eBay plans to buy back stolen historic documents sold online
Documents dating from the American Civil War and others to and from Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt are among hundreds of stolen documents sold online that eBay is agreeing to buy back and return to New York's archives,
By Agencies |
ALBANY: Documents dating from the American Civil War and others to and from Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt are among hundreds of stolen documents sold online that eBay is agreeing to buy back and return to New York's archives, a state official said today.
The online auction giant has no liability in the sale of the stolen artifacts, but agreed voluntarily to offer buyers the amount that they paid, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because not all details of the investigation have been announced.
"We believe that when people realize they bought stolen artifacts they will step forward and do the right thing," the state official said. The official said the buyers appear not to have known the documents were stolen and so would not face criminal charges. Cuomo and eBay will contact the buyers, the state official said.
In January, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation found that about 200 documents had been stolen from the archives and sold in the past two years. Checking through the buyer and seller comments in those eBay sales revealed that 200 other documents had been sold since 2001, according to the official.
The total cost of buying back the documents for which Bay has sales records is estimated at USD 68,000. The offer by eBay means the state won't have to spend money to buy the records. If there is a conviction, a court could order restitution.
Usher Lieberman, an eBay spokesman, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
In January, Cuomo charged Daniel Lorello, 54, an archives and records management specialist in the state Department of Education, with stealing items from the archives.
The online auction giant has no liability in the sale of the stolen artifacts, but agreed voluntarily to offer buyers the amount that they paid, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because not all details of the investigation have been announced.
"We believe that when people realize they bought stolen artifacts they will step forward and do the right thing," the state official said. The official said the buyers appear not to have known the documents were stolen and so would not face criminal charges. Cuomo and eBay will contact the buyers, the state official said.
In January, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation found that about 200 documents had been stolen from the archives and sold in the past two years. Checking through the buyer and seller comments in those eBay sales revealed that 200 other documents had been sold since 2001, according to the official.
The total cost of buying back the documents for which Bay has sales records is estimated at USD 68,000. The offer by eBay means the state won't have to spend money to buy the records. If there is a conviction, a court could order restitution.
Usher Lieberman, an eBay spokesman, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
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In January, Cuomo charged Daniel Lorello, 54, an archives and records management specialist in the state Department of Education, with stealing items from the archives.
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