New York State Employee Arrested in eBay Sale of Stolen Historic Documents

Daniel Lorello, 54, of Rensselaer, New York, a department of education archivist, has been charged with grand larceny, possession of stolen property and fraud. He pleaded innocent in Albany City Court on Monday. It is believed that Lorello stole hundreds of historic documents, many of which he sold on eBay. As a state-employed archivist, he had easy access to such documents.

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.

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.

You can read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2848139520080128.

Comments

[jcim]

Thank goodness there was a honest history buff that turned the creep in. People really do get desperate to sell away our country's history. Anything to make a quick buck... How sad!

[JudyE]

Some of the people who bought the items on ebay are responsible also. Anything that I have bought (old items) on ebay I ask questions, what is the proveance of the item. How did it come in your possession. If you bought it I request to see a copy of the sales receipt.