Chicago – A former Georgia warehouse worker at the Augusta National Golf Club was sentenced to one year in prison Wednesday for delivering millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters Championship memorabilia, including one of Arnold Palmer’s iconic green jackets.
Last year, Richard Globensky, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of transporting goods across states industries. He appeared in federal court in Chicago on Wednesday, wearing a lawsuit and a red tie. His parents and his wife sat in the court behind him, and he apologized for the actions of U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.
“I am deeply sorry that this moment has made me do it,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my actions and continue to work to do everything I can to make changes.”
Globensky and his attorneys did not answer reporters’ questions when they left federal court.
Under the judgment, he also had to pay more than $3 million in damages and face one year of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors have sought 16 months in prison, while defense attorneys want probation.
Prosecutors said Globensky brought items to Florida sellers from the warehouse, and then Florida sellers sold them online. Globensky is paid through a limited liability company established in the name of his wife. The program lasted for more than a decade, bringing him more than $5 million.
“The breach of trust is very serious and persistent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes said in court.
Nevertheless, he noted how Glosky collaborated on the ongoing investigation and provided text messages between him and third parties. Court documents only identify third parties as “individual A” together with colleagues’ “individual A”. Hayes said Greensky also took the lead in selling his home and handed over the proceeds to the government.
Prosecutors said the items were stolen between 2009 and 2022 and included historic souvenirs such as Masters Championship tickets from the 1930s, as well as T-shirts, cups and chairs. Among the stolen legendary green jackets are those that Palmer, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen won.
Some stolen goods were recovered in the Chicago area, which is why the court case was in the downtown court building.
Globensky, who has been working in the warehouse since 2007, will secretly take photos and send them to sellers in Florida. Court documents show that Globensky will sneak away items of interest in small quantities to avoid the risk of Augusta’s national audit practices. Items are hidden in off-site storage facilities and shipped.
Prosecutors said the money was used to fund luxury lifestyles, including $370,000 in buying vehicles and boats, $160,000 in Disney-themed holidays and $32,000 in Louis Vuitton.
In court, environmental defense attorney Thomas Church said it was not uncommon to occasionally take items from warehouses, and his clients expressed remorse and were not dangerous to the public.
“It’s not a case of him going to break into any vault. He didn’t manipulate any data or access any electronic data,” the church said in court. He explained that his clients saw the opportunity to capture items that were destroyed or not sold.
The total losses to the Augusta country exceeded $3 million, prosecutors said.
An Augusta national spokesman asked for comment Wednesday, pointing to the victim impact statement filed at the hearing.
“A few years ago, we were very disappointed that a former Augusta National employee betrayed this principle and our trust was through stealing from clubs, tournaments, and even many legends who achieved success in Masters and golf,” Augusta National said in the letter. “In short, this employee did not consider the impact his selfishness would have on the clubs, players, tournaments and his colleagues.”
Palmer died in 2016 at the age of 87 and won four green coats. After stopping in 2004, he introduced golf to the public for years and played the ceremony serving at the Masters every year.
Obtaining tickets to the Masters also gives fans the opportunity to buy exclusive items that are not sold online. However, the green jacket is particularly protected by Georgia companies that own the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters.
The company sued in 2017 to prevent an auction of a golf memorial company, including the champion’s green jacket.
Augusta National Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against the Florida-based auction company in an attempt to stop it from selling the champion’s green jacket and the two members’ green jackets and other items.
