Former Augusta National employee pleads guilty to stealing Masters items

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A former warehouse assistant for Augusta National pleaded guilty to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters memorabilia and historic items, including one of Arnold Palmer’s green jackets.

Richard Brendan Globensky pleaded guilty to a charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, according to the Northern District of Illinois.

The conviction is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman set sentencing for Oct. 29 at 1:30 p.m. central time.

“I plead guilty,” Globensky, who was wearing a suit and tie, told the judge.

According to the charging documents, Globensky is accused of transporting the goods and merchandise from 2009 until about 2022 to Tampa, Fla.

The total loss to Augusta National was more than $3 million, according to prosecutors.

The stolen items also included Ben Hogans’s Green Jacket, programs from 1934 and 1935, a clubhouse trophy and letters and documents signed by Bobby Jones, according to the plea agreement.

READ THE PLEA AGREEMENT:

Globensky sold the merchandise to the online broker in Florida for around $5.3 million, the plea agreement states.

The charging documents state Globensky knew the items were stolen, converted and taken by fraud.

READ THE CHARGING DOCUMENT:

His attorney, Thomas Church, told reporters the case was being tried in Chicago because some of the stolen goods were recovered in the area.

If he’s convicted, authorities want him to forfeit “any property which constitutes and is derived from proceeds traceable to the offense, including a personal money judgment,” according to the charging documents.

If any of the items can’t be located, have been diminished in value or have been commingled with other property that cannot be divided without difficulty, “the United States of America shall be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property,” officials say in the charging documents.

Associated Press contributed to this report.