They didn't cheat about it.
A “priceless” painting stolen by a New Jersey politician and Mafia member more than 50 years ago has been returned to its owner.
Shot in 1969 with the help of former New Jersey State Sen. Anthony Imperiale and gang members, the piece was created by his father, Newark resident Dr. Francis Wood, who first purchased it on January 11th. 96).
Police said a trio of robbers, all involved in organized crime, tried to break into Francis' parents' home in 1969 to steal a coin collection, but were thwarted by a burglar alarm system.
When police and then-Newark City Councilman Imperiale responded to the scene, an employee of the house told the councilman about a “rare” painting titled “The Schoolmistress.”
The painting, which depicts a teacher sitting at a table surrounded by students, dates from 1784 and was created by artist John Opie, whose paintings have sold at auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's. one for almost $1 million.
One month later, Imperiale, People who died in 1999Wood's father allegedly ordered three of the original robbers, Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Costiglione, to recover art that Wood's father had purchased for $7,500 in the 1930s. According to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Imperiale's plans were leaked. Festa Six years later, at the trial of his accomplices in 1975.
Festa said Imperiale ordered himself, Donner-Stark and Costiglione to commit the crime. He also said the painting was owned by Mr. Imperiale, who was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in 1971, the state Senate in 1973, and ran for mayor of Newark in 1974. testified that he was not prosecuted.
The piece then ended up in St. George, Utah, after the resident bought a home in Florida in 1989. Joseph Covello Sr. The FBI said the painting was included as part of the sale, a gangster with ties to the Gambino family.
When the man died in 2020, the accounting firm that was liquidating his estate examined the painting and found it was stolen.
“What a history this piece of art has,” said FBI Special Agent Gary France, who worked on the case.
“When this painting was first painted, it traveled around Britain and was owned by quite a few British families. It then found its way overseas to the United States, where it was sold during the Great Depression. , then stolen by the mob and recovered decades later by the FBI.
“It's really amazing.”
France said the FBI has not filed charges since the painting was discovered, as all those believed to have been involved in the theft are now deceased.
with post wire
