Latest news with #SpringsWinter
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.
New York Times
09-02-2025
- New York Times
Three Men Convicted of Playing a Role in Ring That Preyed on U.S. Museums
For two decades, a crew from Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania traveled to a dozen small museums across the country, where its ringleader smashed through security systems to strip them of art and precious memorabilia. Their loot included treasured heirlooms from America's past, including nine of Yogi Berra's World Series rings, two of middleweight Tony Zale's championship belts and 30 golf and horse racing trophies. Instead of selling the memorabilia, they melted much of it down and sold it as raw metals. On Friday, three men involved with the theft ring were convicted in U.S. District Court in Scranton for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork. The convictions followed testimony from the former ringleader of the group, Thomas Trotta, who pleaded guilty and became a central witness at the trial of the men, who had been his friends since his days at North Pocono Middle School. According to federal prosecutors, Mr. Trotta broke into the museums, while the other men assisted him by either planning the robberies, melting down the stolen items or transporting them to be sold in New York City. The three defendants, Nicholas Dombek, Joseph Atsus and Damien Boland were also convicted of concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property. Their sentencing has not been scheduled. A fourth defendant, Alfred Atsus, was acquitted on all charges, and his brother, Joseph, and Mr. Dombek, were acquitted on several of the counts put forward by the prosecution. Investigators said in a statement that they had recovered antique firearms that were stolen in two of the thefts, but 'the whereabouts of many of the other paintings and stolen objects are currently unknown.' Among the missing works is a silk-screen by Andy Warhol stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton. Mr. Trotta and three other co-conspirators who have already pleaded guilty are also awaiting sentencing. The defense had argued that Mr. Trotta lied in implicating the men as his accomplices. Matt Clemente, who represents Mr. Boland, told the jury that Mr. Trotta had made a 'corrupt deal' with the prosecution. After the verdict, Jason Mattioli, whose client, Alfred Atsus, was acquitted, said, 'The only one that pointed the finger on my client was Mr. Trotta, and there was nothing to back it up.' In his testimony, Mr. Trotta told the courtroom that he and his accomplices surveilled museums to detect security protocols and identify potential getaway spots, and then later he would break in with tools like an ax, center-punch or grinder. 'This was our life for 20 years,' Mr. Trotta said from the stand. 'It was absolutely a lifestyle.' The Everhart museum was one of their earliest targets, and Mr. Trotta said he had hoped to steal 'Pink Shrimp,' a 1921 painting by Henri Matisse, from its collection. But the museum sold it before they arrived, Mr. Trotta said, so they focused instead on 'Le Grande Passion' by Andy Warhol and 'Springs Winter' attributed to Jackson Pollock. Mr. Trotta said the opportunity to break into the museum surfaced one night two decades ago when the police were distracted by a brawl that broke out at a bar in Scranton. Mr. Trotta said at that point that he, Mr. Boland and Joseph Atsus drove to the museum, where he used a ladder to smash the rear entrance of the museum and grab the paintings. The World Series rings were stolen from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J. Mr. Trotta testified that he and an accomplice barely escaped before the police arrived and that later he brought the rings to Mr. Dombek, who pried the gems off and melted down the rings in his garage. Mr. Trotta said they garnered about $2,000 from the gems and no more than $15,000 from the metal when they sold them to a contact in New York City. Lindsay Berra, Yogi Berra's granddaughter, said that though she was happy with the verdict, she still felt grief over the loss of the rings. 'I keep thinking about just how senseless it was that all this stuff was melted and sold for pennies on the dollar,' Ms. Berra said. 'That will still never make sense even with this closure from the trial.' Tony's Zale's boxing belts, taken in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y, were also melted down. His great-niece, Haley Zale, who tracked the case from the courtroom, said it was gratifying that those responsible were convicted, but still sad to hear Mr. Trotta testify about destroying such historic artifacts for scrap metal. 'It's closure that the belts will never be recovered, that I'll never see them again,' she said after the verdict. 'It just solidified that it's time to move on. The whole experience was heartbreaking.' The crew's downfall began in 2019 when state police in Pennsylvania pulled over a maroon Pontiac that was swerving. Mr. Trotta was arrested for driving under the influence. In the car, the police found bolt cutters, a sledgehammer, headlamps, ski masks, gloves and several phones. Investigators then traced DNA from a cup of water Mr. Trotta drank from while in custody and matched it to DNA found at several burglaries. 'I got sloppy,' he said during the trial. Soon, Mr. Trotta was cooperating with law enforcement and wore a wire to record conversations with others in the ring, including Mr. Dombek, who, as a teenager, had lived in Mr. Trotta's home and dated his sister, Dawn. Mr. Trotta had fished and hunted with the Atsus brothers, and they were the godfathers of his children, Mr. Trotta said from the stand. 'I'm sure they don't like me now,' he testified.
