MIA: 3.6 million nickels

[the_Thing ®]

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- A truck driver has disappeared with the 3.6 million nickels he was hauling to the Federal Reserve Bank in New Orleans, police said Friday.

 

Angel Ricardo Mendoza, 43, picked up the coins, worth $180,000, December 17 from the Federal Reserve in New Jersey and was supposed to haul the cargo -- weighing 45,000 pounds -- to New Orleans for a trucking company subcontracted by the Federal Reserve, police said.

 

On December 21, Mendoza's empty truck and trailer turned up at a truck stop in Fort Pierce, Florida.

 

Miami-Dade police, the FBI and the Federal Reserve police are investigating.

 

"We are concerned for his safety because he's missing," Miami-Dade Detective Randy Rossman said. "We suspect foul play. We are concerned and we are still investigating."

 

Mendoza lives in Miami-Dade County but has no family in the area. Police said he has a wife in Cuba.

[Hoot]

Not enough to retire on in the U.S., but how about Cuba?

 

Perhaps the Miami CSI team should go to work on it.

 

Hoot

[Leothelion]

The 20+ tons of nickels would have needed another truck, possibly crates for shipping overseas, and a forklift to move them. The master plan would have also included the dispersing of all those nickels.

How does that happen without drawing attention?

 

Leo

[Leothelion]

Not enough to retire on in the U.S., but how about Cuba?

 

Perhaps the Miami CSI team should go to work on it.

 

Hoot

 

Now that's funny!

 

Leo

[JamminJ]

Time to stake out the local CoinStar machines.

 

-JamminJ

[DWLange]

This incident may be the only way to get Keelboat Nickels from circulation! I've yet to see one outside of numismatic circles.

[Hoot]

This incident may be the only way to get Keelboat Nickels from circulation! I've yet to see one outside of numismatic circles.

 

 

We've got 'em circulating up here in the mountain west!

 

Hoot

[DWLange]

Perhaps the government should demonitize and replace them all, as the Canadians are doing with their stolen $100 notes.

[Hoot]

Perhaps the government should demonitize and replace them all, as the Canadians are doing with their stolen $100 notes.

 

 

That'd be a trick with the nickels! Maybe the "replacements" would have the keelboat going the opposite direction!

 

Hoot

[spy88]

Good one Hoot!

 

Or better yet, bring back a design more in favor with collectors! And I'd like a refund for the premium I paid to the mint for the 10 rolls of P/D I ordered. Didn't ask for nor did I request that they be left on the floor, stepped on, kicked around then shoveled up and rolled. Sure got burned on this mint order!