A Georgia man is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing millions of dollars worth of Masters merchandise and memorabilia. Augusta National Golf Club More than 12 years, according to court records.
Richard Brendan Grobenski, 39, was charged Tuesday with transporting goods across state lines. to Florida, “He knew that the same items had been stolen, altered and removed by fraud,” the Associated Press reported, citing court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The Masters Golf Ball shows a new rough length increase to 1 3/8 inches before the 1999 US Masters held at Augusta National GC in Augusta, Georgia. (Stephen Monday/All Sports)
Grobenski is suspected of stealing items between 2009 and 2022.
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Chicago Tribune, The newspaper that first reported the news identified Grobenski as a former warehouse coordinator at Augusta National. A person familiar with the matter told the outlet that he had been tasked with overseeing Masters memorabilia for years.
It was not immediately clear what items were stolen.
Masters merchandise is officially sold only on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, making an already appealing experience even more appealing for patrons.
A general view of the leaderboard as patrons watch as the weather-delayed second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament continues at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Patrons make Augusta National’s gift shop their first stop, waiting in long lines to pick up items like the whimsical garden gnomes that have become the latest craze since they were first introduced in 2016.
In 2022, Forbes estimates The Masters Tournament reportedly generated $69 million in revenue from merchandise sales alone.
But many of those items, like garden gnomes, are sold at outrageous markups on websites like eBay.
Detailed photo of customer purchases, including the popular gnome, during a practice round before the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
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Grobenski’s arraignment is scheduled for next month, according to the Chicago Tribune. The outlet reported that he plans to enter a guilty plea. If convicted, he would be ordered to forfeit property and cash derived from proceeds identified as stolen goods, the Associated Press reported, citing court documents.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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