The Handcuffed Guard

Over one night, more than $11 million in currency and valuables vanished from the vault building of an armored courier company. The only guard on duty was found the next morning handcuffed to a staircase railing, apparently a victim. He told police and FBI agents that two masked gunmen had surprised him, taken his gun and handcuffed him. The alarm, which he was responsible for activating, had not sounded; he told a grand jury he had set it properly and did not know the system was not working. Prosecutors alleged he had helped plan a staged robbery with friends, relying on witnesses who described conversations about the robbery and hiding the proceeds, and on testimony that he stayed behind to 'play the victim'. He denied any involvement and maintained he was the victim of an armed robbery.