A few noteworthy quotes from Daniel Lorello's voluntary statement [PDF]. All are as they appear in the statement, unedited (but not in all caps).
- He estimates that he stole 300-400 items just in 2007: "The reason I increased by rate of stealing things was because I learned that surveillance cameras were going to be installed in 2007 and in place by the end of 2007. But the cameras were not installed."
- "I particularly liked items associated with the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Mexican War, Black Americana, WWI, anything related to the Roosevelts, & Jewish items. I took items belonging to all of these wars and ethnic groups and sold them on ebay or traded for items which I sold."
- "I worked 6:30A to 2:30PM. In 2007, I estimate that I stole items 65% of the time between the hours of 6:30AM to 7:00AM. I chose that time of day because there was nobody around. 25% of the time I took thing during the working day. 10% on weekends and state holidays."
- "I used the on-line catalogue to pick items/collections. I'd then pick out the items I wanted, placed it in a folder and walked. I was never questioned or challenged."
- "I estimate that the Attorney General's office recovered approximately 90% of everything I've ever taken."
- He describes a conversation with his "boss's boss" on 22 January which made him "nervous"; the next day, he says, he "wrote the letter of apology and returned the Calhoun letter. I did this by driving to Pittsfield, MA. Post Office and paid $14.00 by Express Mail. I asked that all be forgiven." It was the auction for the Calhoun letter which was being monitored by state authorities.
- Lorello describes several specific transactions, including the sale of two Davy Crockett almanacs to a buyer in Colorado, a Poor Richard's Almanac to a buyer in New Jersey, and several others.
- "I am solely responsible for the theft of all these historical documents."
Hopefully Travis will weigh in on all this - it sounds to me like there is at least the potential for some federal charges here, but I'm not well-versed enough on those legal things to speculate much for now. I'll keep an eye on it, and report back whenever I can.
[NB: Travis weighs in, here]
