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Master Thieves

Page 23

by Kurkjian, Stephen


  Index

  Abath, Richard “Rick,” 38–48, 52 (photo), 57

  Boston police and FBI questioning of, 60

  discovery of, in museum basement, 59

  explanation for opening museum’s outside door and, 55–56

  FBI lie detector test and, 94

  as FBI suspect in heist, 53–56

  grand jury testimony of, 54

  lie detector tests and, 54–55

  as night watchman on night of Gardner Museum heist, handcuffed, wrapped in duct tape, and subdued in museum basement, 45–46, 48

  as night watchman on night of Gardner Museum heist, ignoring protocol and allowing men dressed as police to enter museum, 43–44, 56

  pride in ability to avoid having footsteps picked up on motion detector and, 54

  promise of reward from thieves for compliance and, 46, 56

  public complaints about security system by, 46–48

  sketchy details of heist provided to authorities by, 46

  Abrams, George S., 106–107

  Adams National Historic Site theft (Quincy, MA), 159

  Amore, Anthony, 53, 73–74, 89–91, 126, 142, 144, 145, 178, 207–208

  Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists (with Mashberg), 91

  Angiulo, Gennaro “Jerry,” 185–186, 193–194

  Angiulo family, 185, 188, 193, 215

  Armored car headquarters heist plan (Easton, MA), 159–171

  Art Loss Register, 110–111, 114

  Art theft squad, FBI, 100–101, 108–109

  Auction houses, stolen art and, 110–112

  Bacon, Francis, Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 50

  Baione, Larry. See Zannino, Ilario

  Barndollar, Ronald, 118–119, 121

  Barnes Museum, 221

  Beauchamp, Robert, 161

  Berenson, Bernard, 49

  Berghman, Earle, 142–143, 144–145, 204

  Big Dig (Boston), 158–159

  Board of trustees. See Gardner Museum board of trustees

  Bok, Derek, 106

  Bok, Sisella, 106

  Boston Archdiocese, clergy sex abuse scandal in, xix

  Boston Globe, xix, 20, 36–37, 63, 172, 186

  FBI press conference (2013) and, 130

  reward of $1 million for return of paintings from writer of anonymous letters and, 79–80

  Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, 107

  Boston Herald, 63, 209

  ”WE’VE SEEN IT: Informant Shows Reporter Apparent Stolen Masterpiece,” 68–69

  Boston Marathon bombing, 84, 131, 178, 183, 218–219, 220

  Boston mob, 185–190

  FBI informants in, 187

  formal induction ceremony of, 186–188

  formal induction ceremony of, and FBI bugging, 187–188

  Gardner Museum heist and, 208–212

  US Department of Justice and, 198

  war between two crime rings of (Salemme faction and Ferrara/Carrozza/Russo faction), 188–189, 189–190, 193, 194–195

  See also specific members

  Boston police

  artist sketches of robbers and, 47 (photo)

