GREAT FALLS — It’s a stunning admission from a New Mexico man who has pleaded guilty to the crime of stealing 100-year-old items, including letters by the wife of Western artist Charlie ‘C.M.’ Russell, from the esteemed Montana Historical Society.
The defendant, Brian Anthony D’Ambrosio, 49, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, now stands accused of theft of major artwork. The repercussions could be severe, as D’Ambrosio faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Today’s guilty plea came after Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case. Sentencing is set for November 13th, where the court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. D’Ambrosio’s release was continued pending further proceedings.
The government’s allegations in court documents paint a picture of deceit. They claim that D’Ambrosio, while posing as a researcher at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, stole items from the archives between April 2022 and September 2023. Among the stolen items were letters written by Nancy Russell, Charlie ‘C.M.’ Russell’s wife, which hold significant cultural heritage value, exceeding $5,000.
But it was not just theft; D’Ambrosio is also accused of attempting to sell these stolen artifacts on eBay for profit, a scheme that required an undercover FBI agent to pose as a potential buyer. The investigation was jointly conducted by the FBI and the Helena Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution of this case, emphasizing the gravity of the theft of these culturally significant items.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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