In the wake of the national emergency declared by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Executive Order 6102 plunged the nation into financial turmoil. Not long after, on January 20, 1934, the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland became the victim of “The Heist of the Century.” Over $2 million in gold and currency vanished, leaving authorities and the public reeling.
Executive Order 6102, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 5, 1933, ignited the firestorm of one of the most audacious heists in American history. Known as “The Heist of the Century,” this daring plan was orchestrated by a motley crew led by the enigmatic ex-convict Arthur “Dutch” Schultz. The target: the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where millions of dollars in gold and currency were stored at the time.
On March 6, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, a sweeping declaration of national emergency amidst the Great Depression. This executive action, born out of panic, would unintentionally set the stage for the notorious “Heist of the Century.” The order prohibited the hoarding of gold coins, bullion, and certificates, requiring Americans to surrender their gold reserves to the Federal Reserve. Amidst the ensuing chaos, several opportunistic individuals devised a daring plan to exploit this executive overreach. The heist, executed by a group of criminals led by self-proclaimed “Public Enemy Number One” Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, targeted the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. With meticulous planning and inside knowledge, the gang brazenly stole over $2 million in gold bars, making it one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history.