Damien Boland, a 50-year-old resident of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy involving the theft and concealment of major artwork and valuable memorabilia. The sentencing took place on November 13, 2025, before Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton. In addition to the prison term, Boland was ordered to serve a period of supervised release and pay restitution totaling $2,049,420.15.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Boland was found guilty by a jury on all eleven counts after a trial that lasted nearly one month earlier this year. The stolen items included high-value works such as “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter,” attributed to Jackson Pollock, which were taken from the Everhart Museum in Scranton in 2005; several championship boxing belts from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York; trophies belonging to Roger Maris from his museum in Fargo, North Dakota; golf awards linked to Ben Hogan from the USGA Golf Museum & Library; and numerous other trophies and artifacts from museums across multiple states.
The thefts were part of an eight-person conspiracy. Alongside Boland, Nicholas Dombek of Thornhurst and Joseph Atsus of Roaring Brook were also convicted at trial for conspiracy related offenses including interstate transportation of stolen property. They are awaiting sentencing.
Three other co-conspirators—Thomas Trotta (Dunmore), Dawn Trotta (Dunmore), Frank Tassiello (Taylor), and Ralph Parry (Springbrook Township)—pleaded guilty under felony informations and received sentences ranging from probation with home confinement up to 96 months’ imprisonment.
Authorities reported that after stealing these items, the group would return them to Northeastern Pennsylvania where they often melted down memorabilia into metal discs or bars for easier transport. These materials were then sold as raw metal in New York City for amounts far below their market value.
Investigators learned that Dombek destroyed certain evidence during the investigation: “Dombek burnt the painting ‘Upper Hudson’ by Jasper Crospey, valued at approximately $125,000, to avoid the painting being recovered by investigators and used as evidence against the members of the conspiracy.” Many stolen objects remain missing; however some antique firearms have been recovered—including one hidden by Boland at a relative’s residence out-of-state.
The case involved cooperation among federal agencies like the FBI as well as state police departments from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York—and local law enforcement agencies nationwide. Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Jenny Roberts prosecuted this case.
