Trail of larceny: complete list of thefts in widespread burglary ring
Jun. 15—Below is a list of the thefts and attempted thefts investigators allege involved the nine individuals named in federal charging documents unsealed Thursday.
A federal grand jury handed up an indictment against four individuals: Nicholas Dombek, Damien Boland, and brothers Alfred and Joseph Atsus.
Five others — siblings Dawn and Thomas Trotta, Daryl Rinker, Ralph Parry and Frank Tassiello — were charged through criminal informations and are identified in the indictment as numbered conspirators.
The Times-Tribune uncovered that "Conspirator 1" is Thomas Trotta, "Conspirator 2" is Dawn Trotta, "Conspirator 3" is Rinker, "Conspirator 4" is Parry and "Conspirator 5" is Tassiello.
Antique Exchange, Hawley
Date: Feb. 21, 2018
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Dombek, Rinker
Taken: Coins and jewelry
Synopsis: Trotta smashed the front door of the store and stole coins and jewelry from a display case. He later sold some of the coins to Rinker. Others were melted down by Dombek.
Basic Irish Luxury, Newport, Rhode Island
Date: Oct. 11, 2018
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Tassiello, Dombek
Taken: Jewelry and other items
Synopsis: Tassiello drove Trotta to the store, where he broke in and removed jewelry and other items. After returning Trotta to Lackawanna County, Tassiello received several rings as payment. Trotta took the remaining items to Dombek, who melted them down.
Bertoni Gallery, Chester, New York
Date: June 18, 2018
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Jewelry and other small metallic objects
Synopsis: Trotta broke a window, smashed display cases and removed jewelry and other items. He took the items to Dombek's residence, where they were melted down.
Cade's Coins, Exeter, Luzerne County
Date: March 18, 2018
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Dombek, Rinker
Taken: Coins, rings and other jewelry
Synopsis: After Rinker informed Trotta about the presence of silver coins at the store and drawing a map of the interior while the two were at Dombek's residence, Trotta broke in and removed coins, rings and other jewelry. He later gave several rings to Rinker. Dombek melted down the remaining items.
Everhart Museum, Scranton
Date: Nov. 18, 2005
Participants: Alfred Atsus, Boland, Thomas Trotta, Joseph Atsus, Dawn Trotta
Taken: "La Grande Passion" by Andy Warhol and "Winter in Springs" by Jackson Pollock
Synopsis: While Joseph Atsus and Boland waited outside, Thomas Trotta used a ladder to smash doors, enter the museum and steal the artwork. It was taken to Dawn Trotta's residence and later to a residence Joseph and Alfred Atsus owned in New Jersey.
Franklin Mineral Museum, Franklin, New Jersey
Date: June 19, 2017
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Numerous small gems and minerals
Synopsis: Trotta used a ladder to access the museum roof and then entered through a skylight before smashing cases and removing gems and minerals. He and Dombek later took the items to New York City, where they tried unsuccessfully to sell them.
Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, Goshen, New York
Date: Dec. 18, 2012
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dawn Trotta, Dombek, Alfred Atsus, Rinker
Taken: Fourteen trophies, including two early 20th century Loving Cups, and a Faberge silver punchbowl, stand and ladle
Synopsis: Boland drove Trotta to the museum, where he used a collapsible ladder and ax provided by Dombek to break in and smash a display case. They took the items to Dawn Trotta's residence to inventory them. Boland and Trotta used an account belonging to Atsus to rent a torch to melt the trophies and other items, paying him $100. Dombek removed several "coins" attached to the Faberge items and sold them to Rinker.
Harvard Mineralogical & Geological Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Date: Prior to April 2019
Participants: Tassiello, Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Synopsis: Tassiello created a "Hasidic" disguise for Trotta to wear during a planned theft of a diamond from the museum, and Dombek made a collapsible ladder for use during the heist. However, when Trotta drove to the museum he discovered the diamond was no longer on display.
Hillwood Estate, Museum,and Gardens, Washington, D.C.
Date: Prior to Dec. 31, 2015
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Perry, Dawn Trotta
Synopsis: Using a car that had been rented by Dawn Trotta, Perry drove Boland and Thomas Trotta to the museum for the purpose of breaking in and stealing items. The theft was aborted.
International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York
Date: Nov. 5, 2015
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Four Carmen Basilio championship belts and two Tony Zale championship belts
Synopsis: Boland drove Trotta to the museum, where he smashed multiple display cases with an ax and removed the belts. They took the belts to Dombek's residence, where he removed the precious stones before melting them down.
Keystone College, La Plume Twp.
Date: Aug. 13, 1999
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Joseph Atsus, Alfred Atsus
Taken: Christy Mathewson memorabilia, including a 1906 Spalding jersey, 1902 New York Giants contract and 1916 Cincinnati Reds contract
Synopsis: Trotta and Joseph Atsus drove to Keystone, where Trotta broke into display cases and removed the memorabilia. Joseph Atsus stored the items at his grandmother's house in Pennsylvania before moving them to a residence he and Alfred Atsus owned in New Jersey.
