Ralph Guarino
| Industry | Banking, Financial services |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
The 1998 Bank of America heist entailed 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 connections to the DeCavalcante crime family. Guarino received confidential intelligence from Salvatore Calciano, an employee at the World Trade Center, who disclosed information about enhanced security protocols implemented after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, as well as access methods using an employee identification badge. Calciano also revealed the timetable for a Brink's armored vehicle tasked with delivering cash to the 11th floor of the North Tower.
Guarino and Calciano enlisted three additional participants: Richie Gillette, aged 39, residing in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, along with his partners Melvin Folk, 44, and Mike Reed, 34.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on January 14, a Brink's truck arrived at the WTC to make a cash delivery. Among the group, only Gillette concealed his face with a ski mask. The team overpowered employees and security personnel, successfully seizing $1.6 million (equivalent to about $ million today). They departed from the premises by 8:45 a.m.
Following the theft, Folk and Reed returned to their local areas but were swiftly identified and detained. Gillette was questioned when boarding an Amtrak train but initially avoided arrest; he was subsequently captured in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 16. The FBI suspected further conspirators and pursued the primary organizer. Guarino contemplated laundering the stolen funds but was apprehended at his home in Staten Island before carrying out any such plans. After his arrest, Guarino cooperated with federal agents by providing information on the DeCavalcante crime family.