One of the reasons why Von Brunn was respected by white supremacists was because he was willing to "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk."  In 1981, he decided to strike at one of his pet enemies, the Federal Reserve system, which he believed was how Jewish international bankers controlled the money system. 

On December 7, 1981, he traveled from New Hampshire, where he was living at the time, to Washington, D.C., to the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Board.  Carrying several weapons, including a sawed-off shotgun, he ran past guards up to the second floor, where the Board was meeting at the time.  However, police caught up with him outside the meeting room and arrested him. 

Von Brunn was charged with attempted armed kidnapping, second-degree burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon.  In 1983 he was convicted and sentenced to four to 11 years in prison, of which he eventually served six and a half years.  John Crommelin, the retired admiral, allegedly told Von Brunn's son that von Brunn deserved "the gratitude and assistance of every White Christian citizen of these United States."