  FBI refusal to work with, 92–93, 96–97, 99

  questioning of Abath by, 60

  Boston Public Library, 221

  Boston’s Big Dig, 158–159

  Brockton, MA, home theft, 1977, 107

  Budd, Wayne, 96

  Bulger, James “Whitey,” xix, xx, 83–84, 97, 115, 183, 186, 209

  efforts to locate Gardner heist thieves for tribute by, 94

  Bulger, William, 83, 209

  Bush, George H. W., 109

  Butchka, William, 20

  Cambridge, MA, home theft, 1973, 106–107

  Canton, MA, home theft, 1990, 154–155, 158

  Caravaggio theft, 175

  Carrozza, Robert, 187. See also under Boston mob

  Cassano, W. Thomas, 160

  Cezanne theft, 113–114

  Chagall theft, 12, 18

  Chatigny, Robert N., 128, 181

  Cheers pub theft (Boston, 1991), 155

  Chez Tortoni (Manet), 52 (photo), 53, 58, 160–161

  Chicofsky, Richard “Fat Richie,” 163–164

  Chinese beaker from Shang era, 51

  Christie’s New York, 50

  Civitali, Matteo

  Virgin Adoring the Child, 3

  Clark, Edward, 23–26

  Clergy sex abuse scandal, in Boston Archdiocese, xix

  Cohasset, MA, home theft, 1978, 107

  The Concert (Vermeer), xvii (photo), 50–51, 73, 115, 120, 137, 139, 183

  Connecticut, as possible location of stolen Gardner art, 113, 129, 130, 131–132

  Connolly, John, 209

  Connor, Myles, Jr., 64, 70, 72, 93–94, 139, 157, 162, 190, 210

  The Art of the Heist, 200

  theory of Gardner heist and, 199–200

  Cowley, Kenneth, 88–89

  Cronin, Neil, 64, 159, 160

  armored car headquarters heist plan and, 170

  Merlino and, 163–164

  Crowdsourcing, 83–84, 218

  Cullity, Patrick, 58–59

  Dali theft, 12, 16–18

  Degas theft, 51, 52 (photo)

  Della Volpe, John, 84–85

  DeMarco, Robin, 58–59

  DesLauriers, Richard, 90–91

  FBI press conference (2013) and, 112–116, 129–131, 182, 183, 218–219

  Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory of Gardner heist and, 138, 178, 181, 182–183

  DeVincent, Richard “The Pig,” 140

  Devlin, Frank, 212

  Devlin, Richard, 22, 28, 71, 187 (photo), 210, 211–212

  DiGiacomo, Biagio, 187, 188

  DiMuzio, Leonard, 155–156

  “Doctor No” figure, xx

  Donati, Lorraine, 205

  Donati, Robert A. “Bobby,” 69, 71, 192, 197 (photo), 201 (photo)

  FBI and, 210

  as FBI suspect, 198–199, 199–205, 218

  Ferrara and, 192, 196–199, 205, 206–207, 215–217

  Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory of Gardner heist and, 203–204

  Guarente and, 203–204

  murder of, 198, 204–205

  Salemme and, 205

  stolen art and, 207–208

  taser and police uniform incident at The Shack and, 201

  Dukakis, Kitty, 97

  Dukakis, Michael S., 9, 91–92, 97

  Durham, John, 121, 128, 133

  El Greco theft, 107

  Falzon, Daniel, 93, 98

  FBI

  art theft squad and, 108–109

  Boston Marathon bombing and, 84, 131, 178, 183, 218–219

  Bulger (James “Whitey”) and, xix, xx, 83–84, 97, 115, 183, 186, 209

  deal brokering and white-collar crimes and, 135–138

  manpower devoted to art theft investigation by, 107

  public appeal by, in Bulger case, 83–84

  FBI investigation of Gardner Museum heist, xx–xxii, 91–101

  Abath and, 56, 60

  agents assigned to, xxii

  Amore and, 89–91

  art theft squad and, 100–101

  artist sketches of robbers and, 47 (photo)

  bugging of formal induction ceremony of Boston mob and, 187–188

  commitment of, 176

  Donati and, 207–208, 210

  forensic analyst and, 95

  French lead and, 100–101

  Gentile and, 117–123, 123–126, 132–133, 138

  Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory and, 90, 138–142, 144–146, 192, 199, 203–204 (s
ee also Gardner Museum heist theories)

  immunity from prosecution for anyone facilitating return of stolen art (see Immunity from prosecution for return of stolen art)

  investigative strategies of, 20, 97–98

  investigative techniques of, 98–99

  lack of success of, xxii, 217–220

  leads on, xxi–xxii, 92–93, 98, 175–176

  lie detector tests administered to Gardner night watchmen and, 94

  longest unsolved art theft on Most Wanted List and, 175

  as low priority, xxii

  manpower and, 92, 93, 176

  museum employees and, 92

  names of suspects, 116, 130, 157, 160, 210 (see also FBI Suspects in Gardner Museum heist)

  press conference (see FBI press conference on twenty-third anniversary of Gardner heist, 2013)

  psychics and, 98

  public appeal and, 83–84, 114–116, 130–131, 183, 218–219

  recovery of stolen art (see Stolen art recovery, Gardner heist)

  refusal to share information or responsibilities on the case with task force or federal or local police or other outside organizations and, 92–93, 94–95, 95–97, 98–101

  reward for information and, 138 (see also Reward of $5 million)

  Royce and, 27

  statute of limitations on theft and, 176

  theories of heist and, xx–xxi, 24–25 (see also Gardner Museum heist theories)

  warning to museum about possible heist and, 23–26

  Youngworth and, 64–65, 70, 72, 73

  See also specific FBI agents

  FBI press conference on twenty-third anniversary of Gardner heist, 2013, 105–106, 112–116, 129–131, 182

  location of stolen art location given at, 129, 130, 131–132

  names of suspects and, 130 (see also Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory of Gardner heist)

  public appeal and, 114–116, 130–131, 183, 218–219

  FBI suspects in Gardner Museum heist, 116, 130, 157, 160, 178. See also Abath, Richard; Connor, Miles, Jr.; Donati, Robert; Gentile, Robert; Guarente, Robert; Joyce, Dicky; Merlino, Carmello; Reissfelder, George; Rossetti, Stephen; Royce, Louis; Turner; David; Youngworth, William

  Ferrara, Vincent A., 186, 187, 191, 192–193, 195–196, 197 (photo), 210

  Gentile and, 216–217

  release from prison and, 205–206

  reward and, 207, 216

  theory of Gardner heist and Donati and, 192, 196–199, 205, 206, 207, 215–217

  Turner and, 207

  See also under Boston mob

  Ferrara/Carrozza/Russo and Salemme factions of Boston mob

  war between, 188–189, 189–190, 193, 194–195

  See also Boston mob

  Flemmi, Stephen “Rifleman,” 94, 209

  Flynn, Ray, 96

  Fogg Museum, Harvard University, 106

  Foley, Thomas J., 97

  Frasier, Paul, 157

  Fred (FBI agent), 100–101

  Gainsborough theft, 107

  Gardner, Isabella Stewart, 2, 21, 36, 48–49, 108

  construction of Gardner Museum and, 221

  will stipulations regarding board of trustees’ sole responsibility for Gardner Museum’s direction and, 37

  will stipulations regarding renovations of Gardner Museum and, 33

  Gardner, John Lowell, 221

  Gardner Museum, 1–2

  annual budget of, 36

  Blue Room, 25, 35, 53

  central air conditioning and ventilation system in, 35

  climate-control system in, 36

  coat room in, 36

  construction of, 221

  daytime heist (1970) and, 50

  Dutch Room, 48–51

  finances of, 36

  fund-raising efforts of, 34, 35

  insurance protection for artwork and, 34

  insurance protection from liability for patrons and, 34

  investment dividends and interest and, 36

  management problems of, 36

  million-dollar funding for renovation of, 34

  Raphael Room, 2

  renovation of, 33, 34

  security guards and, 39

  stipulations regarding renovations of, 33

  Tapestry Room, 24, 35

  theft of miniature Rembrandt self-portrait sketch from, 24

  value of collection at, 34

  Yellow Room, 25

  Gardner Museum Board of Trustees, 33–34

  attempt to blame security director for failure of security system and, 38 (see also Gardner Museum security system, vulnerability of)

  Boston Globe article regarding failure of, 36–37

  failure to establish fund-raising campaign or apply for grants to satisfactorily improve security system and, 36–38

  Gardner Museum heist, night of, 38–57

  artwork taken from, 48–51, 53

  crime scene at, 52 (photo)

  discovery of heist by security guards on, 57–58

  emergency call to police on, 58–60

  fire alarm box sounding on, 41–42

  men dressed in police uniforms parked outside on, 42–43

  motion detector equipment and, 53, 54

  night watchman ignoring protocol and allowing men dressed as police to enter museum on, 43–44, 56

  night watchmen handcuffed, wrapped in duct tape, and subdued in museum basement during, 45–46, 48

  night watchmen on, 38–48, 41–42, 52 (photo), 53–56

  night watchmen promised reward from thieves for compliance on, 46, 56

  panic alarm sounding on, 41

  thieves removing stolen art in separate hauls on, 57

  Gardner Museum heist (March 1990), xix, xx–xxi, 217–218

  alarm buzzer behind desk and, 55

  anonymous letters negotiating return of stolen art (1994) and, 77–82

  board of trustees and (see Gardner Museum Board of Trustees)

  Boston mob and, 190, 208–212

  eleven less-recognizable pieces stolen during, 183

  FBI warning about, 23–26

  names of suspects in, 116, 130, 157, 160 (see also FBI suspects in Gardner Museum heist)

  night watchman as suspect in, 53–56

  recovery of stolen art (see Stolen art recovery, Gardner heist)

  reward for recovery of stolen art (see Reward of $5 million)

  reward of $1 million for return of paintings from writer of anonymous letters and, 79

  secret to solving, xxi

  security system (see Gardner Museum security system, vulnerability of)

  statute of limitations on theft and, 176

  theories on why artwork hasn’t been found and, 176–178

  theories (see Gardner Museum heist theories)

  trustees’ hiring of firm to investigate, 95–96

  value placed on stolen art and, 175

  witness murders and, 155–156, 156–157

  See also FBI investigation

  Gardner Museum heist theories, xx–xxi, 24–25

  Donati and, 192, 196–199, 205, 206, 207, 215–217

  Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory, 90, 138–142, 144–146, 192, 199, 203–204 (see also Gentile, Robert; Guarente, Robert; Turner, David)

  Houghton and, 199–200

  Kelly and, 178–183

  Royce and, 27–28

  Gardner Museum security system, vulnerability of, 21, 25, 26, 210–211, 218

  alarm system and, 41

  board of trustees’ failure to establish fund-raising campaign or apply for grants to satisfactorily improve security system and, 36–38

  central fire alarm system and, 34

  commissioni
ng of study regarding, 35–36

  communication system and, 36

  computer and motion-activated infrared sensors and, 41

  lack of funds and, 33–34, 35–36

  secured control room and, 31–32, 35

  security directors and, 31–38

  television screen and closed circuit cameras and, 40–41

  trustees’ attempt to blame security director for failure of security system and, 38

  video and electronic surveillance and, 35, 36

  Garrity, W. Arthur, Jr., 202

  Gentile, Donna (daughter), 121, 128–129

  Gentile, Patricia (wife), 121, 141

  Gentile, Robert, 210, 213–217, 220

  claim by Guarente (Elene) that husband had passed stolen art to, 90, 138–139, 141–142, 144–146

  drug charges against, 117, 118

  FBI deal brokering and, 136–138

  FBI interrogation of, 117–123, 126

  FBI search of house in Manchester, CT, 123–126, 125 (photo)

  FBI search of house in Manchester, CT, evidence found during, 123, 132–133, 138

  as FBI suspect, 130

  Ferrara and, 216–217

  interview with author and, 127–129

  Kelly’s theory of Gardner heist and, 178, 179–180, 180–181, 182

  lie detector test of, 118–121

  Luisi and, 131

  release from federal prison in Otisville, NY, and, 127

  reward for information leading to recovery of Gardner stolen art and, 148

  self-portrait by Rembrandt and, 120–121

  Turner and, 147–148, 172

  See also Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory of Gardner heist

  Gentile, Robert, Jr. (son), 121, 125–126, 129

  Gentile/Guarente/Turner theory of Gardner heist, 90, 138–142, 144–146, 192, 199

  Donati and, 203–204

  See also Gentile, Robert; Guarente, Robert; Turner, David

  Getty museum, 221

  Gilday, William Morrill, 8–9

  Gillis, Richard, 71, 148, 212

  Girl with a Fur-Trimmed Cloak (Rembrandt), 200–202

  Golden, Daniel, 107–108

  Goldstein, Robert M., 172

  The Great American Pin-up (Martignette), 87

  Greig, Catherine, 83–84

  Grieco, Daniel, 212

  Grindle, Lyle, 30, 31–35, 37, 38, 54, 58, 94

  Abath and, 39–40

  arrival on crime scene and, 59–60

 

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