1998 Bank of America robbery
The 1998 Bank of America heist consisted of the theft of $1.6 million in cash from the Bank of America branch located within 1 World Trade Center in New York City on January 14, 1998.
This robbery was masterminded by Ralph Guarino, an actor with a history of minor criminal activity and associations with the DeCavalcante crime family. Guarino received confidential information from Salvatore Calciano, an employee at the World Trade Center, who provided insights into enhanced security protocols implemented after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and supplied him with an official employee identification badge. Calciano also revealed the schedule for a Brink's armored truck delivering cash to the North Tower’s 11th floor.
For the execution of the plan, Guarino and Calciano enlisted three additional participants: Richie Gillette, aged 39, from Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, along with Melvin Folk, 44, and Mike Reed, 34.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on January 14, 1998, a Brink's armored vehicle arrived at the World Trade Center and began unloading money. Among the group, only Gillette wore a ski mask to conceal his identity. The team overpowered employees and security personnel, making off with $1.6 million in cash (equivalent to roughly $ million today). They departed the premises by 8:45 a.m.
In the aftermath, Folk and Reed returned to their local neighborhoods but were swiftly captured. Gillette was detained for questioning by security officials after boarding an Amtrak train but was released; however, he was subsequently arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 16. The FBI suspected further conspirators and targeted Guarino, who was taken into custody at his home on Staten Island. Following his arrest, Guarino agreed to collaborate with authorities as an FBI informant targeting the DeCavalcante crime organization.