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.
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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
