An old associate with mob connections had talked him into it, calling it “one last score.” The associate told him the shoes must have real jewels to be insured for $1 million.
Martin believed the rubies were real. He planned to pry them off and sell them. According to his lawyer, he had never even seen The Wizard of Oz.
Then a fence, a buyer of stolen goods, told him the rubies were glass. Martin handed the slippers to his associate and said he never wanted to see them again. He never heard from that man again.