |date=March 28, 1976 |title=Specs O'Keefe, Informant In Brink's Robbery, Dies |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/28/archives/specs-okeefe-informant-in-brinks-robbery-dies-biggest-cash-robbery.html |access-date=October 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''Anthony Pino'''{{snd}}according to Geagan, Pino was the leader of the gang.<ref name=":2" /> Pino died in October 1973, at the age of 67.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1973 |title=Tony Pino, 67, Participated In '50 Boston Brinks Holdup |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/06/archives/tony-pino-67-participated-in-50-boston-brinks-holdup.html |access-date=October 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''Adolph "Jazz" Maffie'''{{snd}}Maffie died in September 1988, at the age of 77. He was the last surviving member of the robbery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 1988 |title=Adolph (Jazz) Maffie; Last Survivor of Brink's Gang |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-03-mn-2366-story.html |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''Thomas "Sandy" Richardson'''{{snd}}Richardson died in 1980, at the age of 73.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schorow |first=Stephanie |date=January 15, 2012 |title=Brink’s robber penned gangster novel |work=[[Boston.com]] |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/01/15/brinks_robber_was_a_would_be_novelist/ |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
* '''Vincent Costa'''{{snd}}Costa was released from prison in 1969 after being paroled. He was arrested again in 1985 and charged with cocaine trafficking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 1985 |title=Brink's Robber Held in Jail |url=https://apnews.com/article/c26a05b5a94c81d8b7e03f2e90ad529a |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>
* '''Michael Geagan'''{{snd}}Geagan was released in 1969 after being paroled.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=December 23, 1969 |title=Brink's Bandits Get Christmas Home |pages=8 |work=[[The Desert Sun]] |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19691223.2.75&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
* '''Henry Baker'''{{snd}}Baker died in prison in 1961, at the age of 54.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 1961 |title=One of Bandits in Brink's Robbery Dies |pages=2 |work=[[The Desert Sun]] |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19610215.1.2&srpos=40&e=------196-en--20--21--txt-txIN-brink%27s+robbery-------1 |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
* '''James Faherty'''{{Snd}}Faherty, along with Geagan and Maffie, was released in 1969 after being paroled.<ref name=":0" />
* '''Joseph Banfield'''{{Snd}}Banfield died in 1955, at the age of 45.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1956 |title=Six Arrests Break $1,218,211 Brink's Robbery |pages=3 |work=[[The San Bernardino Sun]] |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19560113.1.3&srpos=5&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-brink%27s+robbery-------1 |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
* '''Stanley Gusciora'''{{Snd}}Gusciora died in July 1956 of a brain tumor, before he could be tried for his role in the robbery.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Brink’s Robbery |url=https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/brinks-robbery |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Planning ==
The robbery was first conceived in 1947; however, in 1948, after months of planning, the group learned that Brink's had moved to a new location. 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. After observing the movements of the guards, they decided that the robbery should take place just after 7 pm, as the vault would be open and fewer guards would be on duty.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Carl |date=May 21, 1961 |title=The Men Who Robbed Brink's |pages=94 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113276952/the-men-who-robbed-brinks-committed-bi/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hurley |first=Cornelius |date=January 17, 1960 |title=Brink Robbery History Recalled After Decade |pages=7 |work=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]] |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19600117.1.7&srpos=76&e=-------en--20--61--txt-txIN-brink%27s+robbery-------1 |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> 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. Vincent Costa was the group's lookout and signalled with a flashlight from a nearby rooftop when he saw the vault being opened.<ref name=":1" /> After five aborted runs, Costa finally gave the go-ahead on the night of January 17, 1950.<ref name=":3" />

== Robbery ==
Seven of the group went into the Brink's building: O’Keefe, Gusciora, Baker, Maffie, Geagan, Faherty, and Richardson.<ref name=":3" /> They each wore a chauffeur cap, [[pea coat]], rubber [[Halloween mask]], and each had a [[.38 caliber|.38 caliber revolver]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1950 |title=$1,500,000 HOLDUP: 7 Masked Men Rob Brink's, Boston; Leave Another Million |pages=1 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27219489/the-great-brinks-robbery-1950/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At 7:10 pm, they entered the building and tied up the five employees working in the vault area. They spent about twenty minutes inside the vault, putting money into large canvas bags.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Hurley |first=Cornelius |date=January 17, 1960 |title=The False-Face Bandits: Greed Wrecked the Brink's Case Gang |pages=42 |work=[[The News & Observer]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113310277/the-false-face-bandits-greed-wrecked-th/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Approximately a million dollars in silver and coins was left behind by the robbers; they were not prepared to carry it.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1950 |title=HOLDUP: Continued From the First Page |pages=10 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113309852/holdup-continued-from-the-first-page/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The total amount stolen was $1,218,211 in cash and $1,557,183 in [[Cheque|checks]] and other securities.<ref name=":3" /> By 7:37, one of the Brink's employees managed to free himself and raise the alarm.<ref name=":4" />

