A Covington Township Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Major Artworks and Sports Memorabilia :Eight Others Implicated in the same Conspiracy
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment and particulars accuse the nine individuals of conspiring over two decades to break into museums and institutions to steal priceless works of art, sports memorabilia, and other objects.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania reported that Dawn Trotta, 52, from Covington Township, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to several federal charges. These include conspiracy to steal major artwork, hide or dispose of cultural heritage objects, and transport stolen property across state lines.
Trotta confessed in court on February 9, 2024, before the Honorable District Judge Malachy E. Mannion. She admitted to conspiring with others between approximately August 1999 and April 2019 in Pennsylvania and elsewhere to steal significant artwork and cultural heritage objects and transport them across state lines.
Eight other individuals have been implicated in the same conspiracy. Thomas Trotta, 48, from Moscow, Pennsylvania; Frank Tassiello, 51, from Scranton, Pennsylvania; Daryl Rinker, 50, from Thornhurst, Pennsylvania; and Ralph Parry, 45, from Covington Township, Pennsylvania, were all charged by felony information and have already pleaded guilty.
On June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Nicholas Dombek, 53, from Thornhurst, Pennsylvania; Damien Boland, 47, from Moscow, Pennsylvania; Alfred Atsus, 47, from Covington Township, Pennsylvania; and Joseph Atsus, 49, from Roaring Brook, Pennsylvania. They were charged with conspiracy and various counts of theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of objects of cultural heritage, and interstate transportation of stolen property. Dombek also faces a charge of interstate transportation of stolen property. These individuals are awaiting trial.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment and evidence accuse the nine individuals of conspiring over two decades to break into museums and institutions to steal priceless works of art, sports memorabilia, and other objects. Some of the stolen items include:
- A Christy Matthewson jersey and two contracts signed by Matthewson, stolen in 1999 from Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania.
- “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter,” stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- Nine World Series rings, seven other championship rings, and two MVP plaques, all belonging to Yogi Berra, worth over $1,000,000, stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey.
- Six championship belts, including four belonging to Carmen Basillio and two belonging to Tony Zale, stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
- The Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy belonging to Roger Maris, stolen in 2016 from the Roger Maris Museum in 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.
- Fourteen trophies and other awards worth over $300,000, stolen in 2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York.
- Five trophies worth over $400,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, stolen in 2013 from the National Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- Eleven trophies, including four belonging to Art Wall, Jr., stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club located in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.
- Three antique firearms worth a combined $1,000,000, stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey.
- An 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp stolen in 2010 from the Lackawanna Historical Society in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, worth approximately $500,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
- Two antique firearms worth over $300,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
- $400,000 worth of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey.
- Various gems, minerals, and other items stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum in Franklin, New Jersey.
- An antique shotgun worth over $30,000, stolen in 2018 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey.
- Various jewelry, rings, and other items from various antique and jewelry stores in New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
The indictment and particulars also allege that after stealing the items, the conspirators would transport them back to northeastern Pennsylvania, often to Dombek’s residence, and melt them down into easily transportable metal discs or bars. They would then sell the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for much less than the stolen items’ fair market value.
The indictment and particulars further allege that Dombek burned the painting “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, valued at approximately $500,000, to prevent its recovery by investigators and its use as evidence against the conspiracy members. The whereabouts of many other paintings and stolen objects are currently unknown.
The investigation involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the New York State Police, and many others. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing for Dawn Trotta has not yet been scheduled. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, supervised release, and a fine. The Judge will consider various factors, including the nature of the offense and the defendant’s history, when determining the sentence.
Brian R. Walshe, aged 49, Has Been Convicted For His Involvement In A Plot To Distribute Fake Warhol Artworks
Upon comparing the paintings to the eBay listing’s photographs, they found discrepancies and concluded that the purchased paintings were not authentic. The buyer attempted to contact Walshe, who initially did not respond and later provided excuses for the delay in refunding the buyer’s money.
