9 charged with stealing artwork, sports memorabilia

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Officials in Scranton, which include the FBI, held a press convention Thursday right after nine persons have been charged with thieving important artwork and sports activities memorabilia for about 20 a long time.

The U.S. Attorney’s Business, and federal, state, and neighborhood associates held a push conference at the federal courthouse in Scranton Thursday early morning.

Officials introduced the pursuing persons have been billed with committing theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of objects of cultural heritage, and interstate transportation of stolen assets:

• Nicholas Dombek, 53, of Thornhurst, PA
• Damien Boland, 47, of Moscow, PA
• Alfred Atsus, 47, of Covington Township, PA
• Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook, PA
• Thoma Troota, 48, of Moscow, PA
• Frank Tassiello, 50, of Scranton, PA
• Daryl Rinker, 50, of Thornhurst, PA
• Dawn Trotta, 51, of Covington Township, PA
• Ralph Pary, 45, of Covington Township, PA

The FBI mentioned at this time, 8 of the 9 suspects have surrendered, nonetheless, Nicholas Dombek is a fugitive.

Any one with information and facts on his whereabouts is questioned to get hold of the FBI by calling 1-800-Get in touch with-FBI or Tips.FBI.GOV.

Investigators said the indictment and data billed nine with conspiring around a time period of 20 decades to break into many museums and other establishments in various states to steal priceless functions of art, sports memorabilia, and other objects.

All of the objects stolen contain the following:

• Christy Mathewson’s jersey and two contracts signed by Mathewson ended up stolen in 1999 from Keystone School in Factoryville
• “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Spring Winter” by Jackson Pollock were stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton
• Nine Globe Collection rings, seven other championship rings, and two MVP plaques awarded to Yogi Berra, worthy of more than $1,000,000 stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Finding out Center in New Jersey
• 6 championship belts, which includes 4 awarded to Carmen Basilio and two awarded to Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the Internation Box Corridor of Fame in New York
• The Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy award to Roger Maris was stolen in 2016 from the Roger Maris Museum, Fargo, North Dakota
• The U.S. Amateur Trophy and a Hickok Belt awarded to Ben Hogan, stolen in 2012 from the USGA Golf Museum & Library, Liberty Corner, New Jersey
• 14 trophies and other awards worth around $300,000 had been stolen in 2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Corridor of Fame, Goshen, New York
• Five trophies truly worth about $400,000, such as the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, stolen in 2013 from the Countrywide Racing Museum & Corridor of Fame, Saratoga Springs, New York
• 11 trophies, such as 4 awarded to Art Wall, Jr. stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Nation Club, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
• Three antique firearms worthy of a blended $1,000,000 stolen in 2006 from Place Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey
• 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp stolen in 2010 from the Lackawanna Historical Culture, Scranton, Pennsylvania
• “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey, truly worth roughly $500,000, and two antique firearms value around $300,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor, Ringwood, New Jersey
• $400,000 value of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg, New Jersey
• Several gems, minerals, and other items stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum, in Franklin, New Jersey
• An antique shotgun truly worth in excess of $30,000 stolen in 2018 from Area Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey
• Different jewellery and other goods from many antique and jewelry outlets in New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania
• 14 trophies and other awards worth more than $300,000 stole in 2012 from New York
• Five trophies really worth in excess of $400,000 including a 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy stolen in 2013 from New York

In accordance to law enforcement right after stealing the situations, the suspects transported the stolen merchandise back again to northeastern PA, generally to the residence of Dombek, and melted the memorabilia down to conveniently transportable steel discs or bars.

The suspects would offer the uncooked metallic to other individuals in the New York Metropolis area for hundreds or 1000’s of dollars, but considerably much less than the stolen things would be well worth at a reasonable industry price, officers said.

Dombek allegedly burnt the portray “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, valued at $500,000, to stay away from the restoration of the painting by investigators for use as proof versus the members of the scheme.

The maximum penalty for the conspiracy cost is five years imprisonment, and for just about every of the other offenses is 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Down below you can obtain the comprehensive press meeting about the investigation and charges submitted against nine people today.