Archivist Arrested For Stealing Historic Docs To Sell On eBay
Daniel Lorello, an archivist with New York's department of education, was arrested this week and charged with "grand larceny, possession of stolen property and fraud" for allegedly "stealing hundreds of historic documents, many of which he sold on eBay." Lorello pleaded not guilty, but investigators countered by releasing a written statement from Lorello in which he admitted to stealing as many as 400 items. Ah, the wily archivist, foiled by a letter from his own past!
Among the missing documents were an 1823 letter by U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun and copies of the Davy Crockett Almanacs, pamphlets written by the frontiersman who died at the Alamo in Texas.The article says that "eBay is cooperating with state officials in the probe," so we imagine you'll be getting an interesting email or phone call if you happened to have "won" any of Lorello's antiquities.He was found out by an alert history buff who saw the items posted on the online auction site and alerted authorities, the state attorney general's office said in a statement.
"Man arrested in eBay sale of historic documents" [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)
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Comments:
You're reaching pretty far here... but ok.
As a librarian, this story hurts. How could he do that??
Also missing - the original copy of the US Constitution. Might explain things going on in DC right now.
@DMDDallas: Don't people find those in yard sales all the time? Usually on the backs of old paintings.
What an ass.
That's just not very bright, indulging in a crime that leaves a long electronic trail.
If he had only resorted to selling fake Tiffany; eBay would have not folded so easily on him.
Maybe he is related to the "genius" that tried to hire a hitman on Craig's List?
What a goof!
Unfortunately this is more common than you'd think. I work at a large state university and the same thing happened here years ago. It's truly despicable.
Unfortunately this is more common than you'd think. I work at a large state university and the same thing happened a few years ago. They still don't know everything the guy stole. Truly despicable.
I could do that pretty easily. Not that our archives have the same value as Davy Crockett's almanacs, of course. Or that I would. Stuff is just kept in a dry room, nothing displaying it, and most people don't even know the stuff is there.
Just saw a report on an organized shoplifting group who (estimated by authorities of course) supposedly took stores for $100 million dollars in the last few years. They fenced the goods via legimate sounding ebay stores and the video even showed a rented warehouse stocked with the goods on shelves. They said the organization was made up of a huge group of related people which makes me think Irish Travelers.The story was that the actual boosters already had prior shoplift charges but the fences were completely clean of criminal records...
Need to praise Ron Coddington...ran across my mother's civil war collection yesterday and fell into this sub world of collectors. Ron led me to these sites...my stuff is the real deal, but not a part of Danielle Lorelle. Have lakeside press no 9 orders from Lee. Also, "original" (2) discharge orders for Hiram G. Morse and his wife's pension of $12.00 per quarter. Also, CDV pix from ny would love to talk to you buff's about Hiram and his life. Would like to find his family?
Was it Sandy Berger?