Georgia man sentenced to 1 yr in theft of Arnold Palmer inexperienced jacket, different Masters memorabilia
CHICAGO — A former Georgia warehouse employee for the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership was sentenced to at least one yr in jail Wednesday for transporting tens of millions of {dollars}’ price of stolen Masters event memorabilia, together with one among Arnold Palmer’s iconic inexperienced jackets.
Richard Globensky, 40, pleaded responsible final yr to at least one rely of transporting stolen items throughout state strains. He appeared Wednesday in Chicago’s federal court docket sporting a go well with and pink tie. Along with his dad and mom and spouse seated within the courtroom behind him, he apologized for his actions earlier than U.S. District Choose Sharon Johnson Coleman handed down the sentence.
“I deeply remorse the choice that led me to this second,” he stated, his voice breaking. “I’ve taken full accountability for my actions and stay dedicated to doing all the pieces in my energy to make amends.”
Globensky and his legal professional didn’t reply to reporters’ questions as they left federal court docket.
Beneath the sentence, he may even must pay greater than $3 million in restitution and face one yr of supervised launch.
Federal prosecutors had sought a 16-month sentence, whereas protection attorneys wished probation.
Globensky took gadgets from the warehouse for sellers in Florida, who then offered them on-line at a markup, in line with prosecutors. Globensky was paid by a restricted legal responsibility firm arrange in his spouse’s identify, amongst different methods. The scheme lasted for greater than a decade, incomes him over $5 million.
“The violation of belief was very critical and ongoing,” Brian Hayes, an assistant U.S. legal professional, stated in court docket.
Nonetheless, he famous how Globensky cooperated within the ongoing investigation, offering textual content messages between him and a third-party. Courtroom paperwork solely establish the third occasion as “Particular person A,” together with an affiliate “Particular person B.” Hayes stated Globensky additionally preemptively offered his home and gave the proceeds to the federal government.
The gadgets, which have been stolen between 2009 and 2022, included such historic memorabilia as tickets to Masters tournaments within the Thirties, in addition to T-shirts, mugs and chairs, in line with prosecutors. Among the many stolen legendary inexperienced jackets have been these received by Palmer, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
Among the stolen items have been recovered within the Chicago space, which is why the court docket case was on the downtown courthouse.
Globensky, who had labored on the warehouse since 2007, would secretly {photograph} gadgets and ship them to a Florida-based vendor. Globensky would then sneak out gadgets that they have been all for, taking small portions to keep away from the chance of Augusta Nationwide’s auditing practices, in line with court docket paperwork. Objects have been hidden in an offsite storage facility and shipped.
Prosecutors say the cash was used to fund an opulent way of life, together with $370,000 to purchase automobiles and a ship, $160,000 for Disney-themed holidays and $32,000 for gadgets at Louis Vuitton, in line with court docket paperwork made public earlier this month.
In court docket, Globensky’s protection legal professional, Thomas Church, stated it wasn’t unusual for workers to often take gadgets from the warehouse, his shopper had expressed regret and wasn’t a hazard to the general public.
“This isn’t a case the place he went and broke into any vaults. He didn’t manipulate any knowledge or entry any digital knowledge,” Church stated in court docket, explaining that his shopper noticed the chance to take gadgets that have been set to be destroyed or weren’t promoting.
The whole loss to Augusta Nationwide was greater than $3 million, in line with prosecutors.
An Augusta Nationwide spokesman requested for remark Wednesday pointed to a sufferer impression assertion submitted to the court docket throughout the listening to.
“We have been severely upset to be taught a number of years in the past {that a} former Augusta Nationwide worker betrayed that precept, and our belief, by stealing from the Membership, Event and even a variety of legends whose accomplishments on the Masters and within the recreation of golf are revered by all,” Augusta Nationwide stated within the letter. “Briefly, the worker made vital private acquire with no regard for the impression his selfishness would have on the Membership, gamers, the Event, and his fellow staff.”
Augusta Nationwide hosts the annual Masters golf event every year in April, which Scottie Scheffler received final yr.
Palmer, who died in 2016 at age 87, received 4 inexperienced jackets. He’s extensively credited with introducing golf to the plenty and hit the ceremonial tee shot yearly on the Masters for years after he stopped enjoying within the event in 2004.
Getting a ticket to the Masters additionally provides followers the prospect to purchase unique merchandise that’s not formally offered on-line. However the inexperienced jackets are significantly guarded by the Georgia firm that owns Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership and the Masters golf event.
The corporate sued in 2017 to cease a golf memorabilia firm from auctioning off gadgets, together with a champion’s inexperienced jacket.
Augusta Nationwide Inc. filed a federal lawsuit towards the Florida-based public sale firm searching for to cease it from promoting a champion’s inexperienced jacket and two member inexperienced jackets, together with different gadgets.
