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Posted: Monday, 08 June 2009 4:13PM
Many, not all, recovered artifacts going back to Italy
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CHICAGO (STNG) -- About 1,600 stolen artifacts found in a west suburban home -- including Etruscan items going back to 900 B.C., books dating to the 1700s and numerous religious and political pieces -- are being returned to the Italian government, the FBI announced Monday.
The repatriated items were among more than 3,500 suspected antiquities discovered in April 2007 in the Berwyn home of John A. Sisto, a naturalized U.S. citizen, according to a release from the FBI. Sisto died in 2007 and no criminal charges will be filed by U.S. authorities.
The value of the items has been estimated at $5 million to $10 million, according to the release. All of the repatriated items are believed to have been taken from Italy in violation of that nation's Cultural Property Laws.
Repatriated items include parchments and manuscripts, many with papal wax seals and some dating to the 1100s; several hundred Etruscan artifacts, many dating to 500–900 B.C.; more than1,000 books, some handwritten and dating to the 1700s; and numerous religious and political pieces, including letters written by former kings, popes and officials of the Roman Catholic Church.
The existence of the recovered items was first brought to the attention of law enforcement by heirs of Sisto following his death in 2007. While attempting to settle the estate, family members discovered the treasure trove, which they had not previously known to be in the house. Alarmed by both the quantity of items and their apparent historical significance, they notified the Berwyn Police Department.
The initial investigation was conducted by Berwyn police. who in turn contacted the Chicago FBI for assistance. Members of the FBI’s Washington-based Art Crime Team took possession of more than 3,500 items and began the exhaustive process of trying to identify and authenticate each. Investigators worked closely with the Italian Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities.
The investigation into the origin of the seized items determined most came from the Bari region in southeast Italy. Although it is still uncertain how the historical artifacts came to be in the Berwyn home, investigators believe they were secretly shipped to John A. Sisto by his father, Giuseppe “Joseph” Sisto, an Italian citizen.
The items were probably shipped beginning in the early 1960s until the elder Sisto's death in 1982. His motive for shipping the items was to have them sold by his son for a profit through his a collectibles store in Berwyn, the release said. Investigators also believe the elder Sisto obtained the artifacts by various means, primarily from third parties who would loot private collections, the FBI said. But it appears John Sisto was more interested in the historical value of the items, rather than their monetary value.
The origin and ownership of about 2,000 items could not be determined and will be returned to the estate of John Sisto.
No criminal prosecution is planned in connection with the theft, transportation or possession of the stolen artifacts, the FBI said. The filing of criminal charges for violation of Italy’s Cultural Property Laws is at the discretion of Italian authorities.
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