The trial involves four men accused of stealing valuable art and memorabilia over two decades

The men—Nicholas Dombek, Damien Boland, and the Atsus brothers, Alfred and Joseph—were indicted in 2023. They’re accused of conspiracy and theft, but they’ve all pleaded not guilty. The feds say they’ve been stealing for two decades, racking up millions in stolen goods from places like museums and galleries.
There are also five other folks from Lackawanna County involved. They’ve already pleaded guilty and were named as conspirators in the original indictment. Sadly, one of them, Daryl Rinker, passed away earlier this year.
The indictment mentions some pretty high-profile thefts. For instance, in 2005, the group allegedly stole Jackson Pollock’s and Andy Warhol’s artwork from the Everhart Museum. They used a ladder to break in, and the stolen pieces ended up at a relative’s house before being moved to New Jersey.
They also took memorabilia from baseball legend Christy Mathewson back in 1999. The stolen items included his contracts and a vintage baseball jersey. It’s wild to think about how they broke into display cases to grab those treasures.
Locally, they’ve been linked to stealing a Tiffany lamp and trophies from a country club. In one case, they melted down trophies into silver pucks to sell in New York City.
The stolen goods list is extensive, including rings from baseball greats and even a Fabergé punch bowl worth a fortune. Some items were sold for way less than they were worth, and many are still missing.
The trial is set to take weeks, with dates scheduled through January. The judge has already denied a motion to dismiss the charges, so it looks like this case is going to unfold in the spotlight.