A Lynn man has been sentenced for his involvement in a complex art fraud scheme that spanned several years and centered on two purported Andy Warhol paintings.
Brian R. Walshe, 49, received a 37-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release from U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young. He was also ordered to pay $475,000 in restitution. Walshe pleaded guilty in April 2021 to wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud, and unlawful monetary transaction.
The scheme began in early November 2016 when a buyer discovered two Andy Warhol paintings for sale on eBay. These paintings were part of Warhol’s “Shadows” series, which consists of untitled, abstract canvas paintings from 1978. The original listing price for the paintings was $100,000.
In the eBay listing, Walshe, posing as the seller, included a photograph of an invoice for the two Warhol Shadow paintings, which displayed Warhol Foundation numbers and indicated a purchase price of $240,000.
The purchaser, believing the paintings to be genuine, negotiated with Walshe from November 3 to 5, 2016, to buy the artwork outside of eBay for $80,000. They signed a contract stipulating a three-day period for the buyer to rescind the agreement and receive a full refund if dissatisfied with the artwork.
On November 7, 2016, the buyer’s assistant traveled to Boston to collect the paintings, giving Walshe an $80,000 cashier’s check. Walshe deposited the check into his account and withdrew $33,400 within the next two weeks.
Upon removing the paintings’ frames on November 8, 2016, the buyer discovered no Warhol Foundation authentication stamps, and noticed that the canvasses and staples appeared new. Upon comparing the paintings to the eBay listing’s photographs, they found discrepancies and concluded that the purchased paintings were not authentic. The buyer attempted to contact Walshe, who initially did not respond and later provided excuses for the delay in refunding the buyer’s money.
Walshe initially acquired the paintings from a friend, the victim, while visiting the victim in South Korea. During the visit, Walshe suggested that he could sell some of the art for a good price, which the victim agreed to. The victim allowed Walshe to take the two Shadow paintings and other fine art pieces. An investigation later revealed that Walshe sold the original Shadow paintings to a gallery in 2011, after which they changed hands multiple times before being sold to buyers outside the country. The original Shadow paintings have not been recovered by the government.
Furthermore, the investigation found that in 2011, Walshe obtained a different set of replica Shadow paintings from an artist unaware of Walshe’s intentions. In 2015, Walshe sold this set to another victim residing in France.
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Artwork Returned to Iraq: Artifact taken during Iraq Museum looting two decades ago
Investigators suspect that the Carlos Museum acquired the artifact in 2006 from a third party, based on a falsified provenance claiming that the artifact had been in the U.S. since 1969. Agents consulted experts, including one who had photos showing the item in the Iraq Museum in 1983, and representatives from the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, who assisted in verifying the artifact’s authenticity
This week, the FBI returned an artifact to the government of Iraq that is believed to have been looted during the plundering of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad in 2003.
The item, known as “Furniture Fitting with Sphinx Trampling a Youth,” is approximately 2,700 years old, according to archaeologists. The ivory figure, measuring just 2 1/4 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide, is decorated with pigment and gold leaf. It was displayed at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in Atlanta until FBI special agents in the Boston and Atlanta field offices determined that the artifact rightfully belonged to Iraq.
“We are glad our agents could return a small part of history back to where it belongs in Iraq,” said Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. The piece is believed to be the first relic looted from the Iraq Museum in Baghdad to be found in a United States museum collection.
“FBI Boston is extremely proud to have played a role in helping to recover it,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the division’s special agent in charge. “This case represents our ongoing commitment to pursue justice for victims of art crime here and abroad and to rectify such losses to the historical record.”
Investigators suspect that the Carlos Museum acquired the artifact in 2006 from a third party, based on a falsified provenance claiming that the artifact had been in the U.S. since 1969. Agents consulted experts, including one who had photos showing the item in the Iraq Museum in 1983, and representatives from the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, who assisted in verifying the artifact’s authenticity. Following a yearlong investigation involving agents in Boston, Atlanta, and the FBI’s specialized Art Crime Team Unit, the museum surrendered the artifact to the FBI in December last year.
