09-02-2025
Three Pennsylvania men convicted for role in art, memorabilia heists
(WHTM) — Three Pennsylvania men were found guilty for their roles in several art heists after a four week trial.
Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst; Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow; and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook, were convicted Friday on federal theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property charges.
The three men were part of a nine-person conspiracy over two decades to break into multiple museums and other institutions to steal priceless works of art, sports memorabilia, and more.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Nine Pennsylvanians charged for decades-long museum heists
Some of the items stolen included a Christy Matthewson jersey and two contracts signed by him, stolen from Keystone College in 1999; 'Le Grande Passion' by Andy Warhol and 'Springs Winter' by Jackson Pollock from the Everhart Museum in Scranton; Ten World Series rings, seven championship rings, and two MVP plaques belonging to Yogi Berra from his museum in Little Falls, New Jersey; fourteen trophies and other awards from the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen New York, and more.
Five co-conspirators pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Another man was acquitted.
The three men were accused of taking the stolen goods back to northeast Pennsylvania. melting the memorabilia down into metal discs or bars and selling the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for significantly less than the memorabilia was worth.
Dombek burned the painting 'Upper Hudson' by Jasper Cropsey to avoid it being discovered by investigators. Other items' whereabouts are unknown, though several antique firearms were recovered.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
