In a courtroom filled with emotional testimonies, the sentencing of Joseph Atsus has brought to light the personal and familial struggles behind a notorious art and memorabilia theft ring. As victims of the theft recounted their loss of precious heirlooms, Atsus’ family pleaded for leniency, highlighting the challenges his absence would pose for his autistic 11-year-old son.
Oralia Iniguez, Atsus’ mother, expressed how crucial Atsus’ presence is for his son’s well-being. “They have (poured) their lives into (the son’s) care,” she stated, emphasizing the demanding nature of raising a child with special needs.
Jodi Bird, Atsus’ ex-wife, further detailed the boy’s struggles, from delayed speech development to social challenges at school, underscoring the importance of a supportive environment for his development.
Despite these heartfelt appeals, Senior U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Atsus to four years in prison, a term shorter than potentially warranted. “I’m not doing this for you,” Mannion told Atsus, “I’m doing this for him,” referring to Atsus’ son.
$1 million in restitution
In addition to the prison sentence, Atsus was ordered to pay a restitution of $1,071,150, alongside a $400 special assessment. Upon release, he will be under federal supervision for three years. The judge recommended that Atsus serve his sentence at the federal prison in Lewisburg to remain close to his family.
Atsus, hailing from Roaring Brook Twp., is one of nine individuals charged in a 2023 case involving a sprawling theft operation. Of his co-conspirators, Nicholas Dombek is the last awaiting sentencing, while Atsus’ brother, Alfred, was acquitted.
Thomas Trotta, the group’s leader and key witness against Atsus, received an eight-year sentence after pleading guilty. Other members received varying sentences, from nine years for Damien Boland to probation and shorter terms for others involved.
‘He’s worked all his life’
Defense attorney Patrick A. Casey highlighted Atsus’ 20-year career at a Walmart distribution center and his previously clean criminal record as factors deserving consideration. Atsus, Casey noted, is aware of the damage caused to his family’s reputation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Buchanan, however, argued for a harsher sentence, citing Atsus’ role as a driver and planner in the theft ring, which targeted invaluable items from museums and left many victims aggrieved.
The long-time thief
Buchanan painted a dual image of Atsus: a devoted family man on one hand, and a participant in a 20-year criminal conspiracy on the other. The prosecutor emphasized the extensive impact of Atsus’ actions, which involved numerous crimes over the years.
A sympathetic judge
Judge Mannion acknowledged Atsus’ participation in a theft ring that resulted in the loss of irreplaceable memorabilia and art. He specifically mentioned the melting down of 16 Yogi Berra rings, a theft that yielded only $12,000 for the criminals.
Though sympathetic to the challenges Atsus’ family faces, Mannion underscored Atsus’ accountability. “I can’t tell how much it pains me” to impose a sentence that separates Atsus from his son, Mannion expressed, yet he emphasized the responsibility Atsus holds for his situation.
What they stole
The theft ring was implicated in a series of high-profile heists spanning two decades and targeting 20 museums and venues. Notable items stolen included:
- A baseball jersey and contracts of Christy Mathewson from Keystone College in 1999.
- Artworks “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” by Jackson Pollock from the Everhart Museum in 2005, still unrecovered.
- Yogi Berra’s World Series rings and MVP plaques from the Yogi Berra Museum in New Jersey.
- A 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp from the Lackawanna Historical Society in 2010.
- Art Wall’s golf trophies from the Scranton Country Club.
- Roger Maris’ Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy from the Roger Maris Museum in 2016.
- Ben Hogan’s U.S. Amateur Trophy and Hickok Belt from the USGA Golf Museum in 2012.
- Trophies worth about $300,000 from the Harness Racing Museum in 2012.
- Five trophies valued over $350,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, from the National Racing Museum in 2013.
- Three antique firearms from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in 2006.
- “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey and antique guns worth over $150,000 from Ringwood Manor in 2011.