“FBI Atlanta is honored to have the opportunity to do its part by returning this important piece of cultural heritage to the people of Iraq,” said Special Agent Rafael Jimenez, who worked on the case. “The FBI is also grateful to the Michael C. Carlos Museum for its cooperation in this matter.”
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During a ceremony on March 8 at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington D.C., a special agent from the Art Crime Team handed over the artifact to the embassy for repatriation. The ceremony, which involved representatives from the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security Investigations, took place after a conference at the embassy focused on enhancing international collaboration in the repatriation of stolen artifacts.
“I appreciate always all the efforts from the U.S. law enforcement agencies,” said Salwan Sinjaree, the chargé d’affaires, or chief of mission, at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq. Sinjaree formally received the artifact in a brief signing ceremony at the embassy and said he looked forward to more cooperation in the future.
Jake Archer, a special agent with the FBI’s Art Crime Team who handed over the artifact to Sinjaree, credited the successful repatriation to the efforts of agents in Boston and Atlanta, as well as the assistance of experts and partners both in the U.S. and abroad. He emphasized the FBI’s ongoing commitment to combatting the illegal trade of stolen art and antiquities, stating that the Bureau will continue to investigate such crimes and seek justice for both offenders and victims despite facing numerous other priorities.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team was formed in 2004, partly in response to the looting in Baghdad two decades ago. Comprising agents from various field offices nationwide, the team is well-versed in all facets of art, including its history and the art market. The Art Crime Team Unit at FBI Headquarters oversees the National Stolen Art File, which contains information on stolen art and cultural property provided by agencies worldwide
The Federal Bureau of Investigation & the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo helps return twenty-two historic artifacts to the people of Okinawa
The valuable Asian art was discovered by a Massachusetts family while they were going through their late father’s belongings.
During a formal repatriation ceremony held at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum in Naha, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo have returned 22 historic artifacts that were stolen after the Battle of Okinawa and had been missing for nearly 80 years.
The artifacts, dating as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries, hold great significance in Okinawan history. They include six portraits (three of which were originally one piece but had been separated into three parts), a hand-drawn map of Okinawa from the 19th century, as well as various pottery and ceramics.
“We are immensely proud to have been able to recover and return these national treasures to the people of Okinawa, where they will remain an important part of their history and heritage for generations to come,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI would like to thank the Massachusetts family who reached out to us and relinquished these artifacts, the Smithsonian Institute for ensuring they were properly packaged for transport, and our military partners for their help in securing and transporting them back home, making repatriation a reality.
The valuable Asian art was discovered by a Massachusetts family while they were going through their late father’s belongings. The family, who prefers to remain anonymous, contacted the FBI Boston, who then recovered the artifacts. The father, a World War II veteran, did not serve in the Pacific Theater.
To determine the origin of the artifacts, the family consulted the FBI’s National Stolen Art File and found that four of the items were listed as missing 18th century portraits. Alongside the artifacts, there was an unsigned, typewritten letter claiming that the items were collected in Okinawa during the final days of World War II. The FBI conducted a thorough investigation and successfully verified the authenticity of the artworks.
“It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to have been a part of this investigation which resulted in the repatriation of these important cultural artifacts. A nation’s identity is intrinsically tied to their cultural patrimony, and I am very proud to have assisted in their return to the people of Okinawa,”says FBI Boston Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly, a founding member of the FBI’s art crime team who is retiring after more than 28 years with the Bureau
During the ceremony, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Philip Roskamp added, “We would like to thank Okinawa Prefecture and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for making this historic return possible, as well as the FBI for their investigation, the Smithsonian for their support, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for storing the artifacts, and the U.S. military who, in good faith, transported and escorted the items from the United States back to Okinawa. We at the U.S. Department of State are honored to have played a small role in the return of these irreplaceable cultural assets.”
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