In 1917, thirty-five men were arrested for selling gold to the United States Mints in San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia.  Over at least a year, the conspirators were said to have netted at least $300,000 which in today’s money would be over six million dollars.  It was likely much more.

The scheme was complex and involved miners, assayers, fences and saloonkeepers.  There were aliases and blind mail drops to obscure identities.  The Secret Service investigate for over two years and ultimately secured a conviction of the core seven gentlemen.  Dennis F. Sullivan of Denver was one of those men.

Dennis Sullivan is my great-grandfather.  I am one of his many, many descendants.  While researching our family history, I came across ample family material describing Dennis and his story.  His life regardless of this trial and incarceration was interesting enough.

But, I uncovered a photograph from a historical archive which showed Dennis with his first wife and daughter.  The annotation read:  “Dennis was a prisoner at Leavenworth.”  This was a family secret.  A closely guarded secret until now.