Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Major Art and Memorabilia Theft Conspiracy

A Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania man has received a 120-month prison sentence for his role in a widespread conspiracy involving the theft and concealment of major artwork and valuable sports memorabilia. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Nicholas Dombek, 55, of Thornhurst Township, was also ordered to pay over $2.7 million in restitution following his conviction on charges of conspiracy, theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of major artwork, and the interstate transportation of stolen property. A jury found Dombek guilty of eight counts after a trial that lasted nearly a month.

The extensive scheme, in which Dombek acted as a leader among eight individuals, targeted numerous high-profile items across multiple states. In 2005, the conspiracy allegedly stole Andy Warhol’s “Le Grande Passion” and a purported Jackson Pollock, “Springs Winter,” from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Several years later, in 2015, six championship boxing belts belonging to legends Carmen Basilio and Tony Zale were taken from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. The following year, the Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, was the target of a theft that included the baseball icon’s Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy.

Further impacting sports history, the group is accused of stealing nine World Series Rings, seven championship rings, and two MVP plaques belonging to Yogi Berra from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey, in 2014. The USGA Golf Museum & Library was also a victim in 2012, with the theft of the U.S. Amateur Trophy and a Hickok Belt awarded to golfer Ben Hogan. The conspiracy’s reach extended to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York, where 14 trophies and other awards valued at approximately $300,000 were stolen in 2012. The National Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, suffered the loss of five trophies, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, in 2013.

Beyond sports memorabilia, the conspirators also targeted historical artifacts and art. Three antique firearms were stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey. In 2011, the Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey, was the site of two thefts: Jasper Crospey’s “Upper Hudson,” valued at approximately $120,000, and antique firearms worth over $150,000. Numerous trophies belonging to golfer Art Wall, Jr., including the Milwaukee Open Trophy, Eastern Open Trophy, and Pennsylvania Amateur Cup, were taken in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. The Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey, had gold nuggets and other precious metals valued at over $100,000 stolen in 2011. In 2017, the Franklin Mineral Museum in Franklin, New Jersey, was robbed of gems and other minerals. The conspiracy also involved the theft of jewelry, coins, and other valuables from various antique businesses between 2018 and 2020, including locations in Hawley and Exeter, Pennsylvania, Newport, Rhode Island, and Chester, New York.

After the stolen items were taken, they were reportedly transported back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, often to Dombek’s residence. There, the memorabilia was melted down into discs or bars for easier transport and sale to fences in the New York City area for significantly less than their market value. Dombek is also accused of destroying the painting “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey to prevent it from being used as evidence. While the whereabouts of many stolen items remain unknown, investigators did recover several antique firearms stolen from New Jersey museums, including one hidden by a co-conspirator.

Several co-defendants have also faced sentencing for their roles in the conspiracy. Damien Boland, 49, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 108 months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution. Joseph Atsus, 51, of Roaring Brook, Pennsylvania, received a 48-month prison sentence, followed by supervised release and restitution. Other individuals who pleaded guilty include Thomas Trotta, 50, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, sentenced to 96 months for theft of major artwork; Dawn Trotta, 53, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, sentenced to 15 months for conspiracy, concealment, disposal, and interstate transportation of stolen property; Frank Tassiello, 52, of Taylor, Pennsylvania, sentenced to six months for conspiracy, concealment, disposal, and interstate transportation of stolen property; and Ralph Parry, 47, of Springbrook Township, Pennsylvania, who received three years of probation with home confinement for conspiracy, concealment, disposal, and interstate transportation of stolen property.

The investigation involved a broad coalition of law enforcement agencies across multiple states. Following a search warrant at his home in 2019, Dombek reportedly threatened co-conspirators to prevent them from cooperating with police. After being indicted in 2023, Dombek fled from FBI agents and remained a fugitive for nearly six months before surrendering to authorities on New Year’s Day 2024.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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