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Long Beach, California Man Extradited from Paris, France on Federal Charges of Transporting Violins Stolen from Los Angeles Philharmonic Member

FBI Los Angeles July 17, 2009
  • Public Affairs Specialist Laura Eimiller (310) 996-3343

A Long Beach man who has been in custody in France since 2007 was returned to Los Angeles today to face federal charges alleging he traveled to France in an attempt to sell violins that were stolen from a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2006, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, Chief William Bratton of the Los Angeles Police Department, and Thomas P. O'Brien, United States Attorney in Los Angeles.

In April 2007, Anthony Eugene Notarstefano, 45, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles with foreign transportation of stolen goods and possession of stolen goods.

The indictment alleges that in February 25, 2007, Notarstefano traveled from Los Angeles to Europe for the purpose of selling stolen violins. Notarstefano transported the stolen violins from Los Angeles to Amsterdam, and then to Paris, where he allegedly attempted to sell them at various music stores.

The violins were stolen in Hollywood, California from the home of violinist Mark Kashper, whose residence was burglarized in December of 2006. The burglar took a Carlo Tononi violin, which is owned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is valued at approximately $225,000. The burglar also took a Jean Baptise Vuillaume violin, valued at approximately $65,000; a Tourte bow valued at approximately $30,000; as well as several other items.

Notarstefano allegedly went to several music stores on Paris’ Rue de Rome, according to French detectives and FBI agents, and attempted to sell the stolen violins for a fraction of their collective worth. One of the merchants who researched the items on the Internet learned that the violins were stolen, and reported the matter to police in Paris, France.

Notarstefano was charged in a French court in connection with the illicit sale. During that time, the United States government initiated extradition proceedings. Notarstefano contested the extradition and has remained in the custody of French authorities since that time.

With the assistance of French authorities and the FBI's Legal Attache stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the stolen violins have been returned to the owner and guardian in the United States.

Notarstefano was returned to the U.S. today under federal escort, and turned over to the custody of FBI and LAPD Detectives. Agents will transfer Notarstefano to the Metropolotan Detention Center. He will make an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. If convicted on the U.S. charges, Notarstefano faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI's Art Crime Team and detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Art Theft Detail. The French government and law enforcement authorities in Paris, as well as the FBI's Legal Attaché stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, provided considerable assistance during the American investigation and extradition. Special Agents with the United States Marshals Service escorted Notarstefano to Los Angeles.

Notarstefano will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

The FBI's Art Crime Team was formally established in 2004 to address the growing number of crimes involving significant art and cultural artifacts. Agents assigned to the Art Crime Team are stationed in major cities throughout the United States, including Los Angeles. Additional information about the ACT, its successes, and the list of current Top Ten Art Crimes cases being investigated by the ACT, can be found by visiting www.fbi.gov, or directly to: Art Theft.