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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Old Forge girl's painting makes it to Halls of Congress
OLD FORGE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Kids often discover art by coloring with crayons, but there is something else about art that they discover along the way, their creativity. For one local teen, that creativity is gaining her national recognition. 17-year-old Rhianna Kupetz seems right at home inside the art room at Old Forge Junior/Senior High School. She is familiar with several art mediums, including batik, by using soy wax and cheesecloth. She also dabbles in linoleum printing under the watchful eye of Old Forge Jr./Sr. High school art teacher Anne Guida. 'She just takes it to the next level, and it's amazing. It's great to see,' said Guida. 'Yeah, she does really push me, and I feel like a lot of the projects are very different than stuff that I would normally do at home,' said Rhianna. You would have a hard time finding a form of art that Rihanna is not adept at, but if you ask what her favorite art medium is, she would tell you… 'Probably painting. I think painting with acrylics,' said Rhianna. Acrylic painting is the medium Rhianna chose to make a gift for her mother. Inspired by an unusual find in her mom's garden. 'She grows her own vegetables and stuff, and she found a potato that was shaped like a heart, so I thought it would be really cute to paint and give it to her for Christmas,' explained Rhianna. After taking a photo of her mother holding the heart-shaped potato, Rhianna got to work. 'I began tracing it out on canvas and then, like, building out different layers and painting it on,' explained Rhianna. The labor of love took about a month to make. After giving her mom the painting, you'd have a hard time 'drawing up' what happened next. Girl Scout helping a dying bat population with bat boxes 'It's insane to think about. I never thought that would happen, like, especially so young. It's mind-boggling,' said Rhianna. Ms. Guida saw the painting's potential. She encouraged Rihanna to submit it for the annual congressional art competition. The painting, now called 'Potato Heart', was chosen to represent the 8th congressional district. A ceremony was held in April at the Everhart Museum in Scranton before Rihanna's artwork made its way to Washington, D.C. It is being displayed in the Halls of Congress with other award-winning works of students nationwide. 'I can't imagine how many people are going to see this artwork that she created. I can't imagine how many people are going to walk through those halls and look at that and say 'Oh'. Maybe it will remind them of northeast Pennsylvania, and that's what goes on here because I think it captures it perfectly,' said Donna Kupetz, Rhianna's mother. For her achievement, Rihanna received a certificate from the Old Forge School Board and District. 'To have your artwork recognized as an artist it's, it's what you hope for, and just all of her hard work and all of her dedication, and to see that recognition, it's great,' said Guida. Rhianna has served as president of her school's drama club. She has also served as secretary of the Leo Club, the student version of the Lions Club. And now she serves as something else: a congressional art competition winner. 'Yeah, that's crazy. I don't know. I'm just so shocked,' said Rhianna. Rhianna says she will attend West Chester University to study studio arts. In the meantime, she plans to go to Washington, D.C., next week to see her painting, 'Potato Heart' on display at the U.S. Capitol Building. Here's to you, Rhianna. If you have a kid you think should be featured on Here's To You Kid!, send in a nomination online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
15-03-2025
- CBS News
Member of theft ring that stole works by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock gets 8-year sentence
A Pennsylvania man who was part of a group that stole paintings by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock among other valuables was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of major artwork. Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore, is the fourth person sentenced as part of the investigation into thefts that took place over more than two decades at 20 museums, stores and institutions. World Series rings that once belonged to baseball great Yogi Berra were among the stolen items. Trotta was directed to pay $2.8 million in restitution as part of his sentencing Thursday. He had already been jailed. His lawyer, Joe D'Andrea, said Friday that Trotta was "the main burglar, he was the one that went into the institutions and burglarized them." Gino Bartolai, attorney for defendant Nicholas Dombek, who awaits sentencing after Trotta testified against him and two others, said he sees eight years as a short sentence considering the many burglaries that Trotta has admitted to committing. "The coin of the realm when you cooperate is you get a break," Bartolai said. "And that's what he got -- he got a big break." Bartolai said a sentencing date for Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst, and the other two men has not been scheduled. D'Andrea called Trotter the main government witness against the three. Many of the stolen artworks and other material remain unknown, federal prosecutors said Friday. The thefts occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. Trotta admitted to stealing the Warhol silkscreen "Le Grande Passion" and Pollock's 1949 oil-on-canvas painting "Springs Winter" from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2005, prosecutors said. In that theft, the thieves were apparently aided by a large tent covering the back entrance for an event as they shattered a glass door. The Pollock painting was estimated in 2023 to have been worth nearly $12 million. "Springs Winter" had been on loan to the museum from a private collector. "Le Grande Passion," owned by the museum, was created in 1984 on commission for an ad campaign for Grand Passion cognac. An official at the museum said Friday those works have not been recovered. D'Andrea said Trotter believed he knew where the paintings had ended up in Newark, New Jersey. "He thought he did," D'Andrea said. "But when the authorities went to the place he thought it was, they couldn't find them." Prosecutors said Trotta also admitted to stealing rings and MVP plaques worth a collective $500,000 from the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey. He was also implicated in the theft of a Tiffany lamp, boxing and horse racing items, and items linked to baseball slugger Roger Maris and golf legend Ben Hogan. Berra's rings are thought to have been melted down and sold for far less than they were worth as baseball memorabilia. Gold nuggets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were taken from Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. "Upper Hudson," an 1871 painting by Jasper Cropsey estimated to be worth $100,000 or more, was apparently burned to conceal the crime, according to the U.S. attorney's office. It was taken in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Key witness in art heist trial sentenced for his role in theft ring
A federal judge sentenced a Dunmore man for his role in a high-profile theft ring that targeted art, sports memorabilia and other valuable items. United States District Judge Malachy Mannion sentenced Thomas Trotta, 49, to eight years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $2,759,073 in restitution Thursday. Prosecutors said he led nine people in the theft ring that spanned two decades and stole millions of dollars' worth of art, antique coins and firearms, World Series rings, golf trophies and more from museums, galleries, halls of fame, estates and jewelry stores in Pennsylvania, other states and Washington, D.C. Items stolen locally included Jackson Pollock's 'Springs Winter' and Andy Warhol's 'La Grande Passion' from the Everhart Museum in Scranton; Factoryville native and baseball great Christy Mathewson's contracts and other memorabilia from Keystone College; a century-old Tiffany lamp from the Lackawanna Historical Society; and professional golfer Art Wall Jr.'s trophies from the Country Club of Scranton. Last month, jurors found Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst Twp., Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow, and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook Twp., guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property, as well as multiple related offenses. They await sentencing. They found Atsus' brother Alfred Atsus, of Covington Twp., not guilty on all counts. Three other Lackawanna County residents — Thomas Trotta's sister Dawn Trotta, Frank Tassiello and Ralph Parry — pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property. Mannion sentenced Dawn Trotta, 53, also of Dunmore, to 15 months in prison, Tassiello, 52, of Taylor, to six months' imprisonment, and Parry, 47, of Spring Brook Twp., to three years of probation and a period of home confinement earlier this year. A fourth man, Daryl Rinker, of Thornhurst Twp., pleaded guilty but died in April 2024. Authorities said the men transported the stolen items to Northeast Pennsylvania, often to Dombek's home, and melted them down into metal discs or bars. They then sold the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for hundreds or a few thousands of dollars, significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value. The whereabouts of many of the paintings and stolen objects are unknown. Trotta, who appeared on an episode of '60 Minutes' about the art theft, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to a count of theft of major artwork and cooperated with the government in return for a reduced sentence.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced 8 years in major artwork theft ring
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Lackawanna County man has been sentenced to eight years in prison and to pay over two million dollars in restitution for major artwork thefts. After a two-month trial, Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore pleaded guilty to one count of theft of major artwork and admitted to stealing multiple pieces of art and sports memorabilia. Trotta was part of a larger, eight-person conspiracy. The U.S. Department of Justice said after stealing the artwork/memorabilia they transport them to NEPA and melt the memorabilia down into easily transportable metal discs or bars. They would then sell the raw metal for significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value. Man accused of kidnapping child for 'ding-dong ditching' After another trial, Nicholas Dombeck, 54, of