Nine charged in thefts of Yogi Berra’s World Series rings, Warhol and Pollock art – The Denver Post

Nine people are being charged for the thefts of millions of dollars worth of memorabilia, paintings and other valuables, according to the Department of Justice.

The items stolen include an Andy Warhol silkscreen, a painting done by Jackson Pollock and nine World Series rings which previously belonged to Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

The thefts spanned more than two decades and 20 different museums and institutions from Massachusetts to North Dakota, according to the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Some of the items had been melted down, including the nine Berra World Series rings, said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam.

Authorities said that some items had been recovered, but it was not yet clear which items would be returned to their rightful owners or museums.

All nine suspects are Pennsylvania residents in their late 40s or early 50s. As of Thursday, eight had already turned themselves in, Karam said.

Court records show that five of the men opted into preliminary plea agreements for charges of theft of major artwork and conspiracy to dispose of major objects of cultural heritage.

Suspect Nicholas Dombek, 53, is on the run and considered a fugitive, Karam added.

The ring would allegedly target valuable items and then melt down the silver and gold into transportable discs, which they then sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But, according to the indictment, they were often sold for much less than what they were actually worth.

Karam offered little insight into how the FBI and local police departments ultimately solved the case, saying only that certain recently-uncovered evidence had been the key.

“About three years ago, a forensic link at one of the theft sites discovered by a local police agency led us to forensic evidence that linked several of these thefts,” he said.

With News Wire Services

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