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Augusta National Golf Club hosts the prestigious Masters Tournament.
Keynote USA—
A former employee of Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) in Georgia has pleaded guilty to stealing millions in merchandise and memorabilia from the Masters Tournament.
Richard Globensky, 39, admitted in federal court in Chicago that he repeatedly stole items while working as a warehouse assistant at the club between 2009 and 2022, according to court documents from the Northern District Court of the Eastern Division of Illinois.
According to Globensky’s plea agreement, he stole historically significant memorabilia, such as green jackets won by Masters champions Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan. The green jacket is awarded to the tournament winner each year and must be returned to the clubhouse upon completion of the winner’s one-year reign as champion.
Other memorabilia Globensky stole included documents and letters written and signed by tournament co-founder Bobby Jones, all-time Masters Tournament records, a trophy from the Augusta National clubhouse, tickets and programs, and unissued shares dating back to 1932, the year the club was founded. founded, according to court documents.
He also stole merchandise such as t-shirts, jackets, hats, flags and watches, among other items, according to the documents. Globensky sold the merchandise for about $5.3 million to an online broker in Florida, while the memorabilia sold for nearly $300,000 to the same broker and an associate, according to prosecutors. The articles were It was then resold at significant margins on what the broker had paid.
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A view of a members-only sign outside Augusta National Golf Club ahead of the 2024 Masters Tournament on April 7.
Globensky was charged with transporting and transferring stolen property in interstate commerce and held responsible for nearly $3.5 million in actual losses to the club, according to the documents.
Globensky’s plea agreement states that he “took steps to conceal his involvement in the theft and sale” of the merchandise. The document goes on to claim that, using his knowledge as a warehouse employee, Globensky ensured that the amount of goods he stole was below the club’s audit risk thresholds and also directed the broker to issue most of the payments to his wife’s name. instead of to him directly. Later, court documents state, Globensky established an LLC to collect payment for the stolen items.
As part of his plea deal, Globensky must provide the government with a $1.5 million check within seven days of the guilty plea, which was made Wednesday. The plea agreement also states that Globensky must forfeit the $5.3 million he made from the stolen property.
According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office, conviction is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Prosecutors indicated in the plea agreement that barring any major change in Globensky’s cooperation, they will ask that the former golf club employee serve 24 to 30 months in prison. Globensky is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29.
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The 11th green is prepared ahead of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6.
Globensky’s attorney, Tom Church, told Keynote USA that they “look forward to telling the full story before sentencing and shedding light on the upstanding family man Mr.
Globensky is and always has been, despite the mistakes he has made in the past.”
He also confirmed that the case began in Chicago because some of the stolen property was later recovered there.
Keynote USA has contacted Augusta National for further comment.
Held annually in April, the Masters is one of the signature events on the sporting calendar as one of the four major golf tournaments, along with the PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship.
Unlike other majors, The Masters is played on the same course every year and Augusta National has hosted the event since the year it was founded.
American Scottie Scheffler is the current champion, having scored a dominant four-stroke victory in April of this year to regain the title he previously won in 2022.
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