Nine charged in sports memorabilia theft conspiracy
The US District Attorney's Office in Scranton, Pennsylvania, said the ring committed thefts over more than two decades in 20 different locations across New York, North Dakota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
US Attorney Gerard M. Karam said stolen goods were taken back to the Scranton area and melted down into metal bars or discs that were sold in the New York City area for hundreds of thouands of dollars, but much less than the items would have been valued.
Those involved, eight men and a woman between the ages of 45 and 53 who live in Northeast Pennsylvania, face up to five years on conspiracy counts with some facing theft and transport charges that would add 10 years each if convicted.
One painting valued at $500,000, "Upper Hudson" by Jasper Cropsey, was burned to avoid being used as evidence, according to Karam, who said the whereabouts of many of the objects are unknown.
Items taken by the theft ring included:
- A US Amateur trophy and Hickok Belt as top professional athlete given to nine-time major winner Ben Hogan and stolen in 2012 from the US Golf Association Museum in New Jersey.
- Four title belts won by 1950s middleweight and welterweight Carmine Basilio and two won by 1940s middleweight champion Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York.
- 19 horse racing trophies worth more than $700,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes trophy, stolen in 2012 and 2013 from museums in upstate New York.
- 11 trophies, four of them awarded to 1959 Masters champion and 14-time PGA Tour winner Art Wall Jr., stolen in 2011 from Scranton Country Club.
- Nine World Series rings, seven championship rings and two Most Valuable Player plaques awarded to 13-time World Series champion Yogi Berra worth more than $1 million stolen from his museum in upstate New York in 2014.
- A Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy awarded to former New York Yankee Roger Maris stolen in 2016 from his museum in North Dakota.
- A jersey and two signed contracts of Christy Mathewson, a Major League Baseball pitcher for 17 seasons and a Hall of Fame inductee stolen in 1999 from Keystone College in his hometown of Factoryville, Pennsylvania.
Artwork items included "Le Grande Passion" by Andy Warhol and "Springs Winter" by Jackson Pollock, stolen in 2005 from a Scranton museum.
