A Web of Art Heists: Sentencing in a Multistate Theft Case
A Moscow man involved in a series of art and memorabilia thefts across six states received a nine-year federal prison sentence on Thursday. Senior U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion imposed this sentence on 49-year-old Damien Boland, who must also pay $2,049,420 in restitution and complete three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
The conviction stemmed from a February jury trial, where Boland and two accomplices, Nicholas Dombek, 55, and Joseph Atsus, 51, were found guilty. Meanwhile, Alfred Atsus, another accused, was acquitted.
The Ringleader’s Confession
The case gained traction largely due to Thomas Trotta, the group’s leader, who had longstanding friendships with the defendants. After a DUI arrest, Trotta opted to collaborate with authorities, bringing national attention to the case through interviews with “60 Minutes” and The Atlantic.
In March, Trotta was sentenced to eight years in prison, along with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,759,073 in restitution for the thefts from 20 museums and venues over two decades.
Family Ties in Crime
Several others involved in the crime faced justice, including Trotta’s sister, Dawn Trotta, who received a 15-month prison term and a $200,000 restitution order. Additionally, Frank Tassiello and Ralph Parry were sentenced to six months and three years probation, respectively. Daryl Rinker also pleaded guilty but passed away before sentencing.
Boland’s Criminal Activities
The jury found Boland guilty of 11 charges, including conspiracy, theft, and interstate transport of stolen art. His crimes encompassed the notorious theft of six boxing championship belts from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 2015.
During the trial, Trotta revealed that the belts, despite their perceived value, only fetched around $400 because their materials were not authentic. The items were eventually destroyed after Dombek extracted the gold plating.
Impact on Victims
At the sentencing, Haley Zale, a relative of one of the boxers, expressed the emotional toll of the crime. “In two swift minutes, you stole so much,” she shared, highlighting the years spent searching for the belts and the emotional distress caused by their loss.
Other Notable Thefts
Boland was implicated in several other high-profile thefts, including:
- “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and a Jackson Pollock piece from the Everhart Museum in Scranton in 2005.
- A Tiffany Lamp from the Lackawanna Historical Society in 2010.
- Roger Maris’s 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.
- Valuable trophies from the Harness Racing Museum in 2012 and the National Racing Museum in 2013.
- Antique firearms from Space Farms in 2006 and Ringwood Manor in 2011.
- “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, valued at $120,000, from Ringwood Manor in 2011.
