An archivist stole millions of dollars worth of rare books from the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library.
Gregory Priore, 61, the library’s former archivist and John Schulman, the owner of Caliban Book Shop, are charged with stealing 320 books and wrecking another 16 from the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library, according to the New York Post. The men stole $8 million worth of rare books from the library over the past two decades, The Morning Call reported.
“Greed came over me,” Priore told prosecutors in an affidavit, according to the Washington Post. Priore worked for the library’s Oliver Room, which housed a collection of rare books. (RELATED: Library Of Congress Invites Fake Scientist To Closed Meeting On Asteroid Collision)
Priore stole items from the rare books collection and would deposit them at Schulman’s bookstore. The archivist would mark the stolen books as instead “withdrawn” from the library.
Priore told authorities that he also used an X-Acto knife to cut out maps and illustrations from books.
The thieves stole works including Adam Smith’s “An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” and another book that includes former President Thomas Jefferson’s signature.
Prosecutors filed a motion to freeze Schulman’s bank accounts Wednesday. The hearing will be Monday.
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