Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Extortion at Oak Lawn Trust & Savings Bank |
Accession Number |
2021.382.001 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
This is a photograph, published in the Chicago Sun-Times, of Oak Lawn Trust & Savings Bank President Robert F. McDonald holding an informal press conference in the bank after extortion money was delivered. The black & white image shows McDonald standing, surrounded by three men, talking. A security guard can be seen in the doorway in the background. The crime occurred when the bank vice-president, Leroy Corradino, received a call in which a threatening voice said that Corradino's family was being held hostage, the bank had been planted with a bomb, and demanded Corradino hand over $100,000 of the bank's money. After consulting with the bank president Robert McDonald, Corradino followed the instructions he was given. He drove his car to the intersection of 95th Street & Springfield Avenue in Evergreen Park, left the keys in the ignition and the bag of money in the back seat. When Corradino returned to the bank, the bank's attorney was notified who in turned notified Oak Lawn Police Department. A search of the bank building revealed no bomb or explosives and Corradino's family was discovered safe at home. Corradino's wife, Gussie, reported that she had received a phone call, purportedly from the telephone company, saying that there was a problem with the phone lines & testing was underway. She was advised to ignore the phone ringing for the day as it was allegedly part of the repair process. The bank robbers were eventually captured in Tennessee after attempting extortion at four other banks in the country. |
Date |
06/15/1973 |
Year Range from |
1973 |
Year Range to |
1973 |
Photographer |
Black, Bob |
Print size |
10.25" x 7.5" |
Classification |
Oak Lawn, Illinois Oak Lawn Trust & Savings Bank |
Search Terms |
Oak Lawn Trust & Savings Bank Extortion Theft Crimes |
People |
McDonald, Robert F. "Bob" Corradino, Leroy M. |