The thefts of Yogi Berra’s World Series rings, Roger Maris’ MVP award and numerous other heists of sports memorabilia and other valuable treasures housed in museums are believed to have been solved but the outcome isn’t a good one.
Nine people from Pennsylvania have been arrested in connection with a lengthy string of crimes but at least in some cases they weren’t stealing to sell the items as is.
“Remarkably after many of these thefts, the defendants would bring the items back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, melt them down and sell the melted down pieces for fractions of the full and fair market value of the items, said Gerard Karam, the U.S. Attorney for Central Pennsylvania. Karam says the process turned the items into easily transportable metal discs or bars. The conspirators then sold the raw metal to other individuals in the New York City area.
That includes eight of the nine World Series rings, seven other championship rings and two MVP plaques presented to Berra, which were housed at the Berra Museum and Learning Center in New Jersey before being stolen in 2014.
“My family is grateful that those responsible for the theft have been apprehended, and deeply saddened that none of those pieces of sports history will be recovered,” said Lindsay Berra, granddaughter of Yogi Berra and a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “I remember when my grandfather first heard about the robbery, his main concern was that the museum was still safe for kids to come and visit.”
Investigators say the men arrested for the thefts of Berra’s memorabilia were also responsible for the 2016 burglary at the Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, ND in which the Hickok belt and MVP trophy awarded to Maris were stolen from a display case. Those items are believed to also have been destroyed.
“To find out that dad’s Hickok Belt and his 1960 League MVP will not be returning is disappointing,” Roger Maris Jr., told Valley News. “The Hickok Belt, which was given to the best athlete in all of professional sports in 1961, was enjoyed for all to see in his museum and was by far dad’s favorite award.”
Eight of the nine defendants have turned themselves in.
Nicholas Dombek, age 53, of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania, Damien Boland, age 47, of Moscow, Pennsylvania, Alfred Atsus, age 47, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, and Joseph Atsus, age 48, of Roaring Brook, Pennsylvania were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of objects of cultural heritage, and interstate transportation of stolen property. All four men were also charged with substantive counts of theft of major artwork and the concealment or disposal of objects of cultural heritage.
Dombek was also charged with a substantive count of interstate transportation of stolen property. However, he remains a fugitive, according to Karam.
Five other individuals have agreed to a plea deal for conspiracy. They are Thomas Trotta, age 48, of Moscow, Pennsylvania, Frank Tassiello, age 50, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Daryl Rinker, age 50, of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania, Dawn Trotta, age 51, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, and Ralph Parry, age 45, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania.
Karam says the thefts date back as long as 20 years, with a long list of crimes now apparently solved. The actual value of the stolen items was well into seven figures.
“The defendants conspired, surveilled and broke into museums, halls of fame, businesses, and other places in order to steal artwork, priceless memorabilia, jewelry, and other items of significant value,” Karam said. “Items treasured not only by the owners, but by those who appreciate artwork in sports across our country.”
Karam says the case was solved through the work of multiple law enforcement agencies working together, including the FBI and state and local police agencies across multiple states.
“About three years ago, a forensic link at one of the theft sites discovered by a local police agency led us to forensic evidence that linked several of these thefts,” he said.
The stolen items went well beyond sports memorabilia. In addition to the items stolen from the Berra and Maris collections, the list provided by Karam’s office included:
- A Christy Mathewson jersey and two contracts signed by Mathewson stolen in 1999 from Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania;
- Six championship belts, including four awarded to Carmen Basilio and two awarded to Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York;
- 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 over $300,000 stolen in 2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, 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, Saratoga Springs, New York;
- 11 trophies, including 4 awarded to pro golfer Art Wall, Jr. stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania;
- Three antique firearms worth a combined $1,000,000 stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey;
- “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” by Jackson Pollock stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennsylvania;
- An 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp stolen in 2010 from the Lackawanna Historical Society, Scranton, Pennsylvania,
- “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey, worth approximately $500,000, and two antique firearms worth over $300,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor, Ringwood, New Jersey;
- $400,000 worth of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg, New Jersey;
- Various gems, minerals, and other items stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum, Franklin, New Jersey;
- An antique shotgun worth over $30,000 stolen in 2018 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey;
- Various jewelry, and other items from multiple antique and jewelry stores in New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors say it’s believed Dombek burned the painting “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey, valued at approximately $500,000, to avoid the recovery of the painting by investigators for use as evidence against the members of the conspiracy.
The whereabouts of many of the other paintings and stolen objects are currently unknown.
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