Lackawanna Historical Society, Scranton
Date: July 2, 2010
Participants: Thomas Trotta, Boland
Taken: 1903-1904 Tiffany lamp
Synopsis: Boland drove Trotta to the historical society, where he broke in through a window and removed the lamp. Boland later drove Trotta to New York City, where they sold the lamp to an individual known as "King Joe" for $6,300.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs, New York
Date: Sept. 13, 2013
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Five trophies, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy and 1905 Saratoga Special Trophy
Synopsis: Boland drove Trotta to the museum, where he smashed multiple display cases and removed the trophies. They later transported them to Boland's bar in Scranton, where they were melted down. Trotta paid Dombek $30,000 from the proceeds of the sale of the metal.
Ringwood Manor, Ringwood, New Jersey
Date: March 2, 2011
Participants: Dombek, Boland, Thomas Trotta, Alfred Atsus, Joseph Atsus, Dawn Trotta, Rinker
Taken: "Upper Hudson" painting by Jasper Cropsey from 1871, W.F. Mills & Son Model 1860 7-barrel percussion rifle known as "Tiger Gun," and Aston Model 1851 Cavalry pistol.
Synopsis: Joseph Atsus drove Boland and Thomas Trotta to Ringwood Manor, where Boland and Trotta broke in and removed items from display cases. The stolen items were taken to Dawn Trotta's residence. Dombek later burned the "Upper Hudson" painting and sold one of the firearms to Rinker.
Roger Maris Museum, Fargo, North Dakota
Date: July 26, 2016
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dawn Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Roger Maris Hickok Belt and MVP trophy
Synopsis: Using a car rented by Dawn Trotta, Boland drove Thomas Trotta to the museum, which is located in a mall. Wearing a fireman's uniform provided to him by Dombek, Thomas Trotta smashed display cases and removed items. Boland and Trotta then returned to Pennsylvania, where they split the theft proceeds at Boland's bar. Dombek later melted down the belt and trophy.
Scranton Country Club, South Abington Twp.
Date: March 10, 2011
Participants: Dombek, Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dawn Trotta, Joseph Atsus
Taken: Eleven sports trophies, including four trophies awarded to Art Wall Jr.
Synopsis: Boland drove Thomas Trotta to the clubhouse, where he broke in and removed the trophies, which were then taken to Dawn Trotta's residence to be inspected and split up. Thomas Trotta later took his share of the trophies to Dombek's residence, where they were melted down into silver pucks that were sold in New York City. Joseph Atsus received a share of the proceeds.
Space Farms Zoo and Museum, Wantage, New Jersey
Date: June 28, 2006
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Joseph Atsus, Alfred Atsus, Rinker
Taken: 1861 Colt Dragoon .44-caliber 6-shot percussion revolver, 1857 Colt Walker .44-caliber 6-shot percussion revolver and 1836 Colt Paterson .36-caliber 5-shot revolver
Synopsis: Boland drove Joseph Atsus and Trotta to Space Farms, where Trotta broke in, smashed display cases and took items. Boland later possessed the 1857 revolver as his share of the theft proceeds, and Trotta sold the other two to Alfred Atsus and Joseph Atsus. Trotta also offered to sell the 1857 revolver to Rinker for $6,000.
Date: Aug. 18, 2018
Participants: Tassiello, Thomas Trotta, unnamed conspirator
Taken: Colt model 1839 revolving shotgun
Synopsis: Tassiello drove a conspirator to Space Farms, where he entered, smashed display cases with an ax and removed the shotgun. Trotta is not named as the conspirator in federal documents, but Tassiello previously identified him as the man who stole the gun during court proceedings in New Jersey. Tassiello brought Trotta back to Lackawanna County, where he sold the shotgun to another unnamed member of the conspiracy.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdenburg, New Jersey
Date: July 27, 2011
Participants: Joseph Atsus, Thomas Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Several gold and other metallic nuggets
Synopsis: Joseph Atsus drove Trotta to the museum, where he removed the nuggets while wearing a painter's mask and other clothing designed to hide his appearance. Dombek later used a torch to separate the precious metals from rock contained in the nuggets.
USGA Golf Museum and Library, Liberty Corner, New Jersey
Date: May 16, 2012
Participants: Boland, Thomas Trotta, Dawn Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Replica of Ben Hogan's Hickok Belt and replica of U.S. Amateur Trophy
Synopsis: Boland drove Trotta to the museum, where he smashed several display cases and removed the items. They were taken to Dawn Trotta's residence. The U.S. Amateur Trophy was melted down, as was the belt after Dombek removed the gems affixed to it.
Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, Little Falls, New Jersey
Date: Oct. 15, 2015
Participants: Joseph Atsus, Thomas Trotta, Dawn Trotta, Dombek
Taken: Nine Yogi Berra World Series rings, seven other Berra championship rings and two Berra MVP plaques.
Synopsis: After Atsus drove Thomas Trotta to the museum, Trotta smashed display cases and took the rings and other memorabilia. They took the items to Dawn Trotta's residence. Dombek later melted the rings and plaques after removing the stones from them.
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