Court was told Lawrence set off the metal detector at an exit from the "secure area" with more frequency than any other employee -- save those with metal medical implants. When that happened, the procedure was to do a manual search with a hand-held wand, a search that he always passed.

Investigators also found a container of vaseline in his locker and the trial was presented with the prospect that a puck could be concealed in an anal cavity and not be detected by the wand. In preparation for these proceedings, in fact, a security employee actually tested the idea, Barnes said. [...]

Barnes implied there were many ways Lawrence could have legitimately obtained the gold -- he could have bought the coins, for instance -- and said he made no efforts to be devious with the gold buyers or the bank. Further, Barnes said, the Mint isn't even sure a theft took place.

"In fact, I would submit the Mint doesn't even know if anything is missing."

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