== Investigation and falling out ==

Immediately following the robbery, Police Commissioner [[Thomas F. Sullivan]] sent a mobilization order for all precinct captains and detectives. Thirteen people were detained in the hours following the robbery, including two former employees of Brink's.<ref name=":5" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1950 |title=Gang of Nine Robs Brink's at Boston; $150,000 Reward Out |pages=1 |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113859501/gang-of-nine-robs-brinks-at-boston/ |access-date=November 29, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], [[J. Edgar Hoover]], took over supervision of the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 20, 1950 |title=Police Heads Map Strategy in Hub Hunt |pages=1 |work=[[The Lewiston Daily Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113858383/police-heads-map-strategy-in-hub-hunt/ |access-date=November 29, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

The only physical evidence left at the crime scene was a cap and the tape and rope used to bind the employees.<ref name=":6" /> Most of the cash stolen was in [[Denomination (currency)|denominations]] of $1 to $20, which made it nearly impossible to trace the bills through serial numbers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1950 |title=Call Brink's Holdup an 'Inside Job' |pages=1 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113858198/call-brinks-holdup-an-inside-job/ |access-date=November 29, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Any information police could get from their [[informant|informer]]s initially proved useless. The truck that the robbers had used was found cut to pieces in [[Stoughton, Massachusetts]], near O'Keefe's home.

In June 1950, O’Keefe and Gusciora were arrested in [[Pennsylvania]] for a [[burglary]]. O’Keefe was sentenced to three years in [[Bradford County Jail]] and Gusciora to 5-to-20 years in the Western State Penitentiary at [[Pittsburgh]]. Police heard through their informers that O'Keefe and Gusciora demanded money from Pino and MacGinnis in Boston to fight their convictions. It was later claimed that most of O'Keefe's share went to his legal defense.

FBI agents tried to talk to O'Keefe and Gusciora in prison but the two professed ignorance of the Brink's robbery. 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. Adolph Maffie was convicted and sentenced to nine months for [[income tax]] [[tax evasion|evasion]].

After O'Keefe was released, he was taken to stand trial for another burglary and [[parole]] violations and was released on a bail of $17,000. O'Keefe later claimed that he had never seen his portion of the loot after he had given it to Maffie for safekeeping. Apparently in need of money, he kidnapped Vincent Costa and demanded his part of the loot for ransom.

Pino paid a small ransom but then decided to try to kill O'Keefe. After a couple of attempts, he hired underworld [[hitman]] [[Elmer "Trigger" Burke]] to kill O'Keefe. Burke traveled to Boston and shot O'Keefe, seriously wounding him but failing to kill him. The FBI approached O'Keefe in the hospital, and on January 6, 1956, he decided to talk.

On January 12, 1956, just five days before the statute of limitations was to run out, the FBI arrested Baker, Costa, Geagan, Maffie, McGinnis, and Pino. They apprehended Faherty and Richardson on May 16 in [[Dorchester, Boston|Dorchester]]. O'Keefe pleaded guilty on January 18. Gusciora died on July 9. Banfield was already dead. A trial began on August 6, 1956.

Eight of the gang's members received maximum sentences of life imprisonment. All were paroled by 1971 except McGinnis, who died in prison. O'Keefe received four years and was released in 1960. Only $58,000 of the $2.7 million was recovered. 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.
== Films ==

At least four movies were based, or partially based, on the Great Brink's Robbery:
*''[[Six Bridges to Cross]]'' (1955, Joseph Pevney)
*''[[Blueprint for Robbery]]'' (1961, Jerry Hopper)
* ''[[Brinks: The Great Robbery]]'' (1976, Marvin J. Chomsky)
* ''[[The Brink's Job]]'' (1978, William Friedkin)

== See also ==
{{Portal|Banks}}
* [[List of bank robbers and robberies]]
** [[List of bank robbers and robberies#Large-value US robberies|Large-value US robberies]]
* [[1981 Brink's robbery]], an armed robbery in the state of New York
* [[Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft]], a robbery of artwork in Boston in 1990

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* {{Cite book |title=Crime of the Century: How the Brink's Robbers Stole Millions and the Hearts of Boston |author=Stephanie Schorow |publisher=Commonwealth Editions |year=2008 |isbn=978-1933212548}}
* {{cite book |title=Big Stick-Up at Brink's! |year=1977 |author=Noel Behn |publisher=Putnam |isbn=978-0399118975 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bigstic_beh_1977_00_0605 }}
* {{cite book |title=The Great Brink's Holdup: The First Complete Account Of The Robbery, The Conspiracy, Investigation, Confession, And Trial |year=1961 |author2=Joseph F. Dinneen |author1=Sid Feder |publisher=Doubleday & Company}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.celebrateboston.com/crime/brinks-job.htm Article on the Great Brink's Robbery]
* [https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/brinks-robbery Brink's Robbery- FBI famous cases]
* [http://www.wcvb.com/news/-/9849222/16142062/-/10rwevm/-/index.html Historical Photos: Boston's Great Brinks Robbery]
* [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/01/16/metro/great-brinks-robbery-70-year-old-question-what-happened-money/ The Great Brink's Robbery, and the 70-year-old question: What happened to the money?]

{{Organized crime groups in Boston}}
{{coord|42.3672|-71.0575|type:event_region:US-MA|display=title}}

[[Category:1950 crimes in the United States]]
[[Category:Bank robberies in the United States]]
[[Category:1950s in Boston]]
[[Category:Crimes in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1950 in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:January 1950 in the United States]]
[[Category:North End, Boston]]
[[Category:Organized crime in Boston]]