A federal court sentenced Joseph Atsus, 51, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, on 13 January 2026 for his role in a multi-state museum theft ring. The court imposed a 48-month prison sentence and ordered him to pay more than $1 million in restitution.

Previously, a jury convicted Atsus on charges including conspiracy, theft of major artwork, and concealment of stolen art. Therefore, the sentencing concluded a long-running case that covered thefts committed over two decades.

🎨 Artworks and Objects Targeted

Between 1999 and 2019, the theft ring targeted small and regional museums across several US states. These locations included Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and North Dakota.

The group focused on portable and valuable objects. As a result, museums lost artworks, historic items, and memorabilia.

Stolen items linked to the theft ring included:

• “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol, stolen from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2005
• “Springs Winter” attributed to Jackson Pollock, taken from the same museum during the same theft
• “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Francis Cropsey, stolen from Ringwood Manor, New Jersey
• Antique firearms removed from several museums in New Jersey
• Gold nuggets, sports trophies, and other historic objects
• Nine World Series rings, along with additional championship rings and awards

Meanwhile, the thefts caused lasting losses for institutions that relied on small collections.

🚚 Handling of Stolen Property

After committing the thefts, members of the group transported stolen items to northeastern Pennsylvania. In several cases, they melted memorabilia into metal bars. Consequently, historically significant objects lost their original form and value.

In one instance, conspirators burned the Cropsey painting “Upper Hudson”. They destroyed the artwork to prevent recovery and remove evidence.

⚖️ Trial Outcome and Related Sentences

The trial lasted nearly one month before the jury delivered guilty verdicts. After sentencing, Atsus also received a term of supervised release following imprisonment.

Meanwhile, other members of the theft ring received separate sentences:

• Damien Boland — 108 months
• Thomas Trotta — 96 months
• Dawn Trotta — 15 months
• Frank Tassiello — six months
• Ralph Parry — probation and home confinement

🚔 Investigation and Recovery

Federal investigators worked alongside state and local agencies throughout the investigation. As a result, authorities recovered several stolen firearms. However, some artworks remain missing, and their locations remain unknown.