3 convicted in museum thefts

Three men were convicted Friday, Feb. 7 on charges in connection with thefts from multiple museums, including those in Sussex County.

A jury found Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst, Pa.; Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow, Pa.; and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook, Pa., guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property after a four-week trial in federal court in Scranton, Pa.

Acting U.S. Attorney John Gurganus said the three men were part of a nine-person conspiracy, which lasted more than 20 years. Its goal was to break into museums and other institutions and steal priceless works of art, sports memorabilia and other objects.

The items included:

• Three antique firearms worth a total of $1 million. They were stolen in 2006 from Space Farms Zoo & Museum in Wantage.

• An antique shotgun worth more than $30,000. It was stolen in 2018 from Space Farms.

• Gold nuggets worth $400,000. They were stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg.

• Various gems, minerals and other items that were stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum.

• “Upper Hudson,” a painting by Jasper Cropsey worth about $500,000, and two antique firearms worth more than $300,000. They were stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor.

• Ten World Series rings, seven other championship rings and two MVP plaques all belonging to Yogi Berra worth more than $1 million. They were stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls.

Five other co-conspirators pleaded guilty to felony charges and are awaiting sentencing.

Former co-defendant Alfred Atsus was acquitted of the three counts in the trial.

After stealing items, the conspirators took the stolen goods to northeastern Pennsylvania, often to Dombek’s home, and melted them into easily transportable metal discs or bars, according to the prosecutors.

The conspirators then sold the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for hundreds or a few thousand dollars, significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value.

Dombek burned the painting “Upper Hudson” to avoid it being recovered by investigators and used as evidence against the members of the conspiracy.

Many of the other paintings and stolen objects are missing. However, several antique firearms stolen from Space Farms and Ringwood Manor were recovered by investigators.

Sentencing of Dombek, Boland and Joseph Atsus has not been scheduled.

They face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy conviction and maximum penalties of 10 years in prison on each additional count.