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newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--artifactarrest0128jan28,0,3877179.story
Newsday.com
State employee accused of stealing historic artifacts
12:17 PM EST, January 28, 2008
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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ A long-time state archivist was accused of stealing
hundreds of historic artifacts and documents from the New York State
Library, including two Davy Crockett Almanacs, and selling some pieces on
eBay.
Daniel Lorello, 54, an archives and records management specialist in the
state Education Department, was arraigned Monday on charges of third-degree
grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and
first-degree scheme to defraud.
Lorello pleaded not guilty. He was released on his own recognizance and
placed on administrative leave from his $71,732-a-year job.
Lorello also stole a signed 1823 letter from former Vice President John
Calhoun that generated bids of up to $1,700 during an eBay auction
monitored by investigators. Other items stolen by Lorello included a
Winfield Scott Hancock calling card and Currier and Ives colored
lithographs, according to the state attorney general's office.
"These irreplaceable documents are the property of all New Yorkers," said
state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Joseph Romito, a lawyer and history buff in Richmond, Va., tipped
authorities off after he spotted one of the items for sale on eBay and
realized it was supposed to belong to New York state.
After searching the suspect's home this past weekend, officials found
hundreds of documents and artifacts belonging to the state. Officials
believe the theft goes back to 2002, Cuomo spokesman John Milgram said.
It's unclear how much Lorello profited from his sales. In some cases he
went to trade shows and exchanged the state's items for others, authorities
said. But officials said in just two sales of Davy Crockett Almanacs he
received more than $5,000.
Altogether, officials at the attorney general's office believe his profits
to be in the "tens of thousands."
eBay is working with state officials to obtain the past sales records from
Lorello's account.
Lorello made no comment as he left court and a message left on his
answering machine was not immediately returned.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Christine Karatnytsky
Scripts Librarian
Billy Rose Theatre Division
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023-7498
212-870-1723