Joseph Atsus, 51, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy involving the theft and concealment of major artwork and other valuable items. The sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion on January 13, 2026. In addition to the prison term, Atsus was ordered to serve a period of supervised release and pay restitution totaling $1,071,150.
United States Attorney Brian D. Miller stated that Atsus was found guilty on four counts after a trial lasting nearly a month earlier this year. According to Miller, “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” purportedly by Jackson Pollock were among the stolen items taken in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Other stolen property included three antique firearms from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey (2006), “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey (2011), additional antique firearms from Ringwood Manor (2011), memorabilia belonging to Christy Matthewson from Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania (1999), golf trophies and memorabilia belonging to Art Wall Jr. from Scranton Country Club in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (2011), over $100,000 worth of gold nuggets from Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey (2011), and nine World Series rings along with other championship rings and MVP plaques belonging to Yogi Berra stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey.
Atsus’s actions were part of an eight-person conspiracy. Two co-conspirators—Nicholas Dombek of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania; and Damien Boland of Covington Township—were also convicted alongside Atsus for similar offenses including conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property. Boland received a sentence last month of 108 months’ imprisonment while Dombek is awaiting sentencing.
Three additional co-conspirators pleaded guilty under felony informations earlier this year:
- Thomas Trotta of Dunmore received a sentence of 96 months for theft of major artwork.
- Dawn Trotta also of Dunmore was sentenced to 15 months for conspiracy related charges.
- Frank Tassiello of Taylor received six months for conspiracy-related offenses.
- Ralph Parry of Springbrook Township was sentenced to three years probation with home confinement for similar charges.
Investigators determined that after stealing these items the conspirators transported them back to Northeastern Pennsylvania—often storing them at Dombek’s residence—and melted much of the memorabilia into metal discs or bars before selling them as raw metal for far less than their actual value.
Dombek destroyed some evidence during the investigation; he burned “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey valued at approximately $125,000 so it could not be recovered or used as evidence against members of the group. While several antique firearms have been recovered—including one hidden by Boland at a relative’s house—the locations of many paintings and other objects remain unknown.
The case involved cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies including federal authorities such as the FBI; state police departments across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York; local police departments spanning several states; district attorney offices; as well as university police forces.
Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Jenny Roberts prosecuted the case.