Thornhurst, Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow, and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook were convicted of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, interstate transportation of stolen property, and other related charges. They are currently awaiting sentencing. Three other co-conspirators pleaded guilty earlier this year including Dawn Trotta, 54 of Dunmore, who was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property. Frank Tassiello, 52, of Taylor was sentenced to six months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property. Ralph Parry, 47, of Springbrook was sentenced to three months probation with a period of home confinement for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property. The full list of stolen artwork and sports memorabilia Thomas Trotta admitted to stealing: 'Le Grande Passion' by Andy Warhol and 'Springs Winter' by Jackson Pollock stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Nine (9) World Series rings, seven (7) other championship rings, and two (2)MVP plaques all belonging to Yogi Berra, worth over $500,000 stolen in 2014from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey; Six (6) championship belts, including four belonging to Carmen Basilio and twobelonging to Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall ofFame in Canastota, New York; The Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy belonging to Roger Maris, stolen in 2016 fromthe Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, North Dakota; The U.S. Amateur Trophy and a Hickok Belt awarded to Ben Hogan, stolen in2012 from the USGA Golf Museum & Library; Fourteen (14) trophies and other awards worth approximately $300,000 stolen in2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York; Five (5) trophies worth over $30,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy,stolen in 2013 from the National Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in SaratogaSprings, New York; Three antique firearms stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum inWantage, New Jersey; A 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp stolen in 2010 from the Lackawanna HistoricalSociety in Scranton, Pennsylvania, 'Upper Hudson' by Jasper Crospey, worth approximately $120,000, stolen in2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey; Antique firearms worth over $150,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor inRingwood, New Jersey; Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from theSterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey; An antique shotgun worth over $30,000 stolen in 2018 from Space Farms: Zoo &Museum in Wantage, New Jersey Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
14-03-2025
- Associated Press
Member of a theft ring that stole works by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock gets 8-year sentence
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man who was part of a group that stole paintings by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock among other valuables was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of major artwork. Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore, is the fourth person sentenced as part of the investigation into thefts that took place over more than two decades at 20 museums, stores and institutions. World Series rings that once belonged to baseball great Yogi Berra were among the stolen items. Trotta was directed to pay $2.8 million in restitution as part of his sentencing Thursday. A message seeking comment was left Friday for his defense attorney. Three men convicted of related crimes earlier this year await sentencing; their lawyers declined comment or did not respond to messages seeking comment Friday. Many of the stolen artworks and other material remains unknown, federal prosecutors said Friday. The thefts occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. Trotta admitted to stealing the Warhol silkscreen 'Le Grande Passion' and Pollock's 1949 oil-on-canvas painting 'Springs Winter' from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2005, prosecutors said. In that theft, the thieves were apparently aided by a large tent covering the back entrance for an event as they shattered a glass door. The Pollock painting was estimated in 2023 to have been worth nearly $12 million. 'Springs Winter' had been on loan to the museum from a private collector. 'Le Grande Passion,″ owned by the museum, was created in 1984 on commission for an ad campaign for Grand Passion cognac. An official at the museum said Friday those works have not been recovered. Prosecutors said Trotta also admitted to stealing rings and MVP plaques worth a collective $500,000 from the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey. He was also implicated in the theft of a Tiffany lamp, boxing and horse racing items, and items linked to baseball slugger Roger Maris and golf legend Ben Hogan. Berra's rings are thought to have been melted down and sold for far less than they were worth as baseball memorabilia. Gold nuggets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were taken from Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. 'Upper Hudson,' an 1871 painting by Jasper Cropsey estimated to be worth $100,000 or more, was apparently burned in an effort to conceal the crime, according to the U.S. attorney's office. It was taken in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
