Millions of nickels stolen from Fed

NBC News ^ | 1-14-05 | Mark Potter

[STARWISE]

Millions of nickels stolen from Fed
Seen anyone cashing nickels like crazy?
By Mark Potter, Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:27 p.m. ET Jan. 14, 2005

MIAMI - The trail begins at the Federal Reserve building in East Rutherford, N.J.. In mid-December, a large tractor-trailer is loaded up and heads south, bound for the Fed in New Orleans. Sealed in back of the truck is $180,000 worth of newly minted U.S. nickels. They are in 900 bags and weigh nearly 23 tons.

That's 3.6 million nickels — and soon they would just disappear.

"Somebody actually went out and stole 3.6 million nickels," says FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela. "I mean, who would ever think that would happen?"

FBI agents and police are baffled over how it happened. The driver, Angel Ricardo Mendoza, a private trucker from Miami, has also disappeared.

"He's either a victim or a suspect," says Sgt. Richard Mestre of the Miami-Dade Police Cargo Theft Task Force. "We're not really sure."

Mestre is used to dealing with stolen cars and appliances, but he's never seen a case involving nickels.

There are very few clues. Investigators do know that after leaving New Jersey, Mendoza gassed up at a North Florida station on Dec. 19. They have the credit receipts. On Dec. 20, Mendoza called his boss, saying he was in Tallahassee and would soon arrive in New Orleans. He never made it and hasn't been heard from since.

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Checked to see if this was posted, and couldn't see that it was. If it is a dupe, Admin Moderator, please remove.

[STARWISE]

Very strange, indeed. What would it take to move that amount of weight .. and how many people would it take?

[xrp]

Good lord, this news is ONLY A WEEK OLD! Even NBC/CBS/ABC are more timely than you.

[STARWISE]

As I said, I checked to see if it was posted (I used "nickel" and "nickels" as the keywords, which one would assume any post would include). There were no responses showing this article.

In going to your link, I see there are NO keywords shown. So shoot me. If the Admin Mod wants to remove it, it will be removed, and then you can take your next chill pill.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Look for the guy buying a new car with 800,000 nickels...

[Texas_Jarhead]

thems a lot of nickels

[LdSentinal]

"Somebody actually went out and stole 3.6 million nickels," says FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela. "I mean, who would ever think that would happen?"

Somebody that's really into peep shows.

[bootless]

I'd look for some strong-arms granny in the Atlantic City casinos. {GRIN}

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[xrp]

Could be a skills issue...

[Shortstop7]

New Jersey again?

[FreedomCalls]

Or headed towards the nickel slots in Vegas.

Actually, I would investigate the people running the nickel slots in Vegas (or the nearest Indian casio), as they are the only people who could effectively launder this amount of nickels.

[CAluvdubya]

Is somebody (xrp) being a cranky pants tonight?

[beaversmom]

Glad you posted it--very interesting. I didn't see this news when it was originally posted.

[Political Junkie Too]

It's a Jeffersonian plot.

-PJ

[Red Sea Swimmer]

"Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon. All I want is music, music, music."

The thief is a jukebox junkie and needed a big fix.

[clee1]

Hey man! Gotta nickle or two to help a brotha out?

[Petronski]

At least they didn't have to carry the bags from the crime scene.

[ProudVet77]

l'd loved to have seen post #11. :)

[STARWISE]

Yeah ... some people just need to lighten up, don't they? PN's .. postnazis.