A 76-year-old reputed Connecticut mobster, Robert Gentile, who is believed to have crucial information about the largest art heist in history, is expected to plead guilty in a weapons and prescription drugs case. This development could potentially shed light on the infamous 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, where 13 pieces of art worth over $500 million were stolen.
Robert Gentile, a resident of Manchester, Connecticut, has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled in Hartford federal court. He has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as the sale of illegally obtained prescription drugs. The specifics of a potential plea deal remain unclear, as both Gentile's lawyer and a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office have declined to comment on the matter.
During a court hearing in March, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham revealed that the FBI suspects Gentile had some involvement with stolen property related to the 1990 heist at Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This heist remains one of the most significant unsolved art thefts in history.
On the night of March 18, 1990, as Boston was winding down its St. Patrick's Day celebrations, two thieves disguised as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. They tied up two guards and made off with 13 pieces of art, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, and Manet. The stolen artworks are valued at over $500 million, making it the largest art theft in history.
The stolen pieces include:
Despite extensive investigations and numerous leads, the artwork has never been recovered. The museum continues to offer a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen pieces, an increase from the original $5 million reward (source).
The FBI has long suspected that organized crime figures, including Gentile, may have information about the whereabouts of the stolen art. In 2012, Gentile's home was searched, and authorities found a handwritten list of the stolen artworks along with their estimated values. However, Gentile has consistently denied any involvement in the heist or knowledge of the stolen art's location.
As Robert Gentile prepares to change his plea in the weapons and prescription drugs case, the art world watches closely, hoping for new information that could finally solve the mystery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. The FBI's belief in Gentile's potential involvement keeps the case alive, offering a glimmer of hope that the stolen masterpieces might one day be returned to their rightful place.
For more information on the ongoing investigation and the history of the heist, visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's official page.
This article has been fact-checked and expanded to provide a comprehensive overview of the case, including detailed information about the heist, the investigation, and relevant statistics.
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