A person who was a part of a criminal offense ring which stole work by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock in addition to artifacts and memorabilities throughout twenty years was just lately sentenced to eight years in federal jail.
Thomas Trotta was given the jail sentence on March 13. His sentence additionally included a requirement to repay $2.8 million in restitution.
Trotta was the fourth individual sentenced as a part of a multi-state investigation into thefts over twenty years at 20 museums, establishments, and shops throughout six states and in Washington, D.C. The stolen objects included Warhol’s silkscreen work Le Grande Ardour (1984) and Pollock’s oil portray Springs Winter (1949) from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2005.
Springs Winter had been loaned to the Everhart Museum by a non-public collector, whereas Le Grande Ardour was a part of the museum’s assortment. The Warhol silkscreen was initially commissioned for an advert marketing campaign for Grand Ardour cognac.
The Associated Press reported the Pollock portray had an estimated worth of practically $12 million in 2023, and Trotta admitted to the theft of each artworks. A museum official advised The Related Press that neither work had been recovered.
Trotta’s lawyer, Joe D’Andrea, told the Associated Press that his consumer was “the principle burglar, he was the one which went into the establishments and burglarized them.”
Along with the artworks, prosecutors stated Trotta additionally admitted to the thefts of commemorative rings and MVP sports activities plaques with an estimated worth of $500,000 from the Yogi Berra Museum and Studying Middle in Little Falls, New Jersey.
Investigation into the assorted burglaries additionally implicated Trotta within the theft of a Tiffany lamp, in addition to boxing, horse racing, baseball, and golf objects. The theft ring additionally stole Jasper Cropsey’s portray Higher Hudson (1871), estimated to be price $100,000 or extra, from Ringwood Method in New Jersey in 2011. The portray was later burned by a member of the crime ring.
An legal professional for defendant Nicholas Dombek, an individual convicted as a part of the crime ring who nonetheless awaits sentencing, referred to as Trotta’s 8-year sentence “an enormous break” in trade for testifying towards Dombek and two others.
“The coin of the realm while you cooperate is you get a break,” legal professional Gino Bartolai advised the Related Press.
Dombek’s conviction on a number of fees was announced last month by america Legal professional’s Workplace for the Center District of Pennsylvania.
