The Mysterious Mister 880: The Curious Case of America’s Worst Yet Most Elusive Counterfeiter

Emerich Juettner, known to history as 'Mister 880', was the mastermind behind one of the most extensive and expensive counterfeit investigations in American history. In this article, we delve into the intriguing tale of the 73-year-old retiree who became America’s worst yet most elusive counterfeiter by printing thousands of the ugliest counterfeit 1 bills ever made, evading federal agents for more than a decade.

Emerich Juettner: From Austria to New York

Austria in 1890 welcomed a young 13-year-old immigrant, Emerich Juettner, who saw America as the land of endless opportunities. He found his way to New York City, where he started his career as a picture frame gilder and eventually turned to a life of invention, creating everything from new types of cameras to Venetian blinds.

By 1918, Juettner had settled into family life as a maintenance man in an Upper West Side apartment complex. However, his life took a drastic turn when his wife passed away, leaving him alone and in financial distress. With a revoked job and no support from his children, Juettner turned to junk collecting to make ends meet.

From Junk Collector to Counterfeiter

For Emerich Juettner, the skills he acquired throughout his life provided the foundation for his future endeavors. His knowledge of metal engraving, photography, and inventive spirit led him to counterfeit US currency. In 1938, he began working on his counterfeit bills, using the skills learned during his youth to create a seemingly impossible feat: the most successful counterfeiter of modern times.

The bills were so poorly made that the Secret Service dubbed them the 'ugliest' counterfeit dollars they had ever seen. Each bill was printed on cheap paper, with misaligned serial numbers and a deathly look on George Washington's face. The motto 'Mister 880' was a reference to the FBI case file number, a joke that his victims would never catch on.

The Search for Mister 880

For ten long years, the Secret Service launched a relentless search for the elusive 'Mister 880', using sophisticated methods and even international collaboration. The use of a sophisticated printing press in his brownstone flat and his ability to avoid detection made it a challenging quest.

It was an unlikely group of 12-year-old boys who finally solved the mystery. In 1948, they came across two zinc engraving plates and '30 funny-looking dollar bills' while scavenging in a vacant lot. The boys promptly informed the authorities, leading to the arrest of Juettner, a jovial 73-year-old junk collector.

The Trial and Aftermath

Juettner stood trial and was found guilty of three counts: possession of counterfeit plates, passing counterfeit bills, and manufacturing counterfeit bills. Despite his age and likeable nature, he received a dramatically reduced sentence of a year and one day, with parole after four months. He was also fined a mere 1 dollar.

Later, Juettner’s story garnered significant media attention and inspired the Academy Award-winning film 'Mister 880', which he profited from even more than his decade-long counterfeiting career. He died in 1955 at the age of 79, in Long Island, having returned to a life of normalcy after his arrest.

Emerich Juettner's story serves as a reminder of the ingenuity and determination of those willing to break the law in pursuit of unattainable wealth, highlighting the importance of vigilance and innovation in law enforcement.