A former employee of Augusta National Golf Club has pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters tournament memorabilia and items. The list reportedly includes one of Arnold Palmer's green jackets.
Richard Globensky, 39, was a one-time warehouse assistant at Augusta.
He is accused of taking items from the warehouse for sellers located in Florida, who then sold them on the Internet at a significant price increase.
"Globensky was paid through a limited liability company set up in his wife's name, among other ways," the Associated Press wrote. "The scheme lasted for more than a decade and earned him more than $5 million."
The outlet added:
"As part of a plea deal, Globensky must write a $1.5 million cashier's check to the government within days. He remains free on bond and faces a maximum 10-year prison term when he's sentenced Oct. 29, but will likely get closer to two years in prison under federal guidelines.
"The items, which were stolen between 2009 and 2022, included such historic memorabilia as green jackets and tickets to Masters tournaments in the 1930s, as well as T-shirts, mugs and chairs, according to prosecutors. Among the stolen iconic green jackets were those won by Palmer, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen."
Globensky, of Georgia, began working at Augusta in 2007. His hearing took place in Chicago.
"Globensky declined to comment to reporters after the hearing," the AP wrote. "His attorney, Thomas Church, told reporters the case was being tried in Chicago because some of the stolen goods were recovered in the area. Church declined further comment because of pending investigations.
"No one else has been charged in the case, but prosecutors said Globensky is cooperating in the ongoing investigation."
The news comes during the week of the PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